Lymphedema can be scary. It’s a condition without a cure and often happens after an illness. Whether you’ve had cancer treatment or your lymph nodes removed, or experienced an injury affecting your lymphatic ducts, you may be dealing with the challenges of lymphedema. The good news is that there are ways to manage your condition. Here are 5 tips to help you with your lymphedema:

Use loose-fitting clothing

Whether you’re dealing with upper limb lymphedema or lower extremity lymphedema, you may need to wear loose-fitting clothes. One reason you should wear loose-fitting clothing is that it provides room and comfort if you need to wear compression bandages or socks. You also don’t want to wear clothes that leave marks when you have lymphedema flare-ups. Fortunately, there are plenty of trendy styles for those who have to use loose-fitting outfits for their lymphedema.

Get exercise

Exercise helps your blood flow and can also help decrease inflammation and benefit your health overall. Not only that, but it can also help with lymphatic drainage massage Seattle. While you’ll want to get your doctor’s approval on whatever type of physical exercise regimen you want to do, start incorporating daily movement into your life when you get the green light. You could consider joining an online gym, practicing yoga at home, or going on daily walks around your neighborhood.

Avoid intense temperatures

Do you know how everyone is raving about cold therapy right now? Or, what about those who are obsessed with saunas or jacuzzies? While these trends are great for so many reasons and people, if you have lymphedema, steer clear. Unfortunately, while they may be suitable for various health reasons, extreme temperatures can irritate your condition and be harmful as you try to manage your pain and swelling.

Use compression garments

When your lymphedema causes a lot of swelling and discomfort, compression garments can be especially beneficial. They help the accumulation of fluids flow away from the area that’s swelling, helping to decrease inflammation and pain.

While it may not be fun to wear compression garments, you will find that they do wonders in helping you to manage the swelling and pain accompanied by lymphedema. You may be concerned about wearing these garments and looking stylish. Fortunately, there are options in the market that allow you to hide the garment under your clothes, ensuring you look and feel good. There are other types that are designed to add style to your outfit while providing you with the benefits of compression garments.

Speak to your doctor about various treatments

You may need various treatments at specific stages of your lymphedema to help control and manage the swelling. For example, some massages can help with lymphatic drainage or targeted physical therapy to help you treat pain.

You’ll want to discuss what’s best for your specific case with your healthcare provider, whether you work with an online doctor or have an in-clinic physician. There could be an underlying condition affecting your lymphedema condition and treating the source could decrease swelling and pain in your limbs.

In Conclusion

As an incurable condition, it can be overwhelming to deal with a lymphedema diagnosis. However, the good news is that there are ways to manage the swelling and pain. With the help of your medical provider, you can handle the ups and downs of living with lymphedema and find ways to manage it for a better quality of life. These tips mentioned above are just a few ways to facilitate your lymphedema condition. Make sure to speak with your healthcare provider to determine the best options for you.