Lymphostasis of the hand treatment with drugs. Treatment of lymphostasis of the hand. Forms and stages of the disease

Lymphostasis of the hands is a fairly common pathology. It is established that every tenth person on earth has this problem. People experience stress on a daily basis, have chronic illnesses and malnutrition. Under the influence of negative factors, harmful substances accumulate in the tissues, which causes fluid retention. With lymphostasis of the hands, early treatment has a favorable prognosis.

Lymphostasis is a change in lymph flow. Such pathological changes are characterized by the fact that fluid begins to accumulate in the body. At the beginning of the development of lymphostasis of the upper extremities, it is almost impossible to determine what complicates its treatment.

Pathology has several stages of development, which manifest themselves in different ways. At the first stage, swelling is observed, and at the end, elephantiasis appears. Violation of lymph transport leads to the fact that the affected limb is significantly enlarged. Often, in the absence of correct treatment in the last stages, lymphostasis becomes the cause of disability.

The disease appears after a bruise or soft tissue injury. To prevent arm lymphedema, you need to understand what causes it and take all necessary measures to prevent its occurrence.

The main causes of the disease

Pathology can occur for various reasons, among which the most common is a disease of the lymphatic system. Also, thyroid diseases and low blood protein can cause hand lymphostasis. There are other provoking factors that can cause this condition.

This pathology is divided into two types:

Both of these types of pathology have common symptoms and stages of development. Patients have reddening of the skin of the hands and the formation of edema. With lymphatic tumors, lymph stagnation occurs, which causes swelling of the hand.

Regardless of the origin and variety of causes, arm lymphedema should be treated immediately. The patient must undergo a medical examination and, with the help of specialists, determine the methods of treatment.

Symptoms of the disease

Depending on the stage of development of the disease, its symptoms depend. At the beginning of the development of the disease, there is a slight swelling of the palms of the hands, which increases in the afternoon. At this stage, connective tissue growths do not occur. Therefore, with proper diagnosis and treatment, the progression of pathology can be prevented. In most cases, people mistake such symptoms for ordinary limb fatigue. They do not even suspect that they have started lymphostasis of the hand, so they do not attach importance to the problem and do not seek professional help.

At the next stage, pathological processes begin to appear: discoloration of the skin, proliferation of connective tissue and edema. There is a pain syndrome. Most people learn about the disease at this stage of its development. It is possible to recover from the disease, but only it will take a long time.

At the final stage, which is called elephantiasis, irreversible processes develop. The following symptoms of lymphostasis of the hand appear: the hands constantly hurt, due to cysts and wounds on their surface. Fingers begin to deform and lose their performance. With a complex course of the disease, eczema and erysipelas appear. Pathology is rapidly developing and becomes the cause of the patient's disability. The problem is that at this stage the disease is difficult to treat.

Inflammation of the forearm of the lymph nodes and hands needs professional control and specialist help.

Diagnostic methods

The method of treatment is determined by the phlebologist, surgeon and lymphologist after the diagnosis. The doctor will conduct a visual examination of the patient and carefully examine the external symptoms. If necessary, additional tests, ultrasound of the chest, abdomen and upper limbs are carried out.

It helps to establish an accurate diagnosis by studying the lymphatic system through lymphography. This examination helps to determine the condition of the vessels and the exact cause of lymphostasis. With its help, you can see where the blockage of blood vessels occurred and the nature of pathological changes in the lymphatic system.

Conducting a comprehensive study of the problem allows you to get a complete clinical picture and choose the most effective therapy. Therefore, treatment should be started immediately, but only after consulting a doctor. The specialist will be able to choose effective methods of treatment that will provide effective assistance and will not harm the patient's health.

Formation of lymphatic edema of the upper extremities after mastectomy

A common cause of lymphedema is related to mastectomy. The operation is performed on patients who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. During this surgical intervention, the entire mammary gland is completely removed. In many patients with this disease, cancer cells are detected in the lymph nodes. Therefore, they are also removed. This is necessary in order to minimize the possibility of recurrence of the disease after a mastectomy.

