Lymphedema Therapy

Lymphedema Therapy in Central Massachusetts and Beyond

Lymphedema is a chronic condition that causes lymphatic fluid to build up in parts of your body. Over time, swelling and other symptoms can interfere with your life, but effective treatments are available. Certified lymphedema therapists at UMass Memorial Health work with you to reduce swelling and manage lymphedema for the long term.

What Is Lymphedema?

Your lymphatic system is a network of vessels and nodes. Lymph vessels collect fluid from your tissues that contains waste products, damaged cells, bacteria and viruses. As the fluid circulates, lymph nodes filter out these harmful substances before the fluid returns to your bloodstream.

Lymphedema occurs when your lymphatic system doesn’t work as it should, and lymph fluid accumulates, causing swelling. This can happen when lymph nodes are removed or damaged during cancer treatment or due to other health conditions. The location of the swelling depends on which part of the lymphatic system is affected. The most common locations are the arms and legs. Less often, swelling can occur in the face, neck, breast, abdomen or groin.

Types of Lymphedema We Treat

We treat both primary and secondary lymphedema. Primary lymphedema is rare, caused by genetic conditions present at birth. Usually, people come to us with secondary lymphedema caused by another condition.

A common cause of secondary lymphedema is lymph node surgery or radiation therapy for:

• Breast cancer
• Genitourinary cancers
• Gynecologic cancers
• Head and neck cancers

Noncancerous conditions can also cause secondary lymphedema. These include:

• Chronic venous insufficiency
• Obesity
• Traumatic injuries

Our Treatments for Lymphedema

Your treatment follows a personalized plan. Our approach to lymphedema therapy focuses on complete decongestive therapy (CDT). CDT includes multiple strategies that, when used together, are proven to enhance lymphatic drainage and reduce swelling.

For most people, lymphedema is a lifelong condition. The goal of therapy is to help reduce current symptoms and prevent them from worsening.

CDT strategies include:

Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD)

We use massage to move fluid in the path of normal drainage through the body with the assistance of other healthy lymph nodes. The technique also involves activating downstream lymph nodes so fluid can flow freely. We also teach you how to perform MLD on your own.

Compression Therapy

Compression garments are tight-fitting, elastic pieces of clothing you wear to help manage swelling. Your therapist helps you find garments that are safe and comfortable. For significant swelling, we may use bandages to wrap the affected area until it is small enough to fit in a compression garment. This type of bandaging typically requires several appointments per week for the best results.

Specialized Exercises

We guide you through movements that help pump lymphatic fluid out of swollen areas. Some common exercises include marching, raising your arms and moving your head side to side. Deep breathing from your diaphragm is also important. Your therapist gives you an exercise plan customized to your needs and abilities.

Skin and Nail Care

Swelling can stretch the skin, making it more susceptible to dryness, cracking and wounds. If a wound becomes infected, lymphedema symptoms can worsen. Your therapist provides recommendations for skin care and nail care to prevent and treat wounds and infections.

Education and Risk Reduction

Self-care is key to your therapy plan. We teach you about each type of treatment, so you can continue doing them on your own. You also learn how to avoid lymphedema triggers, including:

• Excessive heat exposure
• Limb constriction, such as wearing a tight bracelet
• Limb injuries
• Repetitive motions

Your First Visit: What to Expect

You see an experienced lymphedema therapist during your first visit. They examine your medical history and: 

• Evaluate the affected area and take measurements to determine the amount of swelling and the type of compression garment you may need.
• Provides information about lymphedema therapy, self-care strategies and available support services. We welcome your questions and take time to answer them fully.

Your therapist may start treatment at your first appointment if time allows. However, the full treatment protocol doesn’t usually start until your second visit.

During all visits, you may need to disrobe to allow the therapist access to the affected area. If this is necessary, you will be in a private room and have a towel or sheet to cover yourself.

The frequency and duration of therapy vary widely and depend on your needs. We try to schedule all appointments with the same therapist whenever possible.