Saturday, April 7, 2012

Lymphedema Management Will Improve Your Quality of Life

What is the Lymph System?

The lymph system is a whole series of very delicate and small vessels and nodes which are found in areas all over the body. They move the protein out from under the skin. If it doesn't move well or your lymph system is disrupted, the proteins can stay in the skin and cause fluid to stay there as well. Lymph nodes help you to fight infection in the body as well as to help you to resolve substances that do not belong in the body.

What is Lymphedema?

Lymphedema is a collection of fluid in areas that results in swelling which is constant and may also be painful. It can happen anywhere in your body, the legs, the arms or other areas. It can develop as a result of cancer treatments, it may also come from poor veins or surgery as well as a damaged lymph system. Any of these things can result in lymphedema and a lot of swelling in your body. Lymphedema management can take many forms, but will quite likely include some mechanical methods of moving the lymph fluid around the body.

Lymphedema pumps are quite frequently used to help promote lymphatic and venous flow which can relieve symptoms. Other methods such as physical therapy are often used to help control your lymphedema.

What Do I Need to Know?

In most cases, you will require medical treatment for your lymphedema. While your doctor or health care provider will help you to manage the symptoms and to lower the swelling using many different methods, you are a partner in your own healthcare. There are some protective measures that you can and should be taking so far as lymphedema management as well as your medical treatment. If you have lymphedema, these measures include:

* Pay close attention for any sign of infection in your affected areas. If you have pain in the areas which are affected you should contact your health care provider.

* Be very careful to not wear tight clothing or jewelry in the areas which are affected by lymphedema. This will further constrict your circulation and may increase or exacerbate the swelling and prevent the fluid from moving even more.

* Practice very good health care and skin care. If you have cracks in the skin, treat them carefully. Bath frequently and always apply lotion to your affected areas every day. This keeps the stretched skin from breaking down and allowing infection to take place.

* If your lymphedema is in the legs and feet, have your nails trimmed by a podiatrist rather than trying to do them yourself. Stay alert for any skin breakdown in the affected areas.

* Never allow a medical procedure such as taking blood or blood pressure readings in the affected areas to prevent any chance of injury.

Your doctor will help you with your lymphedema management and will quite likely ask that you use a lymphedema pump to help to reduce the swelling, but you should be watching your own condition as well and taking good care of your affected skin areas.

Video: Lymphedema Management Will Improve Your Quality of Life



Dramatically improve the quality of your life with successful Lymphedema Management

Call  Lymphedema Pumps Direct TODAY at 855-361-2944

We'll work with your doctor and insurance provider for you.
David Fred is CEO of LymphedemaPumpsDirect.com

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Lymphedema Pump FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions About Lymphedema Pumps

1. How will I know if it will be effective to get a lymphedema pump?

A. The physician who is working with your condition will recommend the pump for you and then will write a prescription for it, much as they would any other treatment option for your lymphedema.

2. Are lymphedema pumps safe for me to use?

Lymphedema pumps are generally safe for everyone but there are contraindications for their use. If you have any concerns or questions it is best to always express those to your primary care physician. Make sure that he or she knows every aspect of your condition so that they can make the choice for you with all of the information that they need. Also, speak with your doctor to ensure that your condition can be helped using a lymphedema pump and that there is no medical reason for you not to use one.

3. How do I get my lymphedema pump covered by my insurance company in order to have it reimbursed or paid for?

Lymphedema pumps direct will help you to get your lympedema pump. We work with your insurance company and your doctor free of charge in order to ensure that if you can get benefit from a pump, that you can get one and have it covered by your insurance provider.

4. As an overall average, how long does it take for me to get my lymphedema pump?

There is no hard and fast rule for this. In many cases, working with the doctor or the insurance company may take a few days to a week in order to get approval for your apparatus. Once that approval is attained, your lymphedema pump will be in your home in as little as five to seven days.

5. How will I know the best way to use my pump and how to connect it if I have any questions. Is there someone to answer those for me?

There is a staff member on call who can help you to determine the answers to any questions that you may have about your pump and how to use it. There is a number to reach us during office hours and someone on call all day to answer your questions about the pump.

6. What if a family member or I do not have an insurance carrier or our insurance carrier will not cover the cost of our lymphedema pump? Is there another way that we can still get the pump that we need?

Even if you do not have an insurance provider there may still be a way for you to get the pump that you need. Our company will work with you to help you to obtain your pump and to give you different payment options so that you can get the equipment.

