response

[eleanaor]

Hi - Rozebud, I would love to have those excercises, my email is elcalabrese@aol.com.
Basically what is being done is I have to wear this layer of foam and bandages which are pretty snug. The theory being that as I move it stimulates the muscles and forces the fluid to move up and into the quad of that lymph system and eventually drained. Then every day i go in for massaging of my arm, back and side and neck. My case was mild, but I had been living with it for about 8 mos. So far in two days my arm went down 1.5 centimeters. It's not too much bigger than the other arm now. It's amazing.
The therapist told me to start doing moderate excercise and some massaging so that I can learn to keep it under control.
el

[Annemarie]

I went for physical therapy also with the bandages wrapped around my arm. I found with my lifestyle it just was not practical to wear a caste type thing on my arm. The relief was only temporary. I have a mildly swollen forearm. So last week I went to a physiatrist (an MD in physical therapy). I only had one appt. so I cannot judge yet. I saw an advertisement in the paper for a pump like sleeve to massage the arm but I want to find out from the specialist in the field if it is a good idea. I want to manage this not exasperbate my problems.