Supporting people with lymphoedema
Klaire Craven is a Complementary Therapist here at Saint Francis Hospice. She is trying to raise awareness about the Hospice services that can help people living with lymphoedema.
Lymphoedema is a chronic swelling that develops due to a build-up of lymphatic fluid within the body.
This can be caused by a number of things, however within the hospice it is more commonly seen as a result of cancer and its treatment.
Generally, lymphoedema can affect any part of the body including arms, legs, head and neck, chest and genital areas.
Patients living with this condition report pain, loss of function, heaviness, aching, skin changes, poor body image and increased risk of infection, which ultimately affects all aspects of their life and relationships.
How can lymphoedemas be treated?
Unfortunately, once lymphoedema occurs, it can never be cured as the causes cannot be reversed.
However, there are ways to improve lymphatic drainage and thereby manage the swelling to maintain movement and function of the affected area.
Self-management is key. In order to support our patients who are living with lymphoedema alongside their life-limiting condition, we facilitate a monthly meeting over a period of 6 months called the "Lymphoedema Wellness Group".
How our group sessions can help
Lymphoedema can be an isolating condition, so this is also an ideal time to meet others in similar situation and share ideas in a sociable and supportive environment as well as learning some self-management techniques and having some fun along the way!
Having an understanding of why and how lymphoedema occurs is fundamental to empowering our patients to live well with this condition.
Each meeting focuses on a different area of self-care such as skincare, recognising signs of infection, the benefits of wearing compression garments, learning simple self-massage techniques and positioning to reduce and improve areas of swelling and other associated symptoms.
This is an interactive teaching session led by a therapist but it's the sharing of the patient's individual experiences which really makes this unique and relevant.
After the learning and discussion, we focus on exercise and movement. These are both at the core of good lymphatic drainage, so a chair-based exercise session using resistance bands, light weights, gentle stretching and balance work is facilitated by our Therapies Assistant to help improve function and wellbeing.
Patients generally really enjoy these sessions and reap the benefits of the endorphins and feel-good hormones released from moving their bodies in a safe and positive way. They are also reminded of what their bodies are capable of.
Finally, we recognise the importance of relaxation and finish with some mindfulness, meditation, aromatherapy or some simple breath work to fully calm our bodies and minds.
