Swelling in all or part of your arm, leg, finger, or toe Feeling heavy or tight in your arm or leg Restricted range of motion Ache or pain Recurring infections Hardening or thickening skin
MRI to produce 3D images. CT scans to look for lymphatic blockages and produce images. An ultrasound to check for blockages and make sure your blood is flowing. Radionuclide imaging where your doctor injects you with a dye so they can see how the dye moves through your lymphatic system.
Your doctor may order additional tests, like a complete blood test (CBT).
Use a fragrance-free moisturizer because scents can irritate your skin.
For a mild lymphedema, your doctor might recommend walking or yoga. If your lymphedema prevents you from doing regular exercise, you might do arm or leg rotations or simply lift your arm or leg.
You might feel some discomfort, but your limb shouldn’t be in pain. If you feel pain or notice that your foot or hand is turning blue or gray, remove the wrap and loosen it. Ask your doctor or lymphedema therapist to show you the correct way to wrap yourself.
It’s especially important to wear your compression garments during exercise. As you move, the compression may help drain your lymphedema.
You may not notice immediate results, but keep doing this every day. It will slowly help the fluids drain from your lymphedema, though it might not totally go away.
Eat a serving of lean protein at each meal. This includes chicken, turkey, fish, tofu, nuts, beans, and meat replacements.
Avoid using table salt to season your food. While you’re cooking, season your dishes with herbs and spices that don’t contain salt. Reduce or eliminate processed foods because they typically contain more sodium.
A good sleep routine might include relaxing for an hour before bed, avoiding screens for 2 hours before bed, and changing into comfortable pajamas before bed.
For instance, go for nature walks, vent to a friend, color in an adult coloring book, take a hot bath, engage in a hobby, use aromatherapy, or do something creative.
Check with the National Lymphedema Network to find a group in your area. Your doctor may also be able to find you a local group.
Ask your doctor for a referral or look for a certified lymphedema therapist online.
Your massage therapist will teach you self-massaging techniques you can use at home. Make sure you follow their instructions exactly because doing it wrong may cause an issue. In some cases, a massage that isn’t done correctly may cause your lymphedema to worsen. Don’t go to a massage therapist who isn’t trained to treat lymphedema.
Most of the CDT plan will consist of exercises and self care at home. This includes things like wrapping the area, elevating the area, and doing your exercises. Your doctor can refer you to a certified lymphedema therapist to help drain your lymphedema. For this treatment to work, you have to commit to taking care of yourself and following the doctor’s recommendations. Patients who don’t keep up with recommendations end up having to deal with the lymphedema for much longer. [16] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
Removing excess skin or tissue around the lymphedema. Using liposuction to remove fat from the lymphedema. Repairing your lymphatic system to restore the flow of fluids.
