09/05/2024
A common question we hear from our new lymphedema clients is, "what can I expect during the treatment process for lymphedema?"
Here we will cover the "gold standard" for lymphedema care known as Complete Decongestive Therapy and what you can expect in the first few months of care.
Complete Decongestive Therapy is composed of two main phases.
The first phase is a decongestive phase, where the excess lymphatic fluid is removed through a combination of short stretch bandaging, manual lymphatic drainage, diaphragmatic breathing, proper skin care, patient education on precautions, exercise and appropriate sleep. This phase can last anywhere from 2-8 weeks – dependent on patient preference and availability.
The second phase is a maintenance phase, where the patient is fit for the appropriate compression garment as determined by his/her CLT (i.e. sleeve and glove, sleeve and gauntlet, compression thigh highs, knee highs, panty hose, abdominal compression top, facial compression-wear, breast compression bra) in conjunction with proper skin care, practicing lymphedema precautions, diaphragmatic breathing, exercise and continued appropriate amount of sleep/night. This phase is life long.
In this photo, Lisa is walking her client through the first phase of decongestion by integrating diaphragmatic breathing and core activation exercises with the support of Red Cord.