The operation is a great stress for the body and the cause of negative changes. Many patients develop erysipelas of the hand with lymphostasis.

The operation does not always cause swelling of the hands and lymphostasis. Therefore, it is difficult to predict how the body of a particular patient will react to a mastectomy.

Healing procedures

The effectiveness of therapy depends on the stage of development of the pathology. Early diagnosis and treatment will completely eliminate hand lymphostasis. At the very beginning of its development, the disease is treatable. It is especially important to start therapy as early as possible if the cause of the pathology is associated with the removal of lymph nodes. The remaining stages are practically incurable due to damage to the lymphatic system of the whole organism. In such cases, even surgical treatment will not be able to normalize the condition of the upper limbs.

Before the doctor prescribes the treatment of lymphostasis, he must determine the stage of the disease. Because the choice of medicines and other therapeutic measures will depend on this. The main task of specialists is to eliminate edema and prevent the re-development of pathology. It is important that the patient strictly follows all the doctor's instructions.

At the beginning of the development of the disease, therapy is aimed at eliminating edema and normalizing the condition of the hands. To eliminate the problem, conservative treatment is used. Patients undergo drug therapy and determine a number of other procedures that can alleviate his condition.

In the last stages, therapeutic measures are carried out to eliminate the symptoms and alleviate the patient's condition. In advanced cases, surgical treatment is used. A number of procedures are carried out to activate blood circulation and reduce swelling.

General treatment of lymphedema of the hand

Despite the fact that the causes of the disease may be different, general methods of therapy are used for all patients. How to treat lymphostasis of the hand for each patient is decided only by the doctor. But regardless of the reasons, all patients are prescribed:

performance of special gymnastics;
taking medications;
electromagnetic stimulation;
manual lymphatic drainage for the outflow of lymph.

The main task of all medical manipulations is to restore the outflow of lymph. The best assistant in such situations is physiotherapy exercises. Because physical activity improves lymph flow, eliminates muscle spasms and increases tissue elasticity.

Treatment of lymphostasis is carried out using:

Immunomodulators. The drugs stimulate the immune system, which helps prevent disease and improve lymph flow. These drugs include Likopid, succinic acid.
Phlebotonics. They have the ability to strengthen the walls of blood vessels, and eliminate inflammation. One of the most popular drugs is Detralex.
Enzymes. The active substances of these medicines accelerate the breakdown and elimination of toxins from the body.
antibiotics. Assign to patients with erysipelas.

The key to effective treatment is maintaining a proper diet. The relationship between puffiness and food has long been established. Patients need to completely change their diet and follow a diet for hand lymphostasis. The dietary diet provides for the exclusion of fatty, sour and salty foods. These products have the ability to retain fluid. But nutrition should not be scarce. It is important that the diet is based on the use of healthy foods that can provide the body with all the necessary vitamins and minerals.

The main product is protein. You also need to regularly consume dairy products, vegetables and fruits. The amount of liquid consumed should not be less than 2 liters per day. A balanced diet will provide the body with the necessary trace elements and prevent health problems.

Gymnastics with lymphostasis of the hand

Performing special gymnastics allows you to normalize the outflow of fluid. With the help of various exercises, you can improve lymph flow and eliminate pain in the hands. Each exercise should be performed ten times. Therapeutic exercises should be carried out in the morning.

A set of exercises:

1. The hands are connected to the lock and slowly pulled up to the shoulder blades.

2. The person needs to sit down. Hands are placed on the knees. Perform flips of the palms themselves.

When performing gymnastic exercises, it is necessary that breathing is even and measured.

Treatment of lymphostasis of the hand with the help of folk remedies

Simultaneously with traditional methods for hand lymphostasis, treatment with folk remedies is used. If no methods and methods of therapeutic traditional medicine help, folk remedies are additionally used. Many foods and herbs can be used.

