drainage

[Morzine]

hi

I started drainage massage last week with physio. Not really knowing what to expect. First session she massaged with hands, second later in week she used a machine which I felt was rather strong and uncomfortable. That night my legs felt very alive and hot. Is this normal. I can choose which method she’s told me so I think massage is better but if the reaction to the machine is normal thst I fekt perhaps I should try both. Have any of you had this? I’m in France I don’t know what the machine was it’s also used for cellulite she tells me.

How exactly do you feel after drainage ? How many sessions do you do…do u do this weekly with an expert forever….I really am new to this

Thank s

Sue

[Lynora]

If you felt uncomfortable, then perhaps ‘the machine’ might not be appropriate for you. It would be worth asking her what the machine actually is doing, and what it’s called - (write the name down) come back to us here and someone may know what it is! Also, tell her it felt uncomfortable - she should be able to adjust the settings.

The sensations you felt are common post therapy, especially if you have not had treatment before. The lymphatics have been stimulated, and the nerve endings are enervated - it should have resolved after a few hours.

Is she doing a ‘semi intensive’ treatment regime? Some clinics (usually the private ones) offer 15-20 sessions over 3 weeks. My local clinic, with certain patients who fill the right criteria, do twice weekly sessions for 3 weeks (6 sessions).

It should be up to you how often you see her. Some of my clients used to insist on monthly treatments, despite not really needing to once I’d taught them self-drainage - but it made them feel secure and I was able to alert them to any changes I noticed. If the clients lymphoedema was well managed, I would see them every 3 months, and check their garments and go over SLD techniques. If their lymphoedema was more of a problem to them, then I would see them every two weeks until we noticed a reduction. It really does depend on the individual, and, in the case of private therapy, affordability!

[Morzine in reply to Lynora]

thank you so much for replying to me. It was anLPG endermologie ma hide, made in France, . It was very forceful , it was the rollers that hurt my skin .

I’m interested to hear what you said about session, I’m booked at my physio for twice a week and I did wonder if it was endless or so many. Mine will stop I guess as I’m goung on holiday in three weeks. I think I need reassurance big time right now as I am constantly checking on l leg since diagnosis, I suppose that’s normal, I hope I can get on with life and stop worrying.

so if there is a reduction, you then keep up the self massage yes and try and keep it at bay? I seem to have a swollen wedge at bottom of leg it’s been there so long.

I’m so glad I’ve joined this as my doctors don’t seem to know much and I’m in France up a mountain.

Can I ask you another question. Is it normal to have your legs go red after a decent long walk, I put them up and it calm s down.

Thank you so much

Sue

[StellaM in reply to Morzine]

Hi, I have no advice for you,but thanks,I found your experience and Lynora’s reply very interesting to read. I have never had a massage from a professional,I do self massage after watching several youtube videos on deep breathing followed by massage. It feels good but am not sure how effective it is. What happens with a professional massage? Do you undress or stay fully clothed? Do they do similar strokes ( but much better,Im sure) of all over from neck down to ankles,covering all the lympho points on the body? Also, I have noticed lately one or two places advertising lymph drainage reflexology. Has anyone tried this?

[Morzine in reply to StellaM]

I’ve only had two sessions last week, first one she used her hands, lightly, not harsh, but like the videos show, it felt lovely and she started in my groin worked down then worked up. I’ve seen videos starting in neck, belly etc but she didn’t do that. Afterwards my legs felt nice I’m pretty certain the swelling was the same. The second session she used this machine it was rather strong with rollers , a bit pummeling I felt, I then had really achey alive legs all night and red, and I wee’d about eight times in the night, which I presume means it worked from what I’ve read. I start again this week two sessions so will let u know how it goes, I think I will avoid the machine as I’ve such dry taught skin to start with it felt abrasive.

You leave knickers on and just take trousers off leave tops on, well that’s what happens here with this physio. It’s all very comfortable, thry dint use oil or cream just dry massage. She covers the groin points snd behind the knee and the foot.

The good thing I think with seeing someone is at least you can get a feel to the pressure needed etc….I’ve watched videos and will give thst a go I think….

[Dash01]

Hope you don’t mind the response im new to this group.

I am being seen by physio but they are unsure what they can help me with? How do I find out about getting the specialist massages? Is this normal physio your going too or is there a specialist one?

[WardijaWardija in reply to Dash01]

What do you need a massage for?

[Morzine in reply to Dash01]

Hi well my local physio one of the women did the specialist massage but if I’m honest at the end of the day it didn’t make any difference not my right leg which is the more swollen one .

It felt nice though and I though it helped but she measured me yo start and measured me after and it was the sane circumference.

As the massage goes I’m not sure it was much different to what a normal massage would be but I’ve never had a leg massage so wouldn’t know. It’s all about working up the leg and down and it’s light not heavy.

There is a machine she used which she said had good results but I’ve such dry sensitive skin I felt it hurt and suffers one session as I thought I should but my skin felt sore. This machine kind of sucks snd vibrates. I had about ten sessions thrn me and the physio decided I was not e sctky getting anything out of it.

I’ve kind of given up. I did see an angiologist I’m not sure what thry are called in English as I’m in France but she used a machine yo test my veins and lymph etc….. she wasn’t any help just said use compression tights but I can’t use thrm as my swollen but down by my ankle is solid I can’t get the things on.

I keep my

Legs up as much as I can if I sit and that’s about it.

I was very worried about all this and so leg conscious from the time this started but my leg hasn’t really got any worse and so that’s calmed my brain and how I view this now. I see it as a rather unflattering leg I can do nothing about and take as little notice if it as I can.

I think the photos on media of some people really suffering extremely made me go into a complete panic and I kept constantly looking at my leg and fretting. Time moved on and it slowly dawned on me I was getting myself into a state of worrying about what iff? I don’t think about it much now.

How bad is your leg?

I do understand your worry as I was the sane I was freaked by the whole thing .

Happy yo answer any questions Dash

Sue