Video: Lymphedema Pump FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions About Lymphedema Pumps



Dramatically improve the quality of your life and successful
management of your condition with our Lymphedema Pumps

Call Lymphedema Pumps Direct TODAY at 855-361-2944
We'll work with your doctor and insurance provider for you.

David Fred is CEO of http://www.LymphedemaPumpsDirect.com

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Lymphedema Pumps and Indications for Use

What is Lymphedema?

Lymphedema is a condition whereby the lymph fluid accumulates in the tissue or in the cavities of the body. Lymphedema normally takes place due to a blockage of some type that impedes the normal flow of lymphatic fluids. Lymphedema may be categorized in two ways, primary and secondary lymphedema.

The reasons for primary lymphedema are quite often unknown since there is no proven and specific etiology in most cases. The causative agents in secondary lymphedema can be multiple and diverse. It may be caused by removal of lymph channels by a specific disease process, or by a defect which was present at birth.

Without treatment, lymphedema can cause multiple other problems that must be resolved. Lymphedema can be problematic, often creating open areas or ulcerations on the body, or may preclude walking well due to swelling of the affected parts. Treatment is indicated when the swelling reaches a point that is causes discomfort or undesirably affects the body in some way, or as a preventive measure to preclude those effects.

What are Your Treatment Options for Lymphedema?

Treatment of lymphedema may take many forms. It can include compression hose, may require bandaging, or other means of compression. Medications may be used to help you to manage your lymphedema. It may even, in some very rare cases, be treated surgically.

The typical treatment will begin with oral medications, in combination with compression garments that will sometimes be effective in managing less severe cases of lymphedema. If those measures are not successful, more aggressive treatment of the condition will become necessary.

Most often, the treatment for lymphedema when other, lesser measures have failed will be the use of a lymphedema pump.

How Do Lymphedema Pumps Work?

Lymphedema can be managed quite well in many cases by the use of lymphedema pumps. They use as a methodology, the compression of the affected area. This is done by compressed air which is piped into a device which fits over the affected area. The rationale for the treatment is to push the edema into more central area of the body where it may be uptaken by the lymph system.

In most cases, the device which is used on the body, known as a cuff, will be shaped as the arm or leg. Compressed air enters the cuff and puts pressure on the area. The compressed air may be used in one or two ways, depending on the device. In some lymphedema pumps, the pressure is constant and standard in every area on which the cuff lies. In other varieties of lymphedema pumps, the pressure on the affected area will be intermittent.

Are All Lymphedema Pumps the Same?

Individual pumps will offer different optional items such as design of cuff, as well as pressure available for use from the pump.

Once you have achieved some relief from the use of the lymphedema pump, most physicians recommend that you maintain that by the use of a compression garment.



Dramatically improve the quality of your life and successful
management of your condition with our Lymphedema Pumps

We'll work with your doctor and insurance provider for you.
David Fred is CEO of http://www.LymphedemaPumpsDirect.com

Thursday, January 12, 2012

A Pneumatic Compression Device Can Relieve the Symptoms of Lymphedema

Lymphedema sufferers can find relief with a pneumatic compression device. There are approximately three million people in the United States that suffer from Lymphedema. These devices or compression pumps are used to remove the excess fluid from the limbs, thereby relieving pain and pressure and allowing the person a normal life. Often, because of the swelling caused by this condition, there are a number of tasks normally taken for granted that suddenly become too difficult for someone suffering from Lymphedema. They can be as simple as changing their clothes or taking a shower, going to the grocery store or even walking within their home. The swelling is often so severe that the affected limb will become several times larger than normal.

When a pneumatic compression device or Lymphedema pump is used, typically on the arms or legs, they help the buildup of fluid to be moved away from the area and back to the Lymphatic system. This is the natural way for the body to rid itself of this fluid; however, for those who suffer from Lymphedema, the lymph glands become blocked and the fluid cannot drain. In addition, there are many people who have circulatory problems that may benefit from the use of these pumps.

The cause of Lymphedema is not always known although sometimes it is due to surgery for certain types of cancer. A pneumatic compression device is often used by those who have had surgery or radiation treatment for breast cancer, prostate, uterine and bladder cancer. These are the most common forms of cancer for which treatment resulted in the development of Lymphedema. The pump has a sleeve that is attached and when it is placed on the swollen limb and inflated and deflated, this action helps the fluid to disperse and return to the Lymphatic system.

This treatment may be necessary several times a week and with this handy pump, they may be done within the comfort of your own home. Before the availability of a pneumatic compression device, people with this condition had to go to a specialist regularly for treatment.