A decoction prepared from plantain leaves is a powerful weapon against swelling of the hands. It should be drunk one hour before each meal. Decoction treatment is carried out daily. You can be treated in this way for no more than two months. With the help of this simple remedy, you can cure hand lymphostasis at home.

You can remove swelling and pain with the help of grated potatoes. The resulting slurry is spread in an even layer on a piece of fabric and applied to the hand. A compress of grated potatoes is put on for an hour. But such a remedy is only suitable for eliminating the external symptoms of the disease. It can be used in combination with other agents. A big plus of folk remedies is that they can be prepared independently from the ingredients that everyone has at home.

If it is planned to use medicinal herbs for therapy, then this should be done only with the permission of the doctor. Because many plants can cause deterioration of the patient's condition.

Hand massage for lymphedema

Patients with hand lymphostasis can perform therapeutic massage on their own or use the services of a professional massage therapist. With varicose veins, massage is categorically contraindicated. Because with this disease, any effect on the veins can cause bleeding. The impact should be soft and gentle. The best effect can be achieved by raising your hand. The use of anti-inflammatory gels and ointments also improves the result. The duration of therapeutic manipulations is 5 minutes. It is best to do it every 2 hours. For best results, you need to combine massage and physiotherapy. They will ensure recovery from lymphostasis.

Prevention

With lymphostasis, prevention is considered the best way to deal with the problem. You can protect yourself from the risk of developing lymphostasis by minimizing the possibility of infection and bacteria entering the lymph and observing the rules of personal hygiene. A good preventive measure is sports, the right lifestyle and massages. They improve blood circulation and prevent the development of pathological processes. An active lifestyle ensures good health and prevents the development of dangerous pathological processes.

The skin needs to be moisturized regularly and prevent the possibility of moisture loss. You can prevent swelling by preventing scratches, fractures, and injuries. Proper nutrition and sleep patterns have a beneficial effect on health.

Prevention of diseases in lymphostasis is a way of life for every person who cares about their health. If a person does not have bad habits, eats right and leads an active life, then the risk of getting sick is minimal.

Lymphostasis is a serious disease that entails serious complications. But effective treatment and the right lifestyle will cure the disease. Therefore, with lymphostasis of the hands, you should not hesitate. Therapy of the disease in the initial stage of development of lymphedema has a favorable prognosis.

In the fair sex, cancer often affects the mammary glands. In this case, a mastectomy will help to cope with it. However, quite often, surgical intervention causes postoperative complications, one of which is lymphostasis of the hand after removal of the mammary gland.

Lymphostasis is observed in almost 80% of cases, and if a woman strictly follows medical recommendations, then the disease can be quickly dealt with. Often, complete rehabilitation lasts no more than 6 months, after which all symptoms of lymphostasis completely disappear.

Lymphostasis of the upper limb is an edema caused by the accumulation of a lot of fluid in the intercellular space of the arm and cavity next to the capillaries. In the capillaries, plasma is filtered, which leads to its leakage into the interstitial space, where it is converted into a fluid that impregnates the tissues. Half of this fluid enters the lymphatic vessels, and the rest returns to the bloodstream.

The situation that develops due to the fact that large lymph nodes are removed during surgical treatment causes a violation of the drainage function and contributes to further swelling of the arm.

If a woman sometimes has swelling of the arm after breast surgery, the doctor diagnoses her with lymphedema. With such a disease, there is a deterioration in the outflow of lymph, which often leads to the appearance of swelling of the tissues. Of course, this phenomenon causes stiffness of movements, and also does not allow you to “use” your hand normally.

With this disease, patients often experience an increase in the upper limb. If special treatment is not carried out, then this process will also affect neighboring tissues, in which there will also be a violation of the microcirculation of the lymph and blood flow. And this threatens the development of fibrosis, trophic ulcers and other dangerous complications.

If erysipelas of the hand develops with lymphostasis that occurs after a mastectomy, then sepsis can easily develop.

Lymphedema or lymphostasis after mastectomy is divided into 2 types:

Primary (early) - occurs shortly after the complete removal of the mammary gland, which causes damage to the lymph nodes.
Secondary (late) - appears long after the operation.

