For many lymphedema sufferers, their condition is more of a nuisance than a crisis. While certainly not welcome, some patients find that lymphedema is a condition that can be managed, at least. For example, lymphedema of the arms, which may affect the upper arm(s), lower arm(s), and/or hands, is not uncommon among women who have undergone treatments for breast cancer. …
Should You Bother With a Pneumatic Compression Device?
If you had been diagnosed with lymphedema in the mid-20th century, chances are you would have been prescribed therapy with a pneumatic compression device (PCD). At the time, these lymphedema pumps resembled glorified blood pressure cuffs. They featured one chamber filled with pressurized air to squeeze your affected limb. In some instances, unsupervised patients used the devices at pressures that …
Could You Be Predisposed to Lymphedema?
Lymphedema is a chronic condition that emerges for many patients after they’ve undergone certain treatments for cancer. That’s because radiation and/or surgical removal of tissues (often including some or all lymph nodes) can have a damaging effect on the lymphatic system in the affected area. Physical trauma is another potential trigger for lymphedema; perhaps subsequent to an accident, or following …
Are Compression Boots the Real Deal?
Compression boots are the latest fad among certain well-heeled elite athletes, not to mention aspiring weekend warriors. You may not have heard of these boots, but they’re gaining traction. So what are they, and do they really deliver significant exercise-recovery benefits? Also known as air compression boots, or compression recovery boots, these devices consist of a pair of spacesuit-looking (Antarctic …
Lymphedema Patients Need to Exercise Special Care During Flu Season
The influenza virus is not a singular virus. Rather, it is a family of virulent, always mutating viruses, capable of doing extreme harm, depending on the patient, the strain, and even which variants happen to be circulating in the general population during a given flu season. Most people are aware that the annual spike in flu cases in the Northern …