Use heat to relax muscles and encourage lymphatic drainage. Use your ice sparingly and for short duration if need be for pain relief.
Begin with hot or warm water in the shower and after a couple of minutes, change the water temperature to cold water. The heat will make the vessels larger and the sudden drop in temperature will make the lymphatic vessels quickly shrink, squeezing the lymphatic fluid and forcing it to flow through the system.
In addition, heat may increase the lymph flow but however for it to be effective in the treatment of lymphedema there must be an increase in the removal of protein from the cellular interstice.
Ice does not reduce swelling; the lymphatic system does.
In fact, ice has been shown to actually reverse lymphatic drainage, causing backflow of fluid into the injured area and worsening edema.
If you're feeling sore and tender, you can treat swollen lymph nodes in your armpits and other areas naturally. You can try using a warm compress (like a microwavable rice sock or similar heating pad). Over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®) and acetaminophen (Tylenol®) may help too.
The summer sun and summer heat can contribute to increased swelling and risk of infection in lymphedema patients.
Place you hand on your collarbone. Move your hand down your chest in half circles toward your underarm. Massage your chest to help reduce swelling. This massage will move the lymph fluid from your neck and chest to your underarm lymph vessels and nodes.
Causes. The most common reason for lymphatic obstruction is the removal or enlargement of the lymph nodes. Other causes of lymphatic obstruction include: Infections with parasites, such as filariasis.
Because the hot and cold showers promote expansion and contraction of the lymphatic system and blood vessels, circulation and cleansing are improved overall. The hot water is stimulating and allows blood vessels to expand. Hot water helps move blood to the surface of the body.
Acute inflammation, Malignant tumors, Thrombosis and major heart problems are all contraindications to lymphatic drainage massage. Lets look at these one at a time.
Please don't apply oil or lotion before your treatment. Empty your bladder right before your treatment begins. The goal of a MLD treatment is to encourage the lymphatic system to work more efficiently and move stagnated fluid. This process will cause fluid to find it's way to your bladder.
Keep the swollen limb elevated as much as possible and protect your skin from injury. The swelling from lymphedema might dull pain from an injury or burn, so don't use heating pads on the affected limb. Moisturize your skin daily.
Avoid extreme hot or cold temperatures on the affected arm, such as heating pads or ice packs. Notify your doctor immediately of any signs of infection, such as redness, pain, heat, increased swelling or fever.
Some foods can exacerbate lymphedema symptoms because of the way they are processed and the additives or high salt content they contain. These foods include added sugars — specifically fructose — refined grains, chemically modified fats and most animal and dairy products.
Generally speaking, lymphatic drainage massage is a safe treatment to relieve lymphedema. There are some conditions and circumstances where lymphatic drainage massage is not recommended: You have a heart condition.
Gentle massage could be the key to reducing the swelling, pain and heaviness caused by lymphatic obstruction, otherwise known as lymphedema. Your lymphatic system protects your body from infection, cancer and illness. In a very real sense, its's your body's drainage system.
Applying ice would actually impair the ability to effectively manage lymphatic drainage and overall flow. We've effectively created a sludge around the injured site. It makes it tough for more inflammation to come in, which reduces swelling, but it doesn't help the drainage, flow, or healing.
If your limbs are swollen you may experience aching, heaviness, difficulty with movement, repeated skin infections, hard and tight skin, folds developing in the skin, and pitting.
The lymph fluid carries the waste products and destroyed bacteria back into the bloodstream. The liver or kidneys then remove these from the blood. The body passes them out with other body waste, through bowel movements (poo) or urine (pee).
Common signs and symptoms of lymphedema can include: Swelling in part of the body (such as your breast, chest, shoulder, arm, or leg) Skin feeling tight or hard, changing in texture, looking red, or feeling hot. New aching, tingling, numbness, or other discomfort in the area.