Often, secondary lymphedema is diagnosed in patients who, before or after surgery, were exposed to radiation of the body as a treatment for certain diseases.

Also, pathology is divided into such forms (depending on the type of edema), such as:

Soft (reversible) - the primary view.
Dense.

In the development of the disease, several stages can be distinguished:

Sometimes doctors single out the last stage of the disease, in which there is a complete violation of blood circulation and an irreversible type of deformity of the hand, which causes disability in a woman.

During the mild stage of the disease, swelling that occurs during the day disappears only at night. The main causes of swelling can be both minor physical exertion and a long immobile state of the hand. With this form of lymphostasis, there are no irreversible tissue changes, and if you seek medical help in time, you can completely cure the disease.

If the disease enters the middle stage, then it is already more difficult to cope with pain in the limb, since cramps in the injured arm are often observed.

The most severe and dangerous for health is the last stage of the disease - in this case, the patient experiences serious changes in the lymphatic system.

In complicated cases, fibrocystic formations develop (the appearance of elephantiasis is also possible), which leads to a change in the contours of the limb, and it can no longer function normally. The most severe consequence of this stage is sepsis, often leading to death.

Primary lymphostasis usually appears in the first few days after the operation, due to which trauma to small vessels and tissues occurred. Indeed, at this time, new lymphatic ducts are formed in the limb, where previously unused lymphatic vessels take part. Gradually, during the healing of the wound, in many patients the swelling on the arm gradually disappears, but in half of the patients it “lingers” for a long time.

Sometimes there are situations when the edema subsides, and after 2-3 months it may reappear, which occurs due to the defective work of new lymphatic vessels. It is worth knowing that if lymphostasis has developed during the first 12 months after surgical treatment, it can be called mild or reversible.

The risk group includes patients who have an increased likelihood of developing lymphostasis. Among them:

Women who have poor blood clotting.
Patients with hormonal disorders.
Patients with advanced venous insufficiency.

Distinctive symptoms

With primary lymphostasis, the following symptoms are observed:

Drawing pain in arm and shoulder.
Swelling of the limb.
Shackled movements.
Finger numbness.
Burning sensation in the place of swelling, as well as its periodic bursting.
Increased swelling in the morning (as a result of a long immobile position) and after a strong load on the limb.
Skin inflammation.
Phantom chest pains.
Back pain - caused by muscle stiffness and unreasonable stoop.

If a year later (sometimes earlier) after the woman had the operation, the swelling did not disappear or developed again, the doctor diagnoses her lymphostasis of the hand of the secondary type, which is characterized by thickening of the edema.

Symptoms of the re-stage depend on the origin of the disease:

If the inflammatory process is caused by an infection, then the patient's temperature rises, especially in the place where the tumor is localized.
Erysipelas and small ulcers appear on the skin.
Muscle spasms, sometimes so severe that the woman cannot endure the pain.
Change in skin color on the affected limb.
Pain and burning sensation.

Causes of the disease

To identify the causes of the primary stage of lymphostasis, it is worth learning more about how the lymphatic and circulatory systems of people work, which complement each other and ensure the normal functioning of the body.

The lymphostasis of the hand, which appears after a mastectomy, develops because during the operation, the lymphatic vessels are damaged or completely removed, as well as the lymph nodes that protect the body from infection. As a result of this situation, tissue fluid, which is constantly formed, cannot be fully excreted through the lymph nodes, but begins to accumulate in large quantities in the connective tissue. The main symptom of this condition is the appearance of swelling on the arm.

Additional causes of secondary stage lymphedema may include:

Limb injuries that appeared in the recovery period.
Inactivity, which causes stagnation of the lymph.
Penetration of infection into tissue cells. Most often, infection occurs during surgery.
The formation of metastases.
Neglect of restorative procedures (massage, gymnastics, use of special underwear, etc.).
Unhealthy Lifestyle.
The appearance of scars on the lymph nodes after radiation treatment.