The importance of ridding the body of this swelling cannot be stressed enough. Without the proper treatment there are a number of problems that can develop due to the buildup of fluid. The area may develop sores or ulcers that do not heal, resulting in gangrene. This will necessitate amputation of the limb. The swelling also prevents immune cells from being able to get to the part of the body that is swollen and this is where they are needed the most. Incorporated channels in the sleeve of the the pneumatic compression device are responsible for moving fluid away from the swollen area. When the pump is used, these channels are inflated and deflated effectively pushing the fluid away from the area.

The benefits are many including a quiet operation that is easily used while enjoying music or the television. Additionally, the cost is typically covered by insurance companies with a statement from a physician affirming that the device is medically necessary.

Watch the video below titled: Pneumatic Compression Device Relieves the Symptoms of Lymphedema



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Dramatically improve the quality of your life and successful
management of your condition with our Pneumatic Compression Device

We'll work with your doctor and insurance provider for you.
David Fred is CEO of http://www.LymphedemaPumpsDirect.com

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Is Lymphedema Curable?

Is Lymphedema curable? This is often asked by those who suffer from this condition. Approximately 3 million people in the U.S. suffer from Lymphedema and it is caused by a variety of reasons. Some people develop Lymphedema for no apparent reason. However, it can be caused by surgeries performed for different types of cancer. The surgeries may cause damage to the lymph nodes and they will swell. This, in turn causes blockages that prevent fluids from draining.

The result can be painful and prevent those who are suffering from this condition from performing simple tasks. Therefore, it is natural that one of the common questions, “Is Lymphedema curable?” is often asked by those who suffer from this debilitating condition. The answer is no, it is not, but there are treatments that can help the body to transport the fluids back into the Lymphatic system and provide relief from pain.

Lymphedema, when left untreated can cause a number of other problems. Infections, gangrene and even amputation of the affected limb may become necessary. The areas most often affected are the arms and legs. Researchers have been studying this condition for many years and the most recent breakthroughs have shown some amazing results. One that has been developed and has shown to be quite beneficial is the use of a Lymphedema pump. The pump helps by draining the fluid away from the affected area and back into the Lymphatic system, which mimics the body’s natural way of disposing of the fluids.

The Lymphedema pump has an attached sleeve that is placed on the arm or leg and as it inflates and deflates, it causes the fluid to be pushed away from the area and back into the Lymphatic system. Many people who have suffered from Lymphedema for years have found this to be a very effective way of providing relief from pain and swelling. Additionally, the use of a Lymphedema pump can help those who have this condition to be able to exercise, which is recommended by doctors to treat Lymphedema.

The Lymphedema pump is portable and can be easily transported. Therefore it is not a problem to take along on vacation, on a business trip or a family visit. They are quiet allowing them to be used even while watching television. The pumps are also covered by most insurance plans when a physician determines that they are a medical necessity. For those who are suffering from Lymphedema, the pumps provide a major source of relief from the pain and swelling associated with this condition.

Another benefit that the Lymphedema pump can provide is for those who may suffer from circulation problems or surgeries that may require being immobile for a period of time. They can help to reduce the risk of developing blood clots. Is Lymphedema curable? No, there has been no cure developed as yet; however, many have found relief from the pain and swelling by using a Lymphedema pump. Furthermore, they have regained the ability to perform tasks for themselves and return to a normal life.



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Is Lymphedema Curable?

Monday, December 12, 2011

Can a Pneumatic Compression Pump be Helpful for Lymphedema?

A pneumatic compression pump is a device that is often helpful for reducing the swelling associated with Lymphedema. When a person suffers from Lymphedema, a condition that causes the limbs of the body to swell, it must be treated. If it is not, more dangerous conditions can occur. Infection is one result as bacteria will grow and if this occurs repeatedly, often skin ulcers will develop. Gangrene resulting in amputation of the limb is another. Furthermore, the swelling can inhibit immune cells from reaching parts of the body where their function is essential.

The cause of Lymphedema may be unknown or it may be caused by surgeries for lymphoma, breast or prostate cancer. The surgery may cause damage and this causes the lymph nodes to swell. The swelling is caused by fluids that build up in the affected area or areas. The most common areas affected are the legs and the arms.

This is when a pneumatic compression pump can be helpful. The pump has an attached sleeve that can be placed on the affected body part and inflated. This helps to drain the fluid away from this part of the part and into the Lymphatic system, which is the natural way for the body to rid itself of these fluids. The sleeve inflates and deflates causing the fluid to be returned to the Lymphatic system. A pneumatic compression pump or a Lymphedema pump as they are often called has also been found to be beneficial for those with circulatory problems, deep vein thrombosis and people who are obese.

