Lymphedema is a painful, chronic illness that causes swelling due to the accumulation of fluid. Most of the patients get it as a result of lymphatic system damage caused by life-saving cancer treatment.
Our experts at Kent Chiro-Med can help you in managing lymphedema and avoid complications. We provide cutting-edge physiotherapy and chiropractic care to manage the symptoms. Contact us today to book an appointment.
Our expert Chiropractors and Physiotherapists at Kent Chiro-Med Wellness Clinic (downtown Ottawa) routinely diagnose and treat patients suffering from lymphedema. Many patients rely on our expertise to achieve the following rehabilitation goals:
Lymphedema can be a hereditary condition. Sometimes, it is also caused by lymphatic vessel blockages resulting from an infection, malignancy, or scar tissue after radiation therapy at our Downtown Ottawa clinic.
You are more likely to develop lymphedema if you:
Lymphedema is classified into two types: primary lymphedema and secondary lymphedema. The causes of both of these are different:
Primary lymphedema is caused by mutations in genes that develop the lymphatic system. It is mostly a hereditary condition.
Secondary lymphedema often occurs after a person has been treated for cancer. The treatment often damages lymph nodes that can result in lymphedema. Some of the most common causes of secondary lymphedema are surgery for cancer, radiotherapy, infections, inflammation, venous disease, obesity, trauma, and immobility.
Our compassionate physiotherapists offer comprehensive, patient-centered care for the treatment of lymphedema.
Our chiropractors and physiotherapists are experts in physical therapy. Depending on your conditions, we can prepare a comprehensive treatment plan for addressing different issues.
We are equipped with advanced technology for the treatment and management of lymphedema.
Our physiotherapists are certified and trained to manage your condition. We ensure that you get the right treatment for your condition.
Treatment for lymphedema varies from physical therapy to exercises, depending on your situation
For moderate to severe lymphedema, decongestion lymphedema therapy is used. This treatment mobilizes lymph and reduces fibrosclerotic tissue.DLT is performed in two steps; the first step involves manual lymphatic drainage and gentle massage followed by the second step that involves compression bandaging.
Manual Lymphatic Drainage is a gentle, skin-stretching massage that promotes lymphatic fluid circulation away from the swollen limb. It is different from conventional massage and focuses only on the lymph vessels to facilitate the movement of lymphatic fluid. This can be supplemented with more massages to encourage relaxation and enhance circulation.
Your physiotherapist may recommend a compression garment to reduce swelling. We advise our patients the following while using compression garments.
We recommend certain exercises for our Lymphedema patients to stimulate their muscles, boost lymph flow, and transport lymph fluid away from the swollen spot. These exercises can also help in maintaining a healthy weight and reducing lymphedema swelling. Your joints remain flexible and your range of motion is enhanced. These exercises can also improve self esteem and reduce anxiety. Depending on your particular situation, our physiotherapist can recommend which exercise you should do and how many times a day you should perform those exercises.
Pressure therapy is a treatment method that uses compressed air pumps. These compressed air pumps are used to apply pressure to limbs with edema.
Gentle massage can also help in reducing discomfort in the affected area. When regularly done, it can help in improving mobility and reducing swelling in the affected area.
At Kent Chiro-Med Wellness Clinic, we deliver a comprehensive lymphedema treatment that addresses every aspect of this chronic condition. Our approach ensures that lymphedema—a disorder that may develop slowly—is managed with precision to swell tissues less noticeably. We harness state-of-the-art techniques targeting the lymphatic system to mitigate issues arising from cancer treatment.
Our program focuses on improving circulation in the arm or leg through effective compression methods, while carefully monitoring each lymph node and vessel. We employ drainage methods alongside secure bandage protocols to manage secondary lymphedema, ensuring you get the focused care you need to treat lymphedema in your affected arm. For patients recovering from breast cancer surgery, our methods help reduce swelling by encouraging flow through the lymph vessels with properly fitted compression garments.
We extend our care to every affected area by providing a specialized treatment for lymphedema that includes dedicated skin care routines and, when needed, consultation regarding radiation therapy follow-ups. In Ottawa, our focus on lymphedema treatment means we closely monitor lymph fluid accumulation and identify primary lymphedema early. We assess the risk of lymphedema at all stages of lymphedema and investigate the cause lymphedema to prevent future complications.
Working with a qualified lymphedema therapist, we integrate aspects of breast cancer treatment into our protocol, watching for lymphedema symptoms and presenting clear treatment options to manage lymphedema. We also evaluate the risk of developing lymphedema and employ strategies to prevent lymphedema since lymphedema is swelling that can dramatically affect people with lymphedema. For cases of severe lymphedema, a skilled physical therapist—in consultation with the national cancer institute guidelines—ensures that lymphedema occurs only rarely when the treatment of lymphedema is optimized. Our ultimate goal is a life without lymphedema, reducing swelling and other symptoms often seen in people with cancer, such as a swollen arm or leg. With our methods, we help treat lymphedema so that nothing will make lymphedema worse; every measure is taken to prevent conditions caused by lymphedema and to keep the swelling under control.
There’s no single answer to it. As each person is unique with different symptoms and conditions, the treatment plan will also vary.
Physiotherapy is a safe and natural technique to treat the symptoms of lymphedema. Although lymphedema can’t be cured, its symptoms can be managed with proper care.
Recovering your muscle strength after lymphedema therapy is a time-taking process.
To get the best possible treatment:
Ready for your first treatment? Don’t delay any further.