Sometimes there are situations in which in some patients the muscle tissue and lymph nodes are completely removed, and lymphostasis does not develop in them, while in others even minimal intervention causes a complication dangerous to health.

If the patient has a primary form of the disease, then at discharge, the doctor should give her a memo, which will describe the rules and procedures for the recovery period, which will help speed up healing and prevent relapse. Also, the doctor should tell the woman about possible complications and what to do in this case.

Treatment of lymphostasis of the hand after mastectomy is carried out in two ways:

If repeated lymphostasis in breast cancer was caused by the formation of metastases, then it should be treated only by surgery, after which the patient is required to undergo mandatory chemotherapy. Unfortunately, the secondary form of the disease is treated quite difficult - besides, the prognosis of the pathology is not favorable for every woman.

Taking medicines

Only a doctor should deal with drug treatment of lymphedema of the hand. Specific names of medicines are prescribed by the attending specialist, based on possible contraindications and side effects.

In addition to physiotherapy, the patient must be prescribed:

Antibiotics.
Angioprotectors.
Venotonics (in the absence of metastases in the body).
Phlebotics.
Painkiller.
Diuretics.
Immunostimulants.
Stimulants.
Enzymes.

Therapy for recurrent lymphedema of the arm begins after determining the causes that caused this disease. If it's erysipelas or an infection, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics. Along with them, the treatment will be as follows:

Taking diuretics.
Immunostimulants.
Reception of minerals and vitamin complexes.
Taking antihistamines.
Homeopathy.
Solutions for the treatment of ulcers.

With severe pain, analgesics are added to the above drugs, the choice of which for the patient is carried out individually.

The combination of the above drugs with physiotherapy and massage will strengthen the walls of the lymphatic vessels and normalize the outflow of their contents.

Successful treatment of the disease is impossible without a set of exercises, because thanks to them it is possible to improve the flow of lymph in the body. You can start charging on the 7-10th day after the surgical intervention (subject to stable health).

After a mastectomy, the patient constantly feels tension in the upper part of the limb - this causes stoop as a result of pressing the arm to the body (this is done in order to reduce pain). All this contributes to the appearance of spasms and temporal pain, which lead to a deterioration in the outflow of lymph. Exercise therapy and massage will help to avoid these consequences, and the sooner classes are started, the faster the patient will receive a therapeutic effect.

You can carry out exercise therapy at home, while always straightening your shoulders. Any exercise is repeated 4-10 times, but even in this case, a woman should not overexert herself. If the limb begins to hurt, then classes should be stopped and rest a little.

A set of therapeutic exercises:

Put your hands on your knees with your palms down. Then slowly turn the hands over - in this case, the limbs do not need to be strained.
We accept the same position, only now you need to squeeze your fingers, and then unclench them.
It is necessary to lean towards the diseased limb, freely lower the hand down and make swaying movements back and forth with it.
You need to raise your hand in front of you and hold it in this position for 10 seconds. If such a movement does not cause discomfort, change the position of the hand, stretching it up above you.
It is required to squeeze your hands behind your back, and then straighten them. Then we carefully try to raise our hands from behind, without straining them too much.

Additional will write out and show the attending specialist. All movements must be performed without overexerting. The main thing is not the speed and strength of execution, but the frequency of classes.

Massage

With lymphedema after a mastectomy, as well as if there are no rashes and ulcers on the swollen limb, massage that can be performed at home helps a lot. Make it under the power of the patient herself, or relatives.

To do this, stretch out the swollen arm and rest it against the wall. With the second hand, you need to start massaging it, slowly stroking the skin, moving from the elbow to the shoulder joint, and then from the elbow to the hand. Next, the tissues are slightly pinched and kneaded.

Massage movements should not be made strong, but they should be tangible, unhurried and smooth. When performing a massage, it is allowed to use creams and ointments, which the doctor will tell about. The time of one session should not be more than 5 minutes, however, massage can be performed 2-4 times a day.

