- THE FIRST STEP in the treatment (Complete Decongestive Therapy) of your lymphedema is to begin the education process. We provide teaching on how to stimulate fluid movement, advise you on how much WATER you should be drinking for your weight, how to apply bandages (or teach someone close to you), provide therapeutic exercises to be completed in clinic and provide you with a Home Exercise Program as well. We wil also show you how to begin to breathe using the diaphragm, which helps move fluid as well.
- THE SECOND STEP in the treatment process and as your sessions are near the last week, we provide compression garment recommendations and begin to work on a discharge plan for your success at home.
COMPLETE DECONGESTIVE THERAPY CONSISTS OF:
- Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD) is a gentle manual technique (massage) which improves lymph fluid movement activity by using a mild therapeutic touch to stimulate areas congested and swollen, which will then begin to move fluid out of the body via the urine.
- Compression Bandaging - increases the tissue pressure and prevents re-accumulation of the lymph fluid. Special bandages made of short stretch material are applied on the swollen limbs. Compression bandages are applied after each treatment
- Skin Care - A low ph lotion (Eucerin, Aveeno) is used to maintain moisture of the skin and is applied after each treament session prior to compression bandages. *It is important for the skin to be free of infections (bacterial or fungal) before treatment can begin.*
- Therapeutic Exercises / Home Exercise Program (H.E.P.) - Patient's are provided with a Home Exercise Program and are encouraged to follow through at home while wearing bandages. We also provide Therapeutic exercises in the clinic and adapt H.E.P as needed.
*Compression bandages are not Ace bandages - never use Ace bandages on a limb or area affected by lymphedema!!!
- After discharge from the Lymphedema Care Center of North Florida, Inc., the patient should self-bandage at night for six months and wear compression garments during the day.
- Patients' are encouraged to contact the Therapists if any questions come up.
