Imagine you’re drinking a milk shake from a glass with 3 straws: the milk shake is like your lymph and the straws are like the vessels that carry the liquid away quickly. If you only have one straw, the liquid takes longer to empty.
Some people don’t have enough vessels to ‘empty’ the lymph fluid from under the surface of the skin, causing a swelling under the skin – this is called ‘lymphoedema’.
Use the ‘sweet’ treatment!
Soft massage
This is a gentle type of massage called manual lymphatic drainage. It helps drain the fluid away from the swollen part of your body, back to where it can drain back into your blood
-stream. This may either be done by one of our nurses at the clinic, or taught to you or your family to do at home.
Well creamed skin
It is important to keep your skin soft and in good condition so that you are at less risk of infection, as this may enter through dry or cracked skin. Use a moisturising cream every day on the swollen limb – creams such as aqueous cream are cheap and can be bought from any chemists. Check for scratches and cuts and apply antiseptic cream if you do accidently cut yourself.
Enjoy your hobbies and excercise
Don’t let your swelling stop you from joining in with your friends! Exercise will help control the swelling as long as you wear your support sock or sleeve. Swimming, cycling and walking are great for helping drain the lymph away from the swollen area and back into the body.
Trendy coloured socks
These are elasticated socks or sleeves that will help move the fluid from under the skin, back into the lymphatic system. They should be worn every day and taken off when you go to bed. It is really important you wear them for school and sport, as this is when you are most active and will get the best results from wearing them.
Support
Friends, family and of course all the team will support you in making sure that your swelling does not stop you doing just what you want to do! If you have any questions about your swelling, however silly they may seem at the time, just contact us at the clinic and we will chat to you about your questions or worries.
Some people don’t have enough vessels to ‘empty’ the lymph fluid from under the surface of the skin, causing a swelling under the skin – this is called ‘lymphoedema’.
Use the ‘sweet’ treatment!
Soft massage
This is a gentle type of massage called manual lymphatic drainage. It helps drain the fluid away from the swollen part of your body, back to where it can drain back into your blood-stream. This may either be done by one of our nurses at the clinic, or taught to you or your family to do at home.
Well creamed skin
It is important to keep your skin soft and in good condition so that you are at less risk of infection, as this may enter through dry or cracked skin. Use a moisturising cream every day on the swollen limb – creams such as aqueous cream are cheap and can be bought from any chemists. Check for scratches and cuts and apply antiseptic cream if you do accidently cut yourself.
Enjoy your hobbies and excercise
Don’t let your swelling stop you from joining in with your friends! Exercise will help control the swelling as long as you wear your support sock or sleeve. Swimming, cycling and walking are great for helping drain the lymph away from the swollen area and back into the body.Trendy coloured socks
These are elasticated socks or sleeves that will help move the fluid from under the skin, back into the lymphatic system. They should be worn every day and taken off when you go to bed. It is really important you wear them for school and sport, as this is when you are most active and will get the best results from wearing them.Support
Friends, family and of course all the team will support you in making sure that your swelling does not stop you doing just what you want to do! If you have any questions about your swelling, however silly they may seem at the time, just contact us at the clinic and we will chat to you about your questions or worries.