Approximately 3 million people in the U.S. suffer from Lymphedema. It can cause swelling to the point that the person suffering from this condition is unable to care for themselves. It may be so painful that they cannot walk, dress themselves or perform simple daily activities. Doctors recommend exercise for those who suffer from Lymphedema and this can be impossible due to the swelling. A pneumatic compression pump can help ease swelling allowing them to return to their exercises. The increased blood flow to the affected area can also be beneficial to healing.

There have been many people who have experienced the pain and swelling of Lymphedema for years. Since there was no known treatment or cure, the only alternative was to suffer. Researchers have been studying Lymphedema for years and it has only been recently that the pneumatic compression pump was created as a method of treating this condition. There are a few other methods available, but the use of a pneumatic compression pump is regarded as a very beneficial way of treating Lymphedema and has provided relief for many people.

One of the benefits of using these pumps is the ability to put it on the affected area and go on with other activities while it is in use. The pumps are quiet and people can even enjoy television while using the device. They are convenient to bring along wherever you may need to go since they are so easily transported. Another beneficial aspect is they are typically covered by most medical insurance if they are deemed medically necessary by a doctor. A statement from your doctor is generally all that is needed for the pneumatic compression pump to be covered.

Another breakthrough in research has shown the pneumatic compression pump to be helpful in treating those who suffer from restless leg syndrome. There are many new and exciting advances being made in medicine today. For the sufferers of Lymphedema, this is one method that has proven to be helpful in reducing swelling and allowing them to lead a more normal life.

Watch the video on Can a Pneumatic Compression Pump be Helpful for Lymphedema?



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Dramatically improve the quality of your life and successful
management of your condition with our Pneumatic Compression Pump

We'll work with your doctor and insurance provider for you.
Call us today for a free consultation at: 855.361.2944

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Compression Pump - The Ideal Choice for Patients with Lymphedema

Compression pumps are used to treat a condition that can cause swelling in the arms and legs called Lymphedema. If left untreated the condition can become worse. The pump reduces the excess fluid from the limbs and returns it to the cardiovascular system. Since the pump is portable the therapy can be conveniently carried out at home instead of making a special trip to a Lymphedema therapist.

There are two phases required for using the compression pump. The preparatory phase is first. This prepares the lymphatic vessels for receiving fluid moved by the pump. If this part of the therapy is not completed correctly, it can cause damage to other tissues. In the home setting, self massage is the best method preparing these vessels.

The compression pump is available in two types which are recommended for treatment of Lymphedema. The Sequential Gradient pump is used primarily for legs. It has an automated pump that pushes the air into a sleeve that is placed on the affected leg. The settings of the pump will allow the sleeve to inflate and then release, which is similar to the natural flow that is normally created by the body. Pushing the lymphatic fluid from the end of the leg and into the body where it can be returned to the cardiovascular system, the patient is relieved of the pain and pressure of the swollen area.

A FlexiTouch pump will perform both the preparatory phase of the treatment as well as the actual pumping that is used to return the lymphatic fluid to the body. They may be used on the arms or legs and the patient sits or reclines in the recommended position. The pump is turned on and once the preparatory phase is completed, the pump automatically begins the drainage phase. It is vital that both phases be completed at the same time. This procedure takes approximately an hour per day.

Lymphedema is a fairly common affliction from which approximately 3 million people in the U.S. suffer. Often it is developed after a patient has radiation treatments or surgery for cancer. The most common are breast, bladder, prostate and uterine cancer. It may also develop after treatment for melanoma and lymphoma. It may also be the result of deep vein thrombosis or trauma.

When a lymph channel becomes blocked due to damage because of surgery, the lymphatic fluid cannot go through the lymph vessel. This causes the fluid to build up and it does not drain properly. The compression pump helps by helping to stimulate the lymphatic fluid to drain by the use of channels that are incorporated into the garment worn. The gentle inflating and deflating helps to move the fluid back into the body.

The pump is so quiet when working that patients can read or watch television. They deliver a continuous flow and are cost effective. The control panel is simple to use by following the directions included with the compression pump. Before using the pump it will require that the garment and the pump settings be adjusted. They are different for each patient and should be adjusted according to the instructions of the patient's therapist. If you order your pump, the machine may or may not be customized to your specific settings.



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Dramatically improve the quality of your life and successful
management of your condition with Compression Pump
 
We'll work with your doctor and insurance provider for you.
Call us today for a free consultation at: 855.361.2944