Resource Sharing: Excellent LE Massage Therapist in Maryland!

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NatsFan
NatsFan Member Posts: 3,745
edited January 2015 in Lymphedema

I found a good LE Massage Therapist in Rockville, MD - that's in Montgomery County for anyone in the DC/MD/VA area.  PM me for contact info if you're interested.  

She charges $95 for an hour, $125 for 90 minutes.  It's self-pay of course, but I'm finding it well worth it.  I tried a 90 minute session with her a month ago, and she did a great job.  She moved out a lot of fluid and I felt so much better.  I tried her again yesterday, and same thing. I was running to the bathroom all night last night, and by this morning I was down over a pound and my belly wasn't nearly as bloated. If you buy multiple sessions at one time, they give you a discount.  

I've had enough MLD from LETs that I could tell she really knows what she's doing, and I wanted to share this resource. 

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  • carol57
    carol57 Member Posts: 3,567
    edited January 2014

    Sure wish I lived in Montgomery County MD!  Thanks for sharing.  I'll bet this information helps some one or several people.

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  • NatsFan
    NatsFan Member Posts: 3,745
    edited January 2014

    Come to DC for a visit and I'll take you there! 

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  • carol57
    carol57 Member Posts: 3,567
    edited January 2014

    Hmmm.  I'll be working in DC sometime this year for a day or so.  Tempting!

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  • NatsFan
    NatsFan Member Posts: 3,745
    edited January 2015

    Just posting a follow up a year later. I've been getting monthly 90 minute full body MLD from this LE massage therapist all this year, and the difference is remarkable. ::Knocking on wood:: but I haven't had a major flare in months, and just a couple of minor truncal flares when I did something like have a high-salt meal. I don't know if it's possible, but it seems as if having a professional push the lymphatic fluid pushed along manually on a regular basis has encouraged my body to develop alternate drainage channels, or at least to use the remaining drainage channels more effectively.

    I still take my other precautions, and use my compression sleeve/gauntlet and Tribute vest/nightsleeve as needed. I'm still careful not to over do it, but with regular weight lifting (pounds and reps increased slowly) I've regained a lot of strength in my arms and shoulders. For the first time since I was dx with LE in 2009, I actually felt strong enough to do a downward dog in yoga - and had no ill effects afterwards.

    It drives me crazy that insurance won't pay for maintenance therapy like this - I kept telling my LET that I believed that a monthly maintenance session would help me to control my LE so much better, and she agreed, but unfortunately we could never make it work with insurance. I'm lucky in that I found a massage therapist who had trained in LE massage, and lucky that I'm able to self pay for this once a month. As I suspected, getting maintenance MLD has made a world of difference for me in being able to manage my LE. The skin on my affected arm is even wrinkly - it's not pulled taut anymore. Who knew one could be grateful for wrinkly arms!!

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  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 6,398
    edited January 2015


    That is wonderful!!  I mentioned to my LE therapist that a monthly maint. visit would be good, and she is not opposed to it, but says she has to explain to insurance why continued visits are needed!  She is the only game in town for me, and is at the big teaching hospital,, and very pricey w/o insurance.  (yes, more than you are spending!)  So we have to invent reasons for me to go to justify insurance. 

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  • NatsFan
    NatsFan Member Posts: 3,745
    edited January 2015

    Good luck with the inventive insurance justifications. Good that your LET is on your side on this one - they know all the official jargon that can be used when they write up their justification. It's so hard to believe that insurance won't cover preventative/maintenance visits for so many things like LE.

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  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 6,398
    edited January 2015

    I'm only allowed 35 visits a year, and that's all physical treatments,, regular PT, chiro, massage, anything. And you have to "show improvement" or "show need" for them to keep paying. Apparently maintainence is not a necessary need!! I got thru last year,, so we will see how this year goes. Must meet deductible again too. Good times.

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  • hugz4u
    hugz4u Member Posts: 2,781
    edited January 2015

    I go once a month for maintainence, It's good because my MLDist can note any changes or I can voice my concerns. I pay out of pocket and I am only reimbursed about 250 yearly for massage and physio, so the money doesn't go far.

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  • NatsFan
    NatsFan Member Posts: 3,745
    edited January 2015

    Sounds like a number of us have settled on a once a month maintenance session as being an integral part of LE management. Too bad we can't get the insurance companies to understand how critical maintenance is for a chronic condition - it'd save them money in the long run.

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  • mary625
    mary625 Member Posts: 1,056
    edited January 2015

    Hi, NatsFan. Would you PM me with the name? Thanks.

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  • NatsFan
    NatsFan Member Posts: 3,745
    edited January 2015

    Hi Mary - Just PM'd you.

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  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 6,398
    edited January 2015


    I do think once a month for maintainence is necessary!  Will just have to keep "playing games" with insurance for now!

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