Lymphedema (also known as “lymphoedema”) is a chronic disease, but with proper education, prevention practices, and management techniques, patients can learn to prevent flare-ups and manage their symptoms. Yes, lymphedema is compatible with an active and healthy lifestyle! In this post we will discuss the basics of this condition, including do’s…
Lipedema (or “lipoedema”) is a chronic condition that causes an abnormal accumulation of fat in specific areas of the body. This fat is accompanied by fluid swelling and other changes that may eventually culminate in lipo-lymphedema. Individuals with lipedema are often misdiagnosed as simply being overweight, or their condition is…
Who offers the best physiotherapy in Toronto? Or anywhere else for that matter? I know lots of therapists who are great at what they do (including my lovely wife), but I’ll never meet the best physiotherapist in Toronto (sorry Lindsay) – because the best physiotherapist for me and my needs…
Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) massage is frequently recommended by plastic surgeons during the recovery phase following cosmetic liposuction. This specialized form of massage is generally believed to decrease recovery time and improve results, by reducing post-surgical swelling and fibrosis (scar tissue formation). But is manual lymphatic drainage after liposuction really…
Primary and secondary lymphedema in children is relatively rare, but carries with it the significant and lifelong burden of having to manage chronic swelling and prevent secondary complications. Here I describe pediatric lymphedema (also called ‘paediatric lymphoedema’), and the special considerations for diagnosis, ongoing monitoring, treatment, and complications. The majority of patients…
A tantalizing new study by a Canadian group recently caught my eye. The authors’ conclusion: “Submental liposuction is an effective and safe procedure to improve the quality of life for head and neck cancer patients suffering from post-treatment lymphedema.” So should we be recommending liposuction for head and neck lymphedema?…
A specialized form of liposuction for lymphedema has been successfully used to treat advanced cases of lymphedema for decades. Despite this success, it remains a poorly understood and uncommon surgical treatment for advanced lymphedema. Lymphedema is a chronic swelling condition characterized by an excessive accumulation of lymph fluid, most often…
Head and neck lymphedema is a very common side effect of head and neck cancer treatment. It is a chronic condition with potentially severe implications for quality of life. In my own experience as a physiotherapist and Combined Decongestive Therapist who has treated patients with various types and stages of…
Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), also known as Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy, has been investigated as a treatment for a very wide variety of conditions including musculoskeletal disorders, wound healing, and more recently lymphedema. Could lymphedema laser therapy offer real-world benefit to patients? Despite decades of research and use, the clinical…
Could stem cell therapy be used to treat the chronic swelling condition known as lymphedema? Early clinical trials offer us a glimpse into the future: lymphedema stem cell therapy for the repair and regrowth of damaged lymphatics. When I entered the field of stem cell research as a graduate student…
