Lymphedema is a long-term condition, not a one-off problem. Managed properly it stays controlled. Left alone it tends to progress, and the tissue changes become harder to reverse.
Complete Decongestive Therapy
CDT is the standard of care and it has four parts. We use all four, because doing one or two of them is why treatment often fails.
- Manual Lymphatic Drainage to move fluid toward working nodes
- Compression, bandaging first and then a fitted garment
- Movement and exercise prescribed for your stage
- Skin care, because infection is the main risk with lymphedema
Measured, not guessed
We measure the limb at intervals so both of us can see whether the swelling is actually reducing. If the numbers are not moving, the plan changes.
Living with it
The intensive phase brings the swelling down. The maintenance phase keeps it down, and that part is mostly yours to run. We teach you the routine and make sure it is something you can realistically keep doing.