Lymphedema Treatment - Dealing With Surgical Complications

For those who have had breast surgery to remove cancerous cells, the possibility of developing lymphedema is always there. Although fairly rare, it can happen if the lymph nodes are severed or removed in an attempt to see if cancer has spread beyond the breast.

While many women are able to move beyond this without additional problems, in some cases the remaining nodes are unable to do the extra work required of them. This extra stress leads to the development of the condition and lymphedema treatment may become necessary. While there is no cure for the condition, there are things you can do to relieve the swelling and pain that accompanies the problem.

Exercise

One of the most effective forms of lymphedema treatment is to keep moving. Long, still periods of time can allow fluid to remain trapped in the limb (typically the arm in the case of breast cancer patients). Some light exercise on a regular basis can free up that fluid and get it out of the limb. This isn't to say that you should be getting under a bench press and straining your arms to eliminate the fluid. On the contrary, these should be light exercises that focus on gentle, smooth contractions of the muscle. If you aren't sure how to proceed, your doctor should be able to give you some pointers.

Wraps

Wrapping your arm up in bandages can be a great way to encourage fluid to move out of the arm and is one of the frequently prescribed versions of lymphedema treatment. The key is to get the fluid to move back away from the extremities and towards your core. To accomplish this, you should begin the wrapping procedure by starting near the hand, making tight, rapid turns of the bandage. You then work your way up from the hand towards your shoulder. Think of it in terms of squeezing a tube of toothpaste, slowly working that fluid out of the arm. For best results, see a doctor well versed in this type of therapy and they will be able to show you the proper technique.

Surgery

Some specialists have begun performing surgical procedures to address the issues surrounding lymphedema treatment. Some of these surgeries involve removing excess tissue from the affected area, which can help with the worst of the swelling and pain. Other procedures involve moving lymph nodes from other areas of the body to the affected area, taking some of the stress off the struggling nodes. This has proven very effective in some cases and is something you may wish to explore if you are having a great deal of discomfort.