Pneumatic. Pumps

[Jodininey11]

I have a pneumatic compression machine for legs. I was told using this would help lower fluid in legs but move it up to trunk making me bigger there. Does anyone know if this is true. I open up before using.Thank you all in advance. Do you know anything about this Lenora ?

[Lynora]

It has the potential to dump fluid in the abdomen, which is why you really need to ‘open’ the trunk before and during a session. As long as you don’t just lie back and think nice thoughts, you should benefit!!!

[Jodininey11 in reply to Lynora]

Hi Lynora I do open the trunk area always before using the pump also before all exercising. Doing that should it not pool in abdomen ? Ty for replying

[Donna5658]

I have a Flexitouch, sequential pump for my leg that clears the trunk first and then does the leg. I do a mini-MLD session in preparation for the pump use to be sure everything is sufficiently opened up.

[CCT67]

It’s very important to open up and do your central clearance ie a lot of lymphatic breathing before AND after using the pump. During the programme periodically do deep abdominal breathing to stimulate lymph movement into the thoracic duct, and gently massage your axilla nodes (armpit) and terminus (collar bones). Pumping is not a passive activity and can lead to trunkal issues if you don’t open up and clear before, during, and after. I’d also advise occasionally having MLD with a qualified lymph drainage therapist/certified lymphedema therapist as a therapist is able to drain the trunk (front and back) much much better than a pump or we can do to ourselves.

[Puck123]

Using a pump keeps the tissues in my leg much softer and far less painful. I also find that if I pump before I manually drain my leg that my leg reduces much faster. My MLD nurse finds it a lot easier to drain my leg after I have softened it with a pumping session.