Compression Treatment For Lymphedema

The most commonly administered treatment for lymphedema is by combining manual compression lymphatic massage with using compression garments or bandaging.

Treatment of lymphedema however, can vary with the severity of the edema that the person has and the extent of fibrosis in the affected limb.

It is usual for patients of lymphedema to have a daily treatment plan that their doctor or a certified lymphedema therapist has suggested.

Following are some compression treatments that can be used in treating lymphedema. These treatments can be used individually or together.

Compression by Garments:

To reduce lymphedema, elastic compression garments are usually worn by the patient. These elastic compression garments are worn on the limb affected by lymphedema. This is done after administration of decongestive therapy, which helps in edema reduction.

Advice of the patients doctor or a certified lymphedema therapist will ascertain whether a custom fit compression garment is to be used or the patient can use an over the counter compression garment that comes in standard sizes.

The procedure for using these compression garments is that they need to be worn every. This daily usage will then help in maintaining edema reduction. Care should also be taken to replace these garments at regular intervals. In case of scrotal edema however, only support garments can be used.

Compression by Bandaging or wrapping:

This treatment involves applying multiple layers of padding and short-stretch compression bandages to the limb or affected area.

In administration of this treatment it is preferred that short stretch bandages are used as compared to long stretch bandages. Short stretch bandages are those that are usually used in treating sprains.

This is because long stretch bandages do not provide the required therapeutic tension which is necessary to reduce lymphedema safely. Not just this, long stretch bandages can have an adverse effect and give rise to the tourniquet effect.

Advantage of the short stretch bandage is that when a person indulges in any activity be it exercise or a routine activity, short stretch bandages provide lymph vessels an increased resistance for them to push against, which in turn increases pumping action of the lymph vessels. This then promotes lymphatic flow, helping soften areas swollen due to fluid.

Compression by Sequential gradient pump therapy Therapy using pumps is usually administered in addition to other therapies for treatment of lymphedema such as compression bandaging and manual lymph drainage.

The compression pump technology uses a pneumatic sleeve which is multi chambered and has overlapping cells that encourage movement of lymph fluid.

Therapy using a pump can help soften fibrotic tissue which in turn could enable better lymphatic drainage.