Lymphedema Treatment Program

Glens Falls Hospital's Rehabilitation Center has therapists specially trained in the treatment of lymphedema. To learn more, please call us at (518) 926-2006.

What is Lymphedema?

Pronounced as lim-fi-dee-muh, this is a chronic or intermittent swelling in a extremity and/or other part of the body from the build-up of lymph fluid. Lymph fluid flows through lymphatic channels and are a crucial part of our circulation because they route liquid surrounding our body's cells back into our blood stream. This build-up or "swelling" occurs when there is a disruption in the flow of lymph fluid and it is unable to drain from the area.

Who is at risk?

Anyone who has had lymph nodes that have bee disrupted due to surgery, radiation, or trauma places them at risk; however, not everyone will develop Lymphedema. Most individuals are able to handle any disruptions in lymph flow. Approximately 20% of those with these risk factors will go on to develop Lymphedema.

What are the symptoms?

A sense of fullness or tight feeling of the skin in the swollen area
A decrease in the presence of normal "wrinkles" in the skin
A "whitish" appearance to the skin where swelling is present
- Swelling may be:
  - Pitting: When pressed by the fingers, the area indents and holds the indentation.
  - Non-Pitting: When pressed by the fingers, the tissue bounces back without indentation.
  - Fibrotic: Hard and non-pitting. The tissue is very hard and non-responsive.

How is lymphedema treated?

Although there is no cure at this time, it can be reduced with treatment by a trained therapist and then maintained at home with a self management program. Lymphedema treatment may include a combination of the following:

Manual Lymphatic Drainage:
- Often referred to as MLD, this is a gentle "massage"-like treatment which helps soften and move the fluid away from the affected area.
Compressive Bandages:
- Special bandages are applied to support the extremity and maintain the reduction achieved with MLD. Patients and/or family members learn the bandaging technique for their home portion of the treatment program. Patients completing treatment are then discharged with a compression garment to maintain their results.
Therapeutic Exercises:
- Each patient will be given an individualized exercise program to facilitate lymph flow. The program will include range of motion, light strengthening and/or aerobic exercises.