Is there such a thing as a lymphedema home massage machine?

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Jiffrig
Jiffrig Member Posts: 232
edited November 2016 in Lymphedema

Someone mentioned her friend has lymphedema and uses a massage machine every morning to control her LE. I was called in for my appointment and did not get more info. Is there such a thing? I don't know if is electric or what. I have never seen it mentioned here and you all know everything there is to know! 😉

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  • BevSue
    BevSue Member Posts: 12
    edited October 2016

    Jiffrig- I have lymphedema of the legs and use a lymphedema pump. It is a electric pump with sleeves that cover both legs. The sleeves inflate and deflate. Mine came from a company called Vaso Care.

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited October 2016

    There are some who also use a machine called Flexitouch - it has an arm sleeve

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited October 2016

    I've had a FlexiTouch for over 6 years. It simulates MLD (manual lymph drainage) massage. Love it - would not want to be without it. It is definitely electric - a small computerized box to which the garment portions are hooked to.

    A session with it runs 1 hr and I use it daily. It has 3 sections to the garment - 1 does upper leg and lower abdomen , 1 does upper body/chest and an arm sleeve does the entire arm. The arm portion is attached to the the chest portion. When started air pressure is programmed to start massaging the leg/lower abdomen, then no es to the chest and then to the arm in sections for 1/2 hr. The second 1/2 hr it reverses with continual movement from finger up arm to chest and down to lower in gradual continual massage and restarting at hand over and over again for that 1/2 hr.

    Talk to your LET about it.

    If you google flexitouch, you can find the website for them. (It's www.tactilemedical.com . There are many different garments that are available for different parts of the body depending on what area is affected.

    I don't know the price for them but not cheap at all. It is my understanding that most insurance companies will cover at least a portion of the cost. VA got mine for me so I don't have personal knowledge of it's price - it was ordered and I got it.

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited October 2016

    OOPS - Dreaded double post!

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  • Jiffrig
    Jiffrig Member Posts: 232
    edited October 2016

    Thanks for the info everyone! I know the smaller version is approved by Medicare

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  • kmpod
    kmpod Member Posts: 234
    edited October 2016

    I've just had my Lympha Press Optimal for about 1month now and I've been having very good success with it. I have it with the jacket as I have bilateral and truncal lymphedema.

    I wasn't making much headway with home manual lymph drainage. My lymphedema therapist is about a 1.5 hour drive each way and I was only getting MLD from her every two weeks. She also has a Lympha Press Optimal at her office.Though it's only set up to do one side at a time, it did give me a chance to try it out before making the purchase.

    After two weeks of daily usage both arms were down significantly and the sizing of my next pair of custom sleeves had to be adjusted down. And, though it can't be measured, I can tell that the balloons under my arms are diminishing.

    I find it very comfortable to use. The total cycle is an hour with part of that time being "pretreatment". I thought that I'd get antsy or bored using it and was planning to download podcasts to listen to while getting "pumped". I haven't had to do that. The sequential pumping almost puts me into a meditative state and the hour flies by.

    There are two downsides. With both sides being treated simultaneously, I need my husband to be around to zip me in, though I can get out myself if I leave one of the sleeves slightly unzipped. I think with practice and a few modifications,like adding extended zipper pulls, I'll get to the point of being able to do it all myself.

    The other consideration is that it really is very expensive (especially in Canadian $) and I have no insurance coverage for it. It can be used as a medical expense for tax purposes so that will help some.

    So… so far, so good.

    I think, for me, it will be a significant help in controlling this beast of a condition.

    PS: A hint - make sure to go and have a pee before zipping in.

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited October 2016

    "smaller version" ? What do you mean? Some of us do need smaller garments as do some need larger garments or in between sizes.

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  • DC197
    DC197 Member Posts: 371
    edited November 2016

    I read on a Facebook group for women with metastatic breast cancer that there is a non-profit who provides a Pneumatic pump to control lymphedema. The pumps are not based on financial need or whether you have insurance or not. I applied for one, and received a phone call today. After answering a few questions, I was approved for one and will be receiving it within the next few days. There is no cost to me. Here's the link to their website www.conniecares.org

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