Re-Assessing Your Lymphedema Self-Care

In keeping with this month’s theme – Reassess, Reset & Renew – today’s post is all about evaluating how well those of you out there living with Lymphedema are managing the condition, improve your self-care routine and your overall health.
 
As you’ve all likely heard before, comprehensive lymphedema management includes:

• Compression: Using bandages or compression garments to reduce and/or maintain the size of your affected body part is imperative for everyone living with lymphedema
• Manual Lymph Drainage: Whether performed on your own and/or by a therapist regular MLD treatments will help to reduce (or may even eliminate) the pain and swelling you experience.
• Maintaining a healthy weight: Eating a balanced diet that includes foods that reduce inflammation (i.e. pineapple, green leafy vegetables, ginger, salmon and garlic)  and engaging in regular physical activity (at an intensity and for a duration that does not overload your lymphatic system) to maintain a healthy weight is a key part of living well with lymphedema.
• Meticulous skin care: Keep your skin well moisturized, while avoiding and checking for any breakage of the skin (due to cuts, insect bites, etc.) will greatly reduce your risk of infection.
• Elevation: Elevating the affected limb(s) or body part where possible helps to reduce swelling.
• Decongestive Exercises: Performing decongestive exercises that promote the movement of lymph fluid out of the affected tissues, and gently stretch your muscles.

 
Of course, most of us living with Lymphedema are falling down on the job for at least a few of the points listed above. For example, I wear my compression garments regularly, am obsessed with my skin and do massage on my own fairly often. However, though I do exercise I can’t say I’m maintaining a healthy weight or elevating my affected limb as much as I should, so there is definitely room for improvement in those areas. And trust me, I’m working on it.
 
What about you? Are you hitting the mark on all 6 of lymphedema management points listed above? If so, kudos to you. If not, leave a comment about what you could be doing better and how you plan to make the change below.  

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