If you are at risk of lymphedema disease or suffering from this disease, there are details you need to know and steps you need to take to prevent or control the occurrence of this disease.
Lymphoedema disease is the congenital absence of lymph vessels and nodules, It is the swelling of certain parts of the body, especially arms and legs, as a result of lymph fluid accumulation in the body's tissues as a result of damage or subsequent removal.
These swellings are often seen in one arm or one leg, but rarely in both arms, legs, and head. It may also occur with swelling of the chest area and genital area.
The most common cause of lymphedema is the removal of lymph nodes after surgery.
Radiation therapy used in breast cancer and other cancer treatments can also damage the lymphatic system. and may restrict the normal conduction of fluids. Lymph nodes may be missing at birth.
With this disease, patients may experience problems such as difficulty in daily tasks, inability to participate in social activities, difficulty in moving, and swollen limbs. They may feel heaviness and pain when moving the swollen area.
In people with lymphedema, the risk of infection increases and it is difficult to fight these developing infections.
Some important points that lymphedema patients should pay attention to are as follows: ;
It is very harmful to have the affected area massaged and to go to the bathroom and put that area in hot water. Contrary to popular belief, hot applications are a harmful method for this condition.
We must protect the affected area from all kinds of bleeding. For example; such as insect bites, cuts, injections. If one of these situations occurs, contact your doctor or physiotherapist.
He will squeeze the affected area and cut off the flow of that area; We should not use items such as watches, rings, bracelets, anklets.
We should not have medical procedures such as measuring blood pressure or taking blood from the affected area.
Manual massage, popularly known as lymphatic massage, is performed by physiotherapists today in the treatment of lymphedema. Lymphatic drainage and compression bandage applications are performed. Some recent scientific studies It has been observed that types of exercise prevent the emergence of the disease in those at risk of disease. These exercises are performed individually by physiotherapists according to the person's condition.
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