Health Wise: Summertime heat and Lymphedema
Health Wise
During summer when people prefer loose-fitting clothing, treatment of Lymphedema includes wrapping the affected limb in tight bandaging to increase uptake of the fluid.
Posted: Friday, May 4, 2012 12:00 am | Updated: 2:20 pm, Thu May 3, 2012.
Summertime temperatures can be uncomfortable, but for those with Lymphedema, the rise in ambient temperature can increase symptoms and discomfort. Lymphedema is swelling in your arms, legs, fingers and toes caused by a blockage. Managing care of the affected extremity becomes more challenging as the numbers on the thermometer rise – particularly when the treatment requires tight fitting body wraps.
The lymphatic system is a network of vessels, nodes, and lymphocytes that circulate protein rich fluid throughout the body and flushes out wastes. When this system is impaired, fluid buildup occurs impacting an arm, leg, fingers or toes. The result is painful swelling of the impacted area, a feeling of tightness or heaviness, recurring infections and hardening or thickening of the skin.
It frequently is a side effect of cancer treatment, but Lymphedema is also found in people who have had surgery, infection, or a history of lymph system issues. Obesity can also be a trigger.
Symptoms of Lymphedema:
Symptoms may include unexpected painless swelling of the trunk, arms, or legs. Skin changes in the area may include thickening or discoloration. Particularly troubling is the inability of a skin infection to heal. Symptoms may increase with changes of outdoor temperature such as a hot summer day, using a hot tub, pressure changes such as using a blood-pressure cuff or flying in an airplane; or some symptoms may appear without warning.
The management of Lymphedema can vary from a massage technique to increase the re-absorption of the lymph fluid (manual lymph drainage) to exercises that increase circulation. During summer when people prefer loose-fitting clothing, treatment of Lymphedema often includes wrapping the affected limb in tight bandaging to increase uptake of the fluid. Special garments can be worn to maintain compression and some even include a pneumatic compression pump to apply constant pressure.
Wound Treatment:
Like Lymphedema, there are other conditions that may result in chronic or non-healing wounds. Without proper treatment, wounds can be debilitating and hinder a person’s quality of life.
Examples of some of the wounds that are treated in our center include: acute and chronic non-healing wounds, pressure ulcers, venous stasis wounds/ulcers, and arterial ulcers.
There are three objectives in wound care – treatment, education and prevention. Naturally, treating the wound to speed healing and prevent infection is the first step. Partnering with patients is important so they can identify what they can do at home to care for a wound and how to recognize when help is needed. Finally, the patient needs to understand how they can prevent a future wound.
Treating Lymphedema and wounds sometimes requires a specialist. Mark Twain St. Joseph’s Hospital offers the only outpatient Wound Care Center in the three county area devoted to wounds and Lymphedema. Our Wound Care Center sees one patient at a time by appointment, allowing for room sterilization between patients to prevent cross-contamination between patients. The Wound Care Center is conveniently located next to the lab should patients require lab work or wound cultures.
If you or someone that you know is fighting a chronic wound or swelling condition, please contact us.
Patricia Oliver is an occupational therapist, wound care consultant, and Lymphedema therapist at Mark Twain St. Joseph’s Hospital’s Physical Therapy Department. Contact her at 754-2609.
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