I have lymphedema in both legs....any advice?

I have been diagnosed with lymphedema and I wear Jobst hose, but they don't really help, that much. I also have a pump, but it only helps for a while and then they swell right back up. Any ideas?

Hi Lady, I'm Tina, nice to meet you. I don't know what kind of therapy you had, if they just gave you the pump and stockings but before you had either of these you should have had combined decongestive therapy which is a specialized treatment where a certified lymphedema therapist manually drains your body and helps move out the congested lymph nodes, it isn't really classified as massage but it is a similiar feeling when done. The therapist should teach you special skin care, special exercises to promote lymph flow, teach you how to do the bodywork to yourself, and wrap you after each visit until you are the smallest you can possibly get, then you "graduate" to home care and compression stockings.

If you have not had this kind of therapy and are using a pump, you are at risk for spreading the lymphedema to the genital area, which is not a good thing. Many doctors don't understand or know what lymphedema is, so they do the best they can with pumps and stockings. There are different types of lymphedema such as primary lymphedema which is hereditary, (being born with it even if it surfaces a little later in life) and secondary which means it came from another cause such as trauma or surgery.

The best thing you can do to help yourself is to stay educated on all aspects of lymphedema. I can't say that enough. Join a support group, read all you can, and most of all learn the do's and dont's of the condition.

My website is http://www.lymphland.com/ There are tons of pages of information. There is a button to join my support group on the first page as well. As you will see by the first page, I, too, have lymphedema.

Right now there is exciting research going on. Scientists and researchers are working on lymph node transplants which have worked on mice. They have to refine the technique before they start testing on humans. Also, they can clone lymph nodes, so if you can clone your own node and transplant it, viola~a cure may be in the near future.

Talk to your doctor. I think plenty of massage and exercise may help.

YOGA AND PRANYAMA are definftely going to help you. continue with the supportive measures and learn and practice yoga and you will see the benefits. these are ancient Indian postures and not difficult to practice.

lymphoma is serious u really need to see a doc

My adopted father has lymphedema, so did my grandmother, and great grandmother. He takes water pills and that seems to help, but not make the swelling go away...I wish there was a way for doctors to drain the fluid every so often. I wish I could give you more advice, like I am sure you already know, lymph nodes are designed to clean the junk out of your body, and lymphedema is the lack of lymph nodes working, pretty much keeping all that waste and it draining to you legs and it stays there, so I would defintely ask your doc about the water pills, helps clean your system and the fluid of buildup.

Unfortunately, the treatment you're doing is the basic treatment for lymphedema, which includes compressive stockings and graduated massage.
You should try attending lymphedema clinic or a physical therapist who have knowledge of this problem. Your insurance should cover this service.