Confused about time

[Jodininey11]

Over last 2yrs.have had 2different lymp. Therapist at 2 different hospitals Both after opening up worked on both legs ,,approx.,45 ,min. Now have different one coming to home and works on each leg about 3 min.and said the other 2 are wrong.After opening up how long do you all get massage ? So anxious for answers. Thank you all

[Lynora]

???? 3 minutes????? Do you know where this new therapist trained?

I see from your profile you are in the USA - does insurance pay for her sessions????

[Jodininey11 in reply to Lynora]

All 3 therapists are within 20 minutes of each other,where they studied I don't know.Yes my insurance paid all 3 times.It seemed easier having this one come to home but now I am very worried that I am not getting what I should. How long do they do Manuel on you ? I appreciate you responding to me. Thank you so much.Yes I am from U.S. Pennsylvania.

[Lynora in reply to Jodininey11]

3 minutes on a leg! That is ridiculous and she shows unprofessionalism by criticising others therapists.

When I do home visits I spend at least an hour doing MLD - longer if the patient has bi-lateral lower limb lymphoedema.

Is she registered with LANA?

[Kallenubble in reply to Jodininey11]

It seems like she’s subtracting the drive time from your massage time! I have 45 minute appointments for one leg, but she doesn’t always take that much time. I feel stupid, but what does opening up mean?

[Lynora in reply to Kallenubble]

‘Opening’ refers to the stimulation of the proximal (neck/axillae/abdominal/inguinal) lymph nodes.

[Jodininey11 in reply to Kallenubble]

You have to open upper body before massage treatment so the fluid has somewhere to go. Like behind neck to collarbone,under arms both sides of body ,in groan, belly and deep breathing. Always go upward toward heart.

[Jodininey11 in reply to Lynora]

Do you know anything about the machine with 2 thigh high boots that stimulates both legs ? Other therapist ordered one for me , but this one said it would make me bigger in abdomen and hip area. That makes me afraid to use it.

[Lynora in reply to Jodininey11]

I don’t know much about the products available in your part of the world, but the ones available here in the UK can be useful - but are not for everyone. Yes, you could end up with problems in the abdomen and buttocks, but this could be avoided with correct training in the use of the device. You cannot simply slip into the ‘boots’, lie back, switch them on and then read a book or contemplate world politics! You need to be taught how to do self-lymphatic drainage to the upper body and abdomen, plus deep breathing techniques (while you are using the device) you must give the fluid somewhere to go.

A few of my patients have invested in devices, but tend to get lazy after a few weeks. You do need to be quite focussed to get any positive results.

[CCT67]

Please check her qualifications and only allow a Certified Lymphedema Therapist (CLT) to do any lymph massage/drainage on your legs! Even better to have a CLT- LANA which is the highest certification given by the Lymphology Association of North America.

As you have bilateral LE, a therapist doing MLD properly would need to spend 20-30 minutes per leg depending on degree of lymph congestion in each leg. (This includes lying on your back and also on your front). 3 minutes is outrageous and shows she doesn’t know anything about lymph drainage, or she is just plain lazy and unprofessional.

Click on the link for guidance and CLT database search facility. You can also call LE&RN (based in NYC) for advice and support. This is their website

lymphaticnetwork.org/living...

[Chocolate-e-clare]

Hi Jo - I agree with the other responses. 3’ sounds inadequate. Is your therapist bandaging/wrapping your legs as well? Each therapist will probably do things differently but the general goal is to stimulate movement in the lymph system, and help push lymph out of congested areas. In 45’ for MLD, I would spend at least 15/15/15 on trunk and each leg (time is adjusted also based on what works for you and what YOU need). Clare CLT in Texas

[SometimesCrazy]

I'm confused too! I just got out of the hospital and or physical/occupational hospital for three weeks. I had two therapists. The first one I was so excited because I knew nothing about lymphedema and I asked so many questions. He massaged my channels for thirty plus minutes plus cut the tape so they were on the channels. Second time he only did for a few minutes. Then the second therapist came on and he massaged me for about five minutes but he cut the tape on my channels so well that I could actually feel the blood moving. The tape was very intricate but stayed on for four days.

[Jodininey11]

What is tape on the channels. Never heard of tape.

[Lynora in reply to Jodininey11]

It’s called Kinesiology Tape. It can be useful, but the therapist needs training in how to apply it.

I get the impression that some therapists are not only cutting tape, they are cutting corners too. With 40 years in the job, this makes me very sad (and furious) for patients who patently are not receiving appropriate care.

[Jodininey11 in reply to Lynora]

Thank you so much Lenora. You really seem to know your stuff. Wish we had some like you over here.Even our Drs. In beginning of med school only get 15 minutes on this.My Dr. Ignored me for 15 months telling me it was nothing. So I went outside of our system and immediently was told lymphedema.Then back to my Dr. and he said I have lymph.Dah.All 3 therapist told me had they seen me just ,,1 yr. sooner they could have stopped the progression. Now 2 yrs later went from size 6 pants to a 14 .