Do those lymphedema pumps work?

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conley05
conley05 Member Posts: 9
edited June 2014 in Lymphedema

 Does anyone use these?   I'm wanting to purchase one, but I don't know the first thing about them.  Can anyone give me some information about the pumps?  I have not even found a doctor that knows about lymphedema.  Where is the best place to buy compression sleeves?

Thank you,

Sandy

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited September 2012

    I have a Flexi-Touch MLD that I use daily. Great machine.



    My Drs realized LE was becoming an issue before I did and got me to my certified LE guy.



    'Best place to buy - no answer. My LE fvuy orders mine for me. Size/measurements is important but compression level is just as (or more) important. For me - higher compression makes my LE worse. Some will fit in 'Off The Shelf' garments - I don't so mine are custom. Mine are from Juzo. My night sleeve (Solari) is custome also

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  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited September 2012

    Conley, hello and welcome!Smile

    I think you're starting at the wrong end of this. First you need a referral from any doctor on your team for an evaluation by a well-trained lymphedema therapist. S/he will teach you how to reduce the swelling with:

    1. a gentle lymph massage called Manual Lymph Drainage, which she'll design specifically for your needs;

    2. compression (wrapping in layered bandages or properly fitted compression garments--a sleeve and hand protection);

    3. simple exercises to do while in compression to help control the swelling;

    4. careful skin care to prevent serious systemic infection.

    Once she's helped you get the swelling under control she'll teach you to do a simplified version of the Manual Lymph Drainage yourself at home, and to wrap your arm yourself so that if you have a flare you can manage it yourself.

    A pump is not standard lymphedema treatment, it's a substitute for the self-Manual Lymph Drainage massage that you do at home once the therapist has helped you get everything under control, and it's especially helpful for women who can't do the self-massage effectively themselves. 

    So for starters, hopefully you can locate a well-trained lymphedema therapist--here's how to find one near you:
    http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Finding_a_Qualified_Lymphedema_Therapist.htm

    Keep us posted! Gentle hugs,
    Binney

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  • conley05
    conley05 Member Posts: 9
    edited September 2012

    Thanks for the information; I guess I need to see a lyphedema therapist.  I had asked my oncologist about it about 4 years ago, and he sent me to physical therapist.  She massaged my arm and wrote a script for compression garments.  She sort of showed me how to do the self massage.  She expected me to come back 5 days a week!  I couldn't do that and it's 50 miles one way. So, I went away really not knowing what to expect. She just told me to wear the sleeve during the day, and take it off at night.  I see some of you talking about a night garment.  I guess I better find a therapist before it gets any worse. Every doctor that I've asked about it doesn't seem to know anything about LE.

    When you use the LE pumps, do you still need to wear the compression sleeve afterward?  Are there any sleeves that aren't so HOT ?  I can hardly bear to wear it  during the summer (not to mention the hot flashes on top of it all).

    Thank you so much!

    Sandy

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited September 2012

    Be sure to see a Certified LymphEdema Therapist - not some PT that claims to know about LE.



    Yes - day and night garments are different and work on different principles. Simpliistictly - Day are active, night are passive. During day, we are active, at night not.



    Yes I do have to wear my garments even with my Flexi-Touch. It takes an hour for tghe cycle to run. It starts with massagi8ng/draining upper leg and lower abdomin. It then progresses toupper body, upper arm, mid arm and lower arm and hand. It then reverses and goes in a 'wave' from fingers to upper leg. The entire cycle takes an hour.



    I have no problems with my sleeves in summer (100+ temps not unusual here) but my sleeves are cotton - not synthetic for that reason. (Hot flashes have never been a prob for me, even back in '90 when I went through natural meno.



    We're all different!

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  • conley05
    conley05 Member Posts: 9
    edited September 2012

    Thank you so much for all you advice!  I'm glad I found this sight.  I couldn't find the information anywhere else.  I'll have to find a cert. lymphedema therapist and some different sleeves. 

      My mother didn't have hot flashes when she went through menopause naturally.  I think maybe when the estrogen is shut down with chemo and hormone inhibitors that makes the hot flashes worse.  When I first went through treatment for BC, I had intense hot flashes every ten min. It was rough.

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  • Laural136669
    Laural136669 Member Posts: 287
    edited September 2012

    I now have a LymphaPress which I use daily. For me it is useful as my lymph clears best from the armpit to the back nodes which I cannot self massage. It does take an hour for the cycle to run through. I still wear a compression sleeve (I use a Sigvaris 500 with a shoulder strap). Once I had initial fitting, I now order them myself online. Between the sleeve and the press, I have been able to stop my weekly PT sessions and still keep the LE controlled.

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