Prevention - medical massage after surgery

Clarice9

In a couple months I will have surgery (after the first course of chemo) and at least a few positive lymph nodes will be removed. I have access to a German-trained medical massage therapist. Is there any benefit to having lymph drainage after surgery and before symptoms appear in order to prevent lymphedema?

mcgis

I'm not aware of drainage to get before surgery. After surgery, if you get lymphedema, you can do manual lymph drainage. Get hooked up with a physical therapist trained in it so they can show you too. I have friends who had twice the amount of nodes removed as I did and they don't have lymphedema but I do. Not sure that you can prevent it.

Binney4

Clarice, there's no research I know of that shows Manual Lymph Drainage (the lymph massage) to be helpful as a way of preventing lymphedema, but there are lots of knowledgeable people who would theorize that it might actually be helpful--and it sure can't hurt. If I were in your position and had access to a fully-trained lymphedema therapist, I'd see her before surgery for baseline measurements for future reference and ask her to teach me how to do self-Manual Lymph Drainage. Then I'd do it for several days before surgery and for at least a few weeks afterward to encourage healing and open new lymph pathways.

Also, current wisdom says not to raise your arms above shoulder level for the first two weeks after surgery, to allow healing of the lymph vessels in the underarm area and avoid further damage to the delicate lymphatics (there's a brief period following any trauma or surgery during which our bodies attempt to repair the vessels that are damaged).

Establishing a relationship with a qualified lymphedema therapist before surgery is, of course, ideal. Go for it!

Wishing you smooth sailing through all that's ahead, and no "swell" days ever! Please keep us posted.

Gentle hugs,

Binney

cookiegal

I feel like some of the diep patients get rubbed and wrapped in Nola?

hugz4u

Great question. This is not related but I wanted to say that I took my daughter to MLD right after her wisdom teeth surgery. She was still sedated slightly and the MLD girl treated her face and appropriate areas to reduce swelling from the surgery. My daughter enjoyed that extra recovery period (nodded off) and the benefit was extremely little swelling. I would say it was a success.

That said I don't know if a MLD therapist could treat a BC surgery patient immediately after surgery discharge as they would probably have to take the dressings off and that may invite infection but maybe they could go around that. Hum...I wonder if Kira knows.

Binney4

Clarice, there is this one study, but it's awfully small. Still, it's interesting, yes?

http://www.bmj.com/content/340/bmj.b5396

Be well!
Binney

krissy42

Lymph Massage after DEIP?  My Plastic Surgeon is not sure I should engage in massage therapy 4 weeks after my deip flap/ single MX. He said they would need to stay away from my abdomin even though the incisions are closed, and i'm cleared for swimming! My massage therepist is trained in lymphatic drainage, and says there is very little pressure with lymph massage...no mor pressure than putting a nickle on your skin. That doesnt seem like that would be and issue. I apply more pressure when I but lotion on in  the morning.   I'd love to hear from anyone else about what they think.

Take Care,

Krissy