As with many other chronic conditions, savvy self-care and a well-informed treatment approach can make the difference between comfortably managing your lymphedema and dealing with recurring complications.
At Venus Vein Clinic of Omaha, NE, we offer fully personalized lymphedema treatments designed around your specific presentation for maximum results. We use pneumatic compression—and enable patients to use it at home—to keep the lymphedema well-managed so you can remain as functional as possible.
But what about the self-care component? What outside of treatment can be done in your regular daily routine to best manage lymphedema symptoms? This guide will provide a practical overview of simple steps that anyone can take to manage their lymphedema as effectively as possible.
Lymphedema Self-Care 101
Lymphedema is an ongoing condition characterized by the accumulation of lymph, a watery and nutrient-rich fluid, in the body’s tissues. Instead of being efficiently distributed back into the bloodstream by the lymphatic system, malfunctions in this system cause this fluid to build up within the tissues, in turn causing swelling and increased risk of infection.
The type of lymphedema you have, along with your unique traits (age, weight, comorbid conditions, etc.), can affect both the severity of your symptoms and the specifics of your provider’s treatment approach. However, there are several universally applicable practices that all patients can adhere to in order to effectively manage lymphedema symptoms over long periods of time. From your morning routine to your nutritional choices and beyond, there are several easy-to-adopt strategies lymphedema patients can use to improve comfort and overall quality of life.
Daily Cleaning and Inspection
In addition to washing the affected area with warm, soapy water (avoid soaps that dry out the skin), it’s also important to keep the skin moisturized.
While moisturizing the affected area, closely inspect the skin to check for changes. Changes to look for include an increase in swelling, new folds in the skin, pitting edema (skin that does not rebound quickly when indented), flaky or thick skin, blisters, weeping skin, and discoloration.
If any of the above symptoms are new to you, calling your provider is recommended. If you experience redness, swelling, sweats, fever, and/or aches, you may have an infection, which also should be addressed with your doctor.
Clothing Choices
While compression garments are often prescribed to effectively manage lymphedema-related swelling, it’s important to appreciate the distinction between compression garments and tight clothing. Where the former uses a calculated (and generally low) amount of compression in just the right places to facilitate lymphatic flow of the affected area, tight clothing may actually worsen your symptoms.
Wearing an underwire bra, for example, is likely to exert too much force on a smaller area of skin, hampering lymphatic flow. It’s like pinching a tube of toothpaste shut versus squeezing the toothpaste out. In other words, leave the compression to the prescription compression garments, and let your clothing fit more loosely to avoid compromising skin integrity and swelling.
Exercise and Daily Activities
While patients often report that swimming, yoga, or another activity worked best for alleviating their symptoms, many lymphedema care providers agree that it is less about the what and more about the how. Whether you’re walking, swimming, lifting weights, or what have you, it’s important to apply the following general principles:
- Seek out less explosive, low-impact exercises
- Gradually increase exercise duration and intensity
- Incorporate breathing exercises to enhance circulation
- Always monitor for pain and swelling
When adhered to in a safe and consistent manner, exercise programs can in fact help with lymphatic flow, not to mention reducing body weight and improving range of motion to safeguard you more effectively against lymphedema symptoms.
Diet and Hydration
It’s probably of little surprise that, as always, staying adequately hydrated helps in the case of lymphedema. Hydration helps your body filter and eliminate waste products from the tissues. Conversely, avoiding diuretics (like coffee and alcohol) will ensure you don’t offset this effect.
Aside from the general healthy diet prescription, the added emphasis in the case of the lymphedema patient involves limiting inflammation and fluid retention. This means staying away from processed foods, moderating your sodium intake, limiting refined sugar intake, and seeking out anti-inflammatory foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, including avocados, almonds, salmon, garlic, and others.
Key Precautions
While patients with well-managed lymphedema are still able to work, exercise, and perform most other daily activities with little to no significant limitations, there are still various practices and situations to avoid, including the following:
- Cuts and pricks with sharp objects
- Sunburns
- Explosive movements of affected extremities
- Strong forces applied to affected extremities (abrasion, twisting, pushing, etc.)
- Crossing your legs (if legs are affected)
- Extremely hot or cold temperatures
As a general rule, any practice that would cause bruising, bleeding, or impaired circulation, lymphedema or not, is to be carefully avoided by the lymphedema patient.
Experience Sustainable and Effective Lymphedema Relief With Venus Vein Clinic of Omaha, NE
Leveraging the power of pneumatic compression both in the clinic and at home, our team at Venus Vein Clinic of Omaha, NE, specializes in creating patient-centered lymphedema treatment plans aimed at keeping you as comfortable, functional, and active as possible.
Prevention and maintenance are crucial difference-makers when it comes to managing your lymphedema. As your trusted partners in lymphedema care, we will partner with you to carefully assess your unique presentation, educate you on best practices, and deliver evidence-based treatments for optimal results.
Contact us today online or at (402) 922-8346 to set up an appointment and start taking control of your lymphedema symptoms.