Swell spots or Jovipak for breast/axillary swelling

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knittingPT
knittingPT Member Posts: 156
edited May 2016 in Lymphedema

Has anyone used swell spots or the Jovipak lumpectomy thingy for breast/axillary swelling? I'm curious to hear about your experience. My PT cut me a piece of foam to put in my bra and it is helping quite a bit. It doesn't have the "lines" to direct flow like the Jovipak does. I have used kinesiotape with good response but I don't want to wear it all the time!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2016

    My LEist cut a piece of foam for me too, but it wasn't just ordinary foam. It had longitudinal rows (each row about 1/2 inch wide) Hope that makes sense. I've found swell spots quite beneficial and mostly help with the discomfort of associated pain. I also have an older swell spot that people were making up for those of us with LE. That too had "channells" but was a bit too bulky.

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  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 6,398
    edited May 2016

    I use a Swell Spot for truncal LE, and find it really helps.

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  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited May 2016

    knitting PT, I also use swell spots for my truncal LE. Mostly I use a Solaris Kimbe spot, which works well for the area directly in front of the axilla:

    http://www.lymphedemaproducts.com/products/kimbe-s...

    I also use some sheet foam. My favorite is the LymphPad made my Medi, which I cut to fit from front to back:

    http://www.lymphedemaproducts.com/products/mlp-f.h...

    The foam Musical is talking about with "longitudinal rows" is probably Komprex II, which is pricey, but since you cut it to size and it lasts a very long time one sheet is probably a life-time supply. Or find a couple of other lymphers to go in with you on it and share the cost:

    http://www.lymphedemaproducts.com/products/komprex...

    With a good compression cami I find I don't need swell spots except for flares, so you might want to consider the many kinds of truncal compression garments that are available. Check out the links at the bottom of this page:

    http://www.stepup-speakout.org/breast_chest_trunck...

    Hope some of that helps!
    Binney


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  • knittingPT
    knittingPT Member Posts: 156
    edited May 2016

    Thanks everybody! I have never seen those foam sheets and am thinking I might try to rig something up myself. The links were also very very helpful!

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  • pennsygal
    pennsygal Member Posts: 346
    edited May 2016

    Hello all -

    The links are helpful - thanks for posting! I'm interested in what bras are working for you all with breast/truncal LE. I've been wearing sports bras, but I feel like I need more support in addition to the compression throughout the day.


    Thanks!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited July 2016


    pennsygal - It can take a while to find what works. Personally I've found the less time I spend in anything (bras etc) the better off I am LE-wise. Obviously that situation isn't always appropriate for some of us, including me. Recently I ordered 2 pairs of what I *thought* were going to be great bras. The pair I tried on felt great. Turned out they rode up. Also, as they opened from the front, every time I bent over the hooks and eyes undid. Fixed that nonsense with a pair of fine tipped pliers.

    Often the only way you can really test something out is wear it for a day, or do all sorts of activities to see how they perform. These weren't cheap. Thankfully I could send the unused pair back. The other pair I'll have a go at altering at the shoulders. What works for me better than anything is a cheap pair of bras (similar to ah-bras) that I've modified some and that have cups to put foobs in. I've found it's pretty important to try and avoid that tight band under the bust.

    Couldn't quite see from the link if that foam was the same as mine.

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  • knittingPT
    knittingPT Member Posts: 156
    edited May 2016

    Thanks for the photo! I like the looks of that foam. Mine is just plain foam without the indentions.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited July 2016

    knitting PT you're welcome! My LEist just cut me a piece and I didn't have to pay anything so I've no idea how expensive it is. I won't be seeing LEist for a few weeks yet but I'll be interested to find out about it.

    I was given another piece of "something" to try. This had little raised spots all over it. It was put under my wrapping to try and soften up some hardening ..... well never again!

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