Okay to use ice pack with mild lymphedema?

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Ninja6812
Ninja6812 Member Posts: 31
edited June 2014 in Lymphedema

I have been going for massage therapy to help with range of motion after treatment. I just switched therapists last week and she is doing a lot of deep tissue work trying to stretch muscles, work on scar, tissue, etc. It is very uncomfortable, but feels SO good when she's done. It also leaves me sore for a few days. She mentioned using an ice pack to relieve pain. Ive read that you should avoid extreme heat and ice with lymphedema. Anyone know anything about this? I want to use under my arm pit where all lymph nodes were removed.

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  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited September 2013

    Hi, Ninja,

    You can use it gingerlyWink. Don't put the ice pack directly on your skin, and limit the time to 15 minutes at a time. Basically we're talking a "cool pack" rather than an ice pack!Laughing

    Is this a therapist who's trained in lymphedema?

    Be well!
    Binney

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  • Lainey64
    Lainey64 Member Posts: 740
    edited September 2013

    When I was going to a LANA certified therapist, she said that ice was OK but like Binney said "use it gingerly".  Especially if your arm has numbness from surgery.  You might not realize how cold the ice actually is if you're applying it to the numb area!  I have to be careful with this. 

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