Ready-Made vs. Custom Compression Garments When it comes to choosing the compression wear that’s most appropriate for you, there are several factors to consider. Of course, you will want to follow your medical professional’s advice for the most effective treatment to address your lymphedema. Your healthcare provider will recommend a specific class of compression, but you will have options between …
What is a Lymphedema Therapist and How Can One Help You?
Lymphedema Therapist: How Can One Help You If you have been diagnosed with lymphedema, you know it must be carefully managed. Proper treatment will require careful compliance with doctor’s orders on your part. With some diligence and help from a lymphedema therapist, you may be able to thwart the progression of this disease and minimize its impact on your daily …
Can Early Detection Lead to Lymphedema Prevention?
Can Early Detection Lead to Lymphedema Prevention? Lymphedema is a condition that may manifest at any time after treatment for breast cancer. While it may appear within weeks of radiation, surgery, or other therapies, it may also occur at any point within five years, or longer, after a woman has undergone successful treatment for her cancer. Lymphedema prevention is a …
Day vs. Night Compression Wear
Day Compression Versus Night Compression People with lymphedema soon learn that their condition is chronic. While that doesn’t necessarily mean that things will get steadily worse, it does mean that patients must take the management of their condition seriously. Among other things, that means following your healthcare providers’ advice regarding compression wear. Wearing compression garments is a fundamental component of …
Best Summer Compression Garments to Keep You Cool in Warmer Weather
Best Summer Compression Garments to Keep You Cool in Warmer Weather As you know, managing your lymphedema is a full-time job. There’s no summer vacation for lymphedema sufferers. You don’t get a break and have the option of skipping the daily use of compression wear. Nor can you afford to stop being hyper-vigilant about avoiding new physical insults to the …
Summer Pampering: Skip the Salon for a Medical Pedicure
Summer Pampering: Skip the Salon for a Medical Pedicure Everyone likes a little pampering once in a while. Call it self care, a “decompression day,” or simply some “me time”. Whatever you call it, we all enjoy a little special attention occasionally. This summer many women—and more than a few men—will trot their toes into a salon for a pedicure. …
Managing Lymphedema in the Summer
Managing Lymphedema in the Summer Summer poses special challenges for managing lymphedema. Summer heat and humidity can make it difficult to wear appropriate medical-grade compression wear comfortably, for instance. No one likes to sweat. Tight compression garments can seem especially bothersome if they trap heat and leave your skin damp and clammy. And lymphedema patients face other seasonal challenges as …
Our Favorite Compression Garment Patterns for the Summer
Our Favorite Compression Garment Patterns for the Summer Summer is the perfect time to let your creative side blossom and show off your true colors. Fortunately, custom compression garments have come a long way. These days, there are dozens of ways to express your creativity and proclaim your individuality. You can do so while sporting patterns that run the gamut …
Leg Exercises and Stretches to Manage Lymphedema
Leg Exercises and Stretches to Manage Lymphedema People used to believe that it was best to avoid exercise if you suffer from lymphedema. In part, this was based on the observation that limbs at risk for lymphedema are more sensitive to injury. However, it has been shown that staying active can actually prevent or mitigate the condition. Targeted stretches and …
The Benefits of Arm Exercises for Lymphedema Patients
The Benefits of Arm Exercises for Lymphedema Patients The arm(s) are among the most common sites affected by lymphedema. This chronic condition primarily affects women. Women who receive treatment for breast cancer often undergo radiation therapy or surgical removal of tissues to eradicate their tumors. Unfortunately, this often involves damaging, or surgically removing, one or more lymph nodes in the …