28/01/2026
Over thr past couple of weeks I have welcomed a few new clients having MLD treatments and aware that I have been recommended to a couple of others, so in the spirit of raising awareness and so that this post can be easily found. I am sharing information again about Primary and Secondary Lymphoedema & Manual Lymphatic Drainage Massage (MLD).
(Jan 2025)
My post is superseded by a brief case study of a gentleman I had been treating along side his nurse for the past few months. If you are squeamish perhaps don’t look too long at the photos however I feel it necessary to raise awareness of the condition by showing how it can progress in some cases. I have his full consent to share.
Mr ‘Smith’ was diagnosed with secondary lymphoedema almost 11 months ago. His condition presented within both legs accompanied by cellulitis and an extremely uncomfortable sore in his left which escalated quickly. Mr smith contacted me in sept last year in the Hope that MLD may be able to help manage it along side weekly visits to have the sore dressed by a nurse. We scheduled weekly sessions and managed to reduce the swelling, soften the skin giving it more protection from abrasion and support the work being done by the nurse. Pictures show the sore in sept 2024 and again after 2 months treatment and finally after 4 months when both the swelling has reduced and the sore finally resolved. Mr smith will be discharged from the nurse and Weekly treatments will progress to fortnightly to help maintain the improvement. My client has worked extremely hard with maintaining and managing his condition and following advice from myself and his nurse. However this was incredibly painful to have lived with for 9 months and which if he had received advice and support sooner may not have escalated. It’s now 1 full year later and we have successfully managed his condition without any further escalation.
So for information purposes; Lymphoedema is a long-term (chronic) condition that causes swelling in the body's tissues. It can affect any part of the body, but usually develops in the arms or legs. It develops when the lymphatic system does not work properly. The lymphatic system is a network of channels and glands throughout the body that helps fight infection and remove excess fluid, it is known as the second circulation system. The main functions of the lymphatic system are helping fight infection and draining excess fluid from tissues. In particular Lymphatic fluid drains from Lymph nodes at particular junctions around the body which help to process the fluid back into the Venous system before it is excreted from the body.
The main symptom of lymphoedema is swelling in all or part of a limb or another part of the body. It can be difficult to fit into clothes, and jewellery and watches can feel tight. At first, the swelling may be soft and easy to push in, leaving a dent, and may come and go. It may get worse during the day and go down overnight. Without treatment, it will usually become more severe and persistent. Lymphoedema is caused by a problem with the lymphatic system. There are 2 main types of lymphoedema:
Primary lymphoedema – caused by faulty genes that affect the development of the lymphatic system; it can develop at any age, but usually starts during infancy, adolescence, or early adulthood
Secondary lymphoedema – caused by damage to the lymphatic system or problems with the movement and drainage of fluid in the lymphatic system; it can be the result of a cancer treatment, an infection, injury, inflammation of the limb, or a lack of limb movement
Primary and Secondary Lymphoedema is graded from 1 to 3 which indicates the level of severity either by your GP or specialist. There's no cure for lymphoedema, but it's usually possible to control the main symptoms using techniques to minimise fluid build-up and stimulate the flow of fluid through the lymphatic system. These include wearing compression garments, taking good care of your skin, moving and exercising regularly, having a healthy diet and lifestyle, and using specialised massage techniques This is where MLD comes in. MLD is a very gentle form of clinical massage which helps to manage the symptoms and manually support the lymphatic system by massaging fluid in the direction of working lymph nodes thus stimulating the system and helping it to drain. I currently support a number of ladies from my days at Breast Cancer Haven with Grade 1 Secondary Lymphoedema, this can be controlled effectively with massage and lifestyle. I do also have a number of clients with Primary Lymphoedema and more severe secondary diagnosis where massage is used for ensuring their condition does not worsen. the point of this rather lengthy post is that without management it can worsen very easily, indeed a number of my most recent clients have been let down by not having the above explained or supported in learning how to manage it. Please Please Please do not let it go untreated. Read the info provided by NHS, Cancer Research Uk or speak to your GP/ nurse about what steps to take.
For a chat/consultation about how MLD can help you, please don’t hesitate to give me a call.
Sarah
07775 700252
