Treatment of Lymphoedema

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Both lymphoedema and lipoedema are long term conditions, which require ongoing treatment. They cannot be cured permanently, but they can usually be reduced and controlled. The swelling caused by lymphoedema and lipoedema can be treated in various ways.Types of treatment:

Limb positioning and movement: Avoid standing or sitting with your legs down for long periods of time, as this allows fluid to gather around your feet and calves. Movement of your muscles helps to push fluid around the body, so regular gentle movement can help to prevent fluid accumulating. Avoid carrying heavy shopping if your arms are affected and do not wear tight fitting clothes or jewellery.
External support/ compression: Surgical sleeves and stockings compress swollen tissues and prevent fluid from building up. Support is provided to help the muscles to pump fluid away more effectively..
Exercise: Exercise encourages fluid to drain from the lymph vessles. Water aerobics may be particularly beneficial because water supports the joints and does not put unnecessary strain on the knees. It important to seek help from your lymphoedema specialist or therapist before starting any exercise programme.
Massage: A specialised form of massage called manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) is used to move excess fluid away from the swollen area so that it can drain away normally. This type of massage should only be carried out by a trained therapist. Your nurse or physiotherapist may show you some simple techniques to massage yourself.
Compression pumps: Compression pumps are only needed by a few people with lymphoedema. They are only one part of the treatment programme and should be used under the direction of a Lymphoedema specialist.
Surgery: Surgery is rarely used for lymphodoema, although it may be useful for swelling around the face or genitals. Liposuction is a procedure to remove excess fat. It is sometimes used to treat lipoedema, but improvements vary greatly.