Hi Everyone
I would like to ask does anyone know if its okay for a lymphie to have hydrotherapy treatment. My friend has recommended a private hydrotherapy pool near me for my arthritis and am wondering if its ok for me to get into a warm pool? I will be seeing a lymph nurse on thurs (1st appnt) but would like if poss. to ring up for an appnt for the pool as I am having great difficulty walking on my arthritic right knee. Many thanks for any answers.
I would think yes it would be fine as long as water isn't too hot. I found my arm was fine recently in hot pools in iceland with water about 40 degrees. Swimming is good for ld as muscular movement and water pressure works.
You should be fine harpy1, as long as you don't stay in the water (if it's very warm) more than about 20-25 minutes. If there is a resident physio who could help you devise some exercises for your arthritic knee while you are submerged, that would be great.
I've been told the reason lymphoedema patients are advised to avoid hot water (such as hot tubs and jacuzzi's) is because the heat stimulates the blood supply to the skin surface to try and cool you down, which brings fresh lymph with it, then, if the lymph system is compromised (as it is with lymphoedema) then the swelling can become worse quite quickly.
I agree with the above, just avoid too much heat. I have a jacuzzi mat for my bath and I use one in thr gym when I can, I find it massively effective, peopke can physicslly see the difference in me. Different people and all that tho so as with all treatments use gingerly at first then give it maybe at least 10 days to make sure you havent broken yourself and you dont flood your system. Make sure you do your sld.
i agree with all of the above - i hate hydrotherapy pools personally cos they're much too hot for me, but i use the movements the rheumatology physios gave me in a standard pool so you could maybe have a few sessions of hydro then do the exercises & movements at your local pool - it's less hot, it's cheaper, & most pools do sessions for disabled people which are less busy & chaotic
don't forget to wear old compression garments in the pool - as your muscles move, the compression coming from the garments gives the lymph something to move against, so swimming / moving in water with compression gear on is one of the best things you can do
&, for, me, a v small swim & a float really help with my joints too - i take a support worker to help me with getting changed (getting clean garments on in that damp atmosphere is another opportunity for loads of exercise! if you can remember trying to get your american tan tights back on after swimming lessons at school, it's like that only more so) & it costs £1.75 for the 2 of us, all the other disabled people use the shallow end so i get the deep end to myself to do a few widths, float, do some of the physio exercises
i take things like a stress ball (i've got an lsn one) & while i'm floating to loosen my joints i'll squeeze the ball so my arms are still getting some exercise that benefits the lymph
i'm sure i look a right state with my corset, gloves & sleeves on under my cossie, my walking sticks & wobbly gait but i don't care, i can't see me!
hope that's reassured you a bit - both the lymph and the arthritis will hopefully love it as long as you take everyone's advice to take it really gently & see how it all settles over the next few days
enjoy!
Well said Norberte reference the reminder to wear compression garment! My therapist always recommends swimming as long as I wear my garments. I am sure you will feel the benefit; don't let lymphoedema stop you from trying new things hary1.
Thank you everyone for your replies. I shall hold fire until I have had my appointment with Lymph. Clinic, then make a decision as to what to do after that. I had never thought to go to a disabled session. Thank you Norberte, I am learning so much of late.
best wishes to you all
Tina
i learn loads too, tina - that's what's so great about this site, every time a new question comes along there's somewhere to ask it to a whole load of experts
i do hope you manage ok in the water, i just love it even if it is for 10 mn!
I swim at least 3 times a week in my local pool and aim to complete between 30 and 50 lengths of the 25 m pool. I find that it makes a very positive difference to not just my Lymph legs, but also the feel good buzz. I sometimes swim with my garments on, but be careful as they can make the floor of the pool a little slippery. I have also made a new good group of friends since attending the swimming pool over the past 5 years.
Hi Sundance,
I know this post of yours is a year old, but I just discovered it. I am wondering, do you swim hard and fast, or are you a slower lap swimmer?
I was an avid lap swimmer for the 20 or so years before I got my problem with uterine cancer -- swimming 60 round trips/laps 3 times a week or more. After the total hyst. and removal of lymph nodes, chemo I quickly got lymphedema in first the left then both legs, pelvis and lower trunc. When I started swimming after I finished chemo, but before I knew I had LE, I got a charley-horse, for the first time in my life. The next couple of times I swam, I noticed that I did swell in my ankles.
I'm so afraid to swim now, for fear that I am making my problem worse. Yet I am very unhappy not to swim and feel pretty unhappy about my body. It is very hard for me to swim slowly. It just doesn't feel right! LOL! I'm wondering what your swimming routine is like and how your body responds..
Thanks Sundance, especially for the advice about the pool being a little slippery, I def. cannot afford for any slips, as I have unstable joints, especially my right knee, which needs replacing. I will therefore, if I go swimming will be taking my garments off. The floor is slippery enough with bare feet!
i'm an armie & torso-ie so no expertise with stockings but if you did want to wear them in the pool, then some neoprene surfer dude sock things over the top (not too tight!) would give you the non-slip
or you can get plastic socks people wear if they've got a verruca or something, with non-slip bobbles on the bottom - put 'verruca swim socks' in ebay
it'd be a shame to swim without garments if there's a way of managing the risk of slipping - wearing them really does make a difference to how much the lymph gets out of it
& in case anyone else is in awe of sundance's stamina, i manage between 4 & 6 widths & a relaxing float & my lymph still behaves better afterwards
Thanks Norberte you are a mine of information. Will indeed have a look on ebay.
I realise this is an old post but have been reading through. I have left arm secondary Lymphoedema and have been advised to swim regularly without my compression sleeve. Should I be wearing it and is this allowed in public pools?
I'm sorry king6863 but I put by mistake my answer to your question on the general forum and not just addressed to you. I suffer from the same problem at the same area. What style do you normally use?
I remember reading a discussion regarding your question: to wear or not to wear and the conclusion was that by wearing a compression garment, one doesn't allow the limb to benefit from the massage the water is offering 'free of charge'!
I personally do feel, and see, the benefit of swimming without my compression sleeve.
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