Benefits of MLD

Benefits of Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD)
According to the National Lymphedema Network, 30-40% of Breast Cancer survivors will develop lymphedema in their lifetime. Become knowledgeable, and reduce the odds.

Lymphedema has not been widely understood, and many have lived for years, with the untreated symptoms of deformed, enlarged, heavy limbs, skin problems and infections. Life for a person at risk or living with lymphedema need not be much different than for the individual whose lymphatic system is functioning normally. Healthy living with lymphedema does require being informed, making adjustments, and committing to precautions. It is in the spirit of support and empowerment, that I offer this information.

Lymphedema manifests as swelling — principally in the subcutaneous fat layer under the skin. Injury, surgery, radiation, and congenital defect are causes, but regardless of the cause, the result is that the lymphatic system is limited or unable to perform its normal functions.

Primary Lymphedema is a congenital condition in which there are insufficient lymphatic structures. The symptoms of edema may be manifest at birth, or may be delayed until adolescent years, or even into the mid-thirties. The majority of individuals suffering from primary lymphedema are women, and the edema most often occurs in the lower extremities.

Benefits of Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD)

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Secondary Lymphedema is most commonly seen following surgical and or radiation treatment for cancer, although it can result from any kind of trauma. Symptoms generally result from surgical removal of lymph nodes, or radiation scar damage to the delicate vessels and nodes of the lymphatic system. The edema may not manifest immediately, but may develop over time, typically from six months to three years after the trauma. A person who has suffered injury to the lymphatic system is at risk to develop lymphedema at any time, for the remainder of their life. (See below, the list of recommended precautions for persons at risk.)

Understanding the functions of the lymphatic system leads to understanding the symptoms associated with lymphedema. The lymphatic system performs both immune functions and cellular waste removal. (The waste is dead cells, bacteria, tissue proteins, large fatty chain molecules, and excess fluid.) The swelling of lymphedema means that cellular waste is building up under the skin. As fluid builds up, so does protein, and skin changes such as loss of elasticity, and a thickening called fibrosis can follow. Bacteria and other pathogens, which would ordinarily be removed and disarmed in the lymph nodes, can also accumulate with lymphedema, leading to an increased risk of inflammation and infection (cellulitis).

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