Precautions while treating Lymphedema
This is a basIf you have chronic swelling in your lower legs, ankles, feet, or arms due to issues with your veins or lymphatic system, you may be able to manage and control it at home if the condition isn't too severe or complicated. A healthcare professional will check your overall health and the reason for the swelling to decide if it's safe for you to take care of it at home.
If it's okay to manage at home, you'll need to do a few things:
1. Keep your skin healthy: This will help prevent infections and other skin problems.
2. Exercise and stay active: This will strengthen your muscles, help your heart and lungs work better, make you feel better mentally, and improve your ability to do everyday tasks.
3. Wear special compression bandages or stockings: These will gently squeeze your legs to help move the fluid around and reduce swelling.
Your healthcare provider will give you more information about how to do these things correctly. Always talk to them if you have any questions or problems. They want to help you keep your limbs healthy and feeling good.
Using multilayer elastic bandages can be an effective treatment for reducing swelling in the limbs. It is used during the intensive stage of edema therapy or to help reduce the size of the limb.
In some cases, it may also be used long-term if compression stockings are not suitable or for palliative care. This type of bandaging is appropriate for patients with specific conditions, such as distorted limb shape or limbs that are too large for compression garments.
However, caution should be taken when using this system for patients with certain conditions like
active cellulitis, uncontrolled cardiac failure, arterial insufficiency, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis, unless under specialist referral and supervision.Patients with severe peripheral neuropathy should also receive specialist supervision when using this therapy.ic text element.