Healthy Habits for Life
Empower your wellbeing with our practical tips and easy-to-follow guides.
Phone 316-636-7900
Healthy Habits for Life
Empower your wellbeing with our practical tips and easy-to-follow guides.
Phone 316-636-7900
Lymphedema is more common than you think
Lymphedema can be debilitating and can lead to serious skin infections and wounds.
Chronic swelling in the lower body can be a challenge to diagnose because there are many potential causes. If the cause is lymphedema, it can also be difficult to manage because there currently is no “simple fix,” such as a pill to take. In the absence of appropriate treatment, lymphedema can cause skin infections, l
Breast cancer survivors often face another challenge: swelling that doesn’t go away, also known as lymphedema.
Even as cancer treatment has evolved, many patients still go on to develop lymphedema. Radiation, lymph node removal and taxane-based chemotherapy, combined with patient risk factors, like obesity, result in lymphedema for up to 40% of breast cancer survivors.1
Lymphedema isn’t “just swelli
Many head and neck cancer survivors are faced with an additional challenge: lymphedema.
Head and neck cancer treatments often lead to lymphedema – a chronic swelling condition that may be caused by damage to the lymphatic system. The swelling can be both internal and external and cause pain, reduced range of motion and difficulty swallowing, speaking and breathing.
Lymphedema can be debilitating and
Therapy
PNEUMATIC COMPRESSION
Bio Compression is clinically proven to stimulate the lymphatic system. This device can be used in combination with other lymphedema treatment components to help you continue or maintain reductions in limb volume between and after clinic visits. Studies have demonstrated the clinical benefits of enhancing lymphedema treatment with PCD treatment to reduce limb volume and increase quality of life. Lymphedema treatment needed for clinically effective lifelong management.
COMPRESSION THERAPY
Compression therapy is a well-established component of therapy. Compression of the limb may be applied in various ways, including multi-layer bandaging, compression stockings, custom compression garments and intermittent pneumatic compression devices. Barriers to effective compression include an inability to apply bandages or compression stockings and decreased tolerance to compression. If you are considering compression therapy, you should be thoroughly evaluated by your physician or therapist to create an effective program to manage symptoms and prevent the progression of swelling.
COMPLETE DECONGESTIVE THERAPY (CDT)
Are your customers raving about you on social media? Share their great stories to help turn potential customers into loyal ones.Complete decongestive therapy (CDT) is a multimodal treatment approach consisting of intensive in-clinic treatment provided by a lymphedema therapist, followed by ongoing self-management at home. The focus of in-clinic CDT is to reduce limb volume and soften fibrosis while equipping you with tools and knowledge to help you succeed with a lifelong successful home management program.
Here are some components of in-clinic CDT:
- Education on the lymphatic system: how lymphedema occurs, skin and nail care and other health precautions specific to the condition
- Gradient compression bandaging
- Manual lymphatic drainage therapy (MLD) is a key component of CDT which employs a sequence of hand motions, consistent with established anatomic and physiological principles, to redirect fluid from congested and swollen areas to functioning lymphatic regions
- Development of a comprehensive at-home program for effective self-management