Dry Brushing Lets talk about it here

Binney is right, be careful. That is how I got a major cellulitis flare. The lavender oil has antiseptic value, be sure to use the mix. 

A week ago I started trying dry brushing, but not on my LE arm--just a bit nervous about that--instead, on my leg and especially knee that's swelling every day because of recently diagnosed arthritis.  I'm pretty pleased with the results.  It seems to be expediting the lymph movement, because swelling does reduce within an hour or so of brushing.  I stimulate the groin nodes and do the usual MLD deep breathing before using the brush, then sweep up toward the groin.  I don't have concerns about skin breaks on my leg like I do on my LE arm, although if this continues to work on my leg, I might try the technique on my arm with added precautions such as Binney suggested here.

Blessings:  Thank you for that info!  I will check with my LE therapist about that!

glennie - Thanks for the reminder. I haven't been dry brushing lately. I do have a suggestion. My kinesiologist showed me a way to use a towel to manage truncal lymphedema. Hold a towel like you're about to wrap it around your body from behind. To massage your left side, hold the left end of the towel out in front of you and the right end behind you. With the towel against your body, pull the towel with your right hand. Pull only in this direction. Loosen the towel and repeat.

My preferred method is to do it in the shower using a cloth like below. It's easier to grip and feels great.

Hope you have a quick recovery!

Serenity, Thanks for the info. So you hold the towel as shown in that photo, and then pull with the right hand?

Hi, Glennie,
After surgery I used a new paint roller to access my back. That way you don't need to pull toward one side or the other (since you want to move the fluid only downward, not to either side since they'll both be affected), you can just roll straight down. If you get the kind with a long handle it's easier, and you can do it one-handed. I tried them out in the hardware store and got some, uh, interesting looks from other customers. Guess they thought I was planning to paint my back....

Be well!
Binney

I thought it was time to bump this back up.

I've been curious about gentle dry brushing and asked my LE PT about it. Surprisingly she said she'd not heard of it but would "look into it." I found this thread so I'm giving it a bump to see if others have jumped on the brushing train for their LE.

If you use this method, could you explain how you do it? I've watched a couple of Youtube videos and the demonstrations seem much too fast in the movements when compared to MLD. Should the brushing follow the same pattern as MLD with the hands? Thanks in advance for any info.

Binney--interesting about the paint roller! Could you say more about how you use that? Thanks!

Thanks, HomeMom! I've watched several videos but for the most part they are like the MLD instruction videos... each one seems to have a different "technique." I suppose it's just trial and error to see what works.