2007-08-17 07:51:53 · 4 answers · asked by ghada g 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Cancer
I had had a problem with this following breast surgery and axial node clearance.
It does seem to be lessening with time.
To perform self massage, remember a fairly light touch is called for. Lymph fluid is just below the skin, not in the muscles!
Start at your breast bone, and massage teh fluid away from the affected side.
Then move on to any remaining breast tissue, moving the fluid to the breast bone area.
Then move fluid from the armpit to the breast area.
Then the upper are to the armpit
the lower are to upper arm
and finally hand to lower arn.
Then start again at the breast bone.
If you catch it early, then only one repetition is needed to relieve the symptoms.
If it is badly swollen , it can take several tries to bring relief.
I do a quick "just in case" massage in the shower each day now, and have virtually no symptoms.
2007-08-18 00:53:22 · answer #1 · answered by Tarkarri 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Besides all the other good advice given here already....be sure that unless someone else has taken the time to learn how to do this...don't just let anybody do it for you. There are some good sites to learn from or even your doc should have a written diagram of lymphedema massage. If its not done right...it can do more harm than good so take the time to read up on it and its good to have others in the family know too so they can help you when your pain gets bad. GOod luck
2007-08-19 12:22:32 · answer #2 · answered by aknana 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
GREETINGS, I'm Tina and I'm the owner of Lymphland.com I don't have the page up right now on how to do the massage for lymphedema but I do have the file in my yahoo group called lymphland and you are welcome to join the group. We also have chats every day of the week. You can join the group from the page, http://www.lymphland.com
If possible you should go to a certified lymphedema therapist for therapy. They would teach you how to do the massage yourself, teach you exercises to help move the fluid, skin care, and also get you fitted for an arm sleeve which would help the swelling too.
Hope to see you in the group.
2007-08-20 01:44:40 · answer #3 · answered by Tina of Lymphland.com 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have lymphoedema following breast surgery for cancer and lymph node removal. A very useful site is cancerbackup; this link is to the information about exercise, but there's also information about manual lymphatic drainage, compression sleeves etc and advice about managing lymphoedema
http://www.cancerbackup.org.uk/Resourcessupport/Symptomssideeffects/Lymphoedema/Exercises
2007-08-17 17:10:38 · answer #4 · answered by lo_mcg 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