Do you personally know someone with lymphedema?

My Mom developed it several months ago very suddenly. Hers was the kind caused from having breast cancer and radiation destroying lymph nodes I guess. Anyways, she went for physical therapy and wraps her arm every night and wears a special sleeve during the day. It's weird, when she takes off the sleeve or garment, her arm and hand almost look normal again but it only last like a half an hour and then it swells up again. I feel bad that she has to deal with this for the rest of her life. She got a new machine today that is a special sleeve that you put on your arm and then it massages it or something. It's strange looking. Do you know what I'm talking about? Anyways, if you have, does the machine help a lot? Thanks for any info. that you may have.

my dad had lymphedema in his legs. We were told it means that his circulatory system was not carrying fluid out of the area.

He used the massage machine 30 min twice a day and YES it worked. He could not wear the stockings on his legs like your mom does on her arms so the air massage and water pills is all he did to treat it. His legs looked a whole lot better once he started with the machine.

The only thing you have to be careful with is if it gets turned to high it can squeeze hard enough to damage the skin. Also be careful not to have wrinkles as this is where pressure can build and cause pain. The other thing is he had to make sure he went to the bathroom before or he would have to stop and go. (this makes since that the water has to go somewhere)

I actually put his on one day and it felt good (he could do both legs at one time)

I hope this works for your mom.