Lymphedema Treatment Center Stuart and Port St. Lucie: Healthy Lymphatics, Inc.

Lymphedema treatment center in Stuart and Port St. Lucie by Healthy Lymphatics, Inc, a group of dedicated professionals, who take pride in promoting good health and well-being with updated lymphatic therapy and state of the art products.

Our group of specialized health care professionals, offers lymphedema treatment in Martin and St. Lucie counties, in the Florida area.  Healthy Lymphatics, Inc. Is an outpatient therapy clinic, specializing in all Lymphedemas, Edemas, Post Surgical swelling, Breast Cancer rehabilitation, Wound Healing, Assist, Chronic swelling and Venous Insufficiencies. Our group of Physical and Occupational Therapists have dedicated themselves to providing our patients with certified, updated techniques and treatments, which enable the patient, by teaching and providing the right resources to maintain and manage their condition for the rest of their life.

What is Lymphedema? (Chronic Swelling)
A progressive medical condition affecting more than two million people nationwide. Lymphedema an accumulation of Lymphatic Fluid (high protein fluid and waste products) as opposed to EDEMA (which is water swelling), that causes the chronic swelling. Usually in the arms and legs. Swelling can also occur in other parts of the body: feet, abdomen, breasts, neck or head as well.

What causes Lymphedema?
Swelling develops from an abnormal lymphatic flow, when vessels are impaired, missing or when lymph nodes are removed, the remaining lymph pathways become congested or blocked, causing interruption or an imbalance in the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system cannot adequately collect and distribute lymph fluid (excess fluid and proteins from the body tissues) back to the circulatory system. Therefore, a pooling affect begins to take place, thus causing swelling. This could be as a result of: cancer, surgery, sports/orthopedic injuries, orthopedic surgeries, radiation treatment, diabetes, infection, obesity, plastic/reconstructive surgery, heredity, wound, vein problems and trauma (just to name a few) Swelling is a concern for physicians and their patients and will be for a long time to come.

Types of Lymphedema: Primary and Secondary.

Primary Lymphedema,
(Also known as congenital lymphedema). Swelling in one or more limbs can be present at birth or develop at the onset of puberty or in adulthood usually after the age of 35, all from a variety of unknown causes, or associated with vascular anomalies (irregularity). This is a less common type of lymphedema.

Secondary Lymphedema,
Secondary lymphedema, also known as acquired lymphedema, is the more common of the two types. Most often, secondary lymphedema occurs following surgery, especially after the removal of one or more lymph nodes. Among the surgeries that require the removal of lymph nodes are those for breast, gynecological, head and neck, prostate, testicular, bladder and colon cancer, and melanoma. . Lymphedema can develop immediately after surgery or months to years following cancer treatment.
Other surgeries that could be a cause for lymphedema are, cardiac surgery, gastric by-pass, orthopedic surgery, plastic surgery or cosmetic procedures. Secondary lymphedema can also develop following scarring from infection or radiation therapy, or it may result from traumatic injury to a part of the lymphatic system. Other conditions that may put people at risk are venous insufficiency, diabetes, obesity, sports injuries, and open wounds.
PLEASE NOTE : Patients who have a damaged or blocked lymphatic system over an extended period of time could be suffering needlessly from lymphedema. Patients having any type of cancer treatment should see a lymphatic specialist because the chances of developing lymphedema increase greatly. Without the proper treatment and education, lymphedema can leave one or more limbs almost useless due to swelling and discomfort.

HOW LYMPHEDEMA AFFECTS YOU.
Some of the affects are: Swollen or heavy body parts, which in turn causes the limitation of movement, discoloration, thickening and the breakdown of skin that could lead to repeated infections, leakage of lymph fluid through the skin, and cosmetic problems. Having one, or a combination of all of the above could, if left untreated, worsen, leading to increased swelling and pain, progressive hardening of the affected tissues (fibrosis), and recurrent infections (cellulitis). This can also decrease mobility, your range of motion and the ability to perform activities of daily living, thus causing needless high medical expenses, a change in lifestyle, emotional distress and worst of all, affect your overall health and well being.

HOW WE CAN HELP:
By instructing you in self-management of this chronic condition. By educating you on the causes, effects and the need for proper treatment to help you regain and improve your quality of life; this can be done preventively as well, if a surgical procedure has or will take place which will involve lymph node(s) excision.  While there is no cure for lymphedema, our Licensed and specialized Therapists can help relieve symptoms by using our hands-on, non-invasive, gentle massage technique. Also known as (MLD or Manual Lymph Drainage).  It stimulates lymphatic function and allows waste products and toxins to slowly and safely flow out through healthy lymph vessels, re-directing fluid so they can be properly managed by the body. This treatment has a positive, relaxing and cleansing effect. It also enhances the body™s natural immune system, not to mention t he reassuring and calming effect it has on you. We also include an education that, once treatment is complete, you will have a new outlook to an ongoing concern.
Our Therapists will educate you on the use of compression bandages (wrapping the affected area with short-stretch bandages to increase drainage and prevent fluid from reaccumulating) and their effectiveness to your condition and treatment, working your way into compression garments, skin care, exercises and a better overall understanding of Lymphedema.

Here at Healthy Lymphatics, Inc. we feel confident and have seen first hand that with a caring staff, specialized treatment, individualized attention and education, patients can walk away knowing they have learned how to manage their symptoms, minimize swelling and infections and improve their overall health, regain and improve their quality of life. Most patients have seen amazing results within the first two weeks of therapy.  

After what you have just read, have we described you? Can you relate to all or part of the symptoms we have described? Then take a good look at your present over all health and condition and ask yourself, can I afford to spend one more day with pain and constant frustration, or do I want to give the lymphedema treatment center in Stuart and Port St Lucie  a call and be on my way to a better understanding of my condition and a new me. If we have described a friend or a loved one, then pass this information along to them. No matter which way this web site has enlightened you, we want you to know, we don't want lymphedema to control you, we want you to control it.