Following cancer surgery, you may experience lymphedema, a condition that causes limbs to swell due to insufficient drainage of the body’s lymphatic system.
How Lymphedema is Treated
Your specially trained physical therapist provides a gentle, non-invasive and highly effective treatment called complete decongestive physiotherapy (CDP). This is a combination of massage to promote lymphatic drainage, compression therapy, remedial exercises, and skin and nail care provided in two phases.
The first phase takes two to four weeks of intensive decongestive treatments. Depending on your condition, you may receive two to three treatments each week. Each treatment takes about an hour. This phase may include:
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Manual lymphatic drainage – a gentle, manual treatment, like a massage, that improves the function of the lymphatic system throughout the body by guiding fluid toward the lymph nodes.
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Compression therapy – multi-layered bandages are used to increase tissue pressure and are applied between treatments to prevent the re-accumulation of edema fluid.
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Exercises – performed with the bandages in place to activate the muscles and joints of the affected extremity
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Skin care and general hygiene – essential to eliminate bacterial and fungal growth. Either can cause repeated attacks of cellulitis, a skin infection that is a common complication of lymphedema.
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Preventive gear -- You may be fitted for compression garments and gloves to be worn as directed to continuously manage your condition
Phase two is a maintenance program that you continue at home. It includes phase one components in addition to the use of a compression sleeve or garment.
The Care Team
Your care team includes physical therapists certified in manual lymphatic drainage and complete decongestive physiotherapy. This team tailors a plan of care appropriate to your condition and communicates regularly to monitor your progress and make adjustments.
Lymphedema care is available at the following locations:
4300 Londonderry Road
Harrisburg, PA 17109
For more information call (717) 657-7500