Lymphoedema
Wolverhampton Lymphoedema Service commenced in 1997. It is a service provided to patients who have a Wolverhampton or Dudley GP or who are agreed to receive treatment by the paying Primary Care Trust.
The service provides some of the best care available to lymphoedema patients in the country. It is headed by Jane Wigg, who has been working in the field of lymphoedema since 1994. The service, outgrowing the demand and resources at Compton moved to the Cedars lodge in 2001 to become a purpose-converted unit.
The Lymphoedema service has five nurses carrying out treatment and 2 secretaries who support the service. Many Volunteers work within the department either on reception, in the clinics or as drivers who take patients to their clinic appointments.
It caters for people who have all types of oedema including primary and secondary.
What is lymphoedema?
Primary lymphoedema is due to a build up of fluid in the tissues (skin) due to the lymphatic system not working correctly. This can be due to several reasons. Maybe the person has been born without enough lymphatics or they don’t work correctly. Our job it to make the ones that are there to work better.
Primary lymphoedema is caused due to being born without enough lymphatics or lymphatics not having valves to help push the fluid from the skin. This can happen at any time but is most often seen at birth, around puberty or the menopause. It most frequently occurs in females but can also occur in men.
Wolverhampton lymphoedema service sees many children and adults who suffer from this condition.
What is secondary lymphoedema?
Secondary lymphoedema can occur due to many reasons. It is caused following an operation or injury and occurs in about 25-38% of patients following breast cancer surgery and treatment. It is also very common following an injury such as an accident or fall. It can occur also following insect bites and after having a blood clot in your leg.
How do I know I have lymphoedema?
You will have a swelling to the limb, an arm or a leg. Lymphoedema does not only occur in an arm or a leg though. You may get it in your face or fingers, your genitals or breast. It really depends where you had the initial problem
What can we do?
Our role is to help you live with the condition of lymphoedema and become independent doing so.
Treatment will be commenced by the nurses and most often involves the use of skin care, exercise, wearing compression hosiery and carrying out a specialist skin moving technique known as simple lymphatic drainage. If there is a moderate swelling more intensive treatment may be required in the form of Decongestive Lymphatic Therapy (DLT)
Skincare. The aim of this is to prevent any infections of the skin and prevent the skin from drying out. You are advised to apply a moisturising cream every day and be cautions if you injury yourself with a cut or scratch or insect bite etc. If this happens apply an antiseptic cream.
Exercise. The way fluid moves through the body is with the help of the muscles pumping. Exercise is important to ensure this happens. If you can manage it a daily walk is helpful. Your therapist will provide specific exercises if required.
Compression hosiery. This is necessary to encourage the fluid out of the limb. Worn on a daily basis the hosiery will reduce the fluid and make the swelling more manageable
Simple lymphatic drainage. This is a technique used to move fluid to an area where is it is not swollen so it can drain back through the body easier. It is a skin moving technique similar to massage.
DLT. DLT consists of daily treatments for 2-3 weeks. This usually involves the treatments of Medical Lymphatic Drainage and multi layer bandaging. The aim of treatment at this point is to reduce the size of the limb quicker. Medical lymphatic drainage is the more thorough form of simple lymphatic drainage.
Staying within a health body weight is also important and is part of the clinic treatment.
For further information you can contact the lymphoedema team on 01902 774517
