Lymphedema is a progressive and debilitating condition for which there is currently no effective cure. For those unfortunate to develop the condition it is rarely fatal but such patients do face a continuing daily struggle with the uncomfortable effects of lymphedema.

Lymphedema, as one can infer from the name, is a condition borne from the inefficient action of the body’s lymphatic system. The condition often appears after a surgery which has removed lymph nodes, which is why it is found frequently   amongst those who have undergone surgical treatment for breast cancer.

The lymphatic system is, in effect, a waste removal system within the body. Running parallel with veins it removes cellular waste, proteins, excess water and bacteria from the surrounding tissue. It is also a crucial part of the immune system, managing both foreign bodies and immune cells.

When the lymph nodes and pathways in the body are insufficient, or lymph nodes have been surgically removed (as occurs in the case of breast cancer patients) the normal passage of lymphatic fluid through the body is impeded. Surrounding tissue swells, thickens and becomes quite painful. In some cases a buildup of bacteria results in infection.

Although there is no cure there are a number of different treatments that can be prescribed for lymphedema sufferers to greatly improve the quality of their day to day life.

One of the most common ways that doctors suggest patients manage their condition is by wearing compression stockings or sleeves on the affected limbs, which encourages the movement of fluids away from the affected area, thus decreasing the swelling. For more severe cases a pneumatic compression sleeve, attached to a pump, is worn for periods of time over the course of a day. The pump inflates the sleeve and exerts a gentle pressure on the affected limb, encouraging the accumulated fluids to move away from the fingers or toes, reducing swelling in the affected limb.

Another treatment available to patients is a massage technique especially developed for lymphedema sufferers, known as manual lymph drainage can be effective in helping dissipate fluid from an affected limb.

In rare cases, when a doctor feels that the patient’s condition is particularly severe, a surgical procedure is performed to remove excess tissue from the affected area. The procedure does reduce swelling, but is considered by some to cause more harm than good to the patients as portions of the lymph system are often excised, making lymphatic drainage even more inefficient.