Low level laser treatment of lymphedema, anyone use it?

macb04

I seem to have some breast and axillary lymphedema like swelling each day, that gets better when I sleep. I started reading up on how difficult it is to treat, for some women. I have been lucky so far, with massage and lying down seeming to resolve most of the swelling, But, I read about Low Level Laser Therapy, and thought wouldn't something like that be great if it could improve things.

Here are the research studies I have seen on it:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12973834

http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0103-51502014000400663

LymphActivist

Treatment of breast lymphedema by manual lymph drainage is covered in my presentation found at http://www.lymphactivist.org/breast_lymphedema_for...

As for LLLT, it has been found useful in treatment of upper extremity lymphedema, scar treatment, and as an adjunct to manual lymph drainage, but I don't believe it is covered by insurance.

macb04

Yeah, that is probably true about it not being covered by insurance. But you can rent one of the Low Level Laser's being used in the study for $350/month. If I ever get desperate I would look into that. The whole bandaging /sleeve thing seems really demoralizing after every awful misery I have already endured. I do the manual lymphatic drainage most days. That seems to be enough thank goodness.

floaton

macb04, I did a course with a laser owned by my chiropractor at the time. Did it a few times a week for a few weeks, if I remember correctly. Didn't notice any acute changes - no improvement but also no worsening. However, it is really difficult to tell if it made a difference long term.