As an additional procedure, you can sign up for sessions of hardware pneumomassage. It is carried out only in salons using special equipment that acts on the limbs with rarefied and compressed air.

The use of folk methods

The use of alternative therapy in combination with traditional methods of treatment gives good results in lymphostasis of the upper limb, which was caused by mastectomy. With the help of such methods of treatment, it will be possible to quickly remove subcutaneous edema and prevent the recurrence of the disease.

To prevent fluid retention, diuretic decoctions or infusions will help, some of which are:

fennel;
parsley:
burdock root;
nettle;
sophora fruits;
plantain.

The following recipes will help to remove inflammation on a swollen limb, eliminate its numbness, and also strengthen connective tissue:

Means	Cooking
Compresses	For its preparation, you can use different ingredients: dry low-fat cottage cheese, baked onions, aloe gruel, cabbage leaves, carrots and grated raw potatoes, honey. Products can be applied to the hand together or separately - one thing today, another tomorrow.
diuretic collection	To prepare it, you need to take dried and chopped blackcurrant leaves and the same amount of wild rose berries. They need to be thoroughly mixed and pour 1 tablespoon of the mixture with a glass of boiling water. Then you need to let the tea brew, after which the drink is taken 4 times a day for half a glass. It is advisable to drink the infusion before meals.
Sophora fruit tincture	To prepare it, you need to take 50 g of the fruits of this plant and fill them with half a liter of good vodka. Leave to infuse for 3 weeks, while not forgetting to mix the tincture. After the prescribed time, when it is ready, you need to take 30 drops on an empty stomach. For a day, you should drink 90 drops of a remedy.
herbal collection	A collection of dandelion root, elderberry, willow bark, meadowsweet, sweet clover has a good healing effect (all herbs are taken in the same amount). To prepare the decoction, you will need to take 1.5 tablespoons of the dry mixture, pour half liters of water over them, boil and hold for 3-5 minutes on low heat. After this, the broth should be left to infuse, then you can take 3 times a day for half a glass.
Plantain leaf decoction	Approximately 2 tbsp. raw materials are poured into 300 ml. hot water, insist 8-10 hours and drink during the day for three approaches.
Compress from edema	It is necessary to brew the dough based on rye flour and add the same amount of kefir to it. Then you need to mix everything thoroughly, and then soak gauze in the mixture. After this, the compress must be applied to the diseased limb and wait for it to dry completely. This tool can be applied to the hand 2-3 times a day.
Trays	About 6 tbsp. chopped string (can be replaced with chamomile, sage) is poured with 2 liters of boiling water, heated over low heat for 10-15 minutes and cooled to room temperature. In the finished broth, hold the hand for about 20 minutes.
Juice from beetroot	It is necessary to drink beetroot juice, 200 ml per day. In this case, it is better to use freshly prepared homemade juice.

The combination of folk methods of treatment with physiotherapy, therapeutic exercises, massage and the use of drugs will help to quickly remove the symptoms of lymphostasis, prevent the transition of the disease into a severe form, as well as the development of a secondary stage of pathology.

Dieting

Since an increase in body weight in violation of the normal functioning of the lymphatic system gives the body a large number of problems, the patient must monitor his diet. This will not aggravate an already difficult state of health.

To successfully recover from lymphostasis of the hand after removal of the breast tumor, you should follow the following nutritional tips:

Reduce the amount of foods that contain animal fats.
Refrain from eating sausages and smoked products.
Eat enough fresh fruits, berries and vegetables.
Be sure to include whole grain cereals and dairy products in your diet.
Butter should not be abandoned, but 2/3 of its total amount should be replaced with vegetable oil.
Do not abuse liquids.
Reduce your intake of salt and salty foods.
Food is best consumed stewed or boiled.
You can’t eat your fill - it’s better to get up from the table a little hungry.
Eat 5-6 times a day in small portions.
Before going to bed, it is allowed to drink kefir or fermented baked milk.

These simple tips will allow you to keep your body weight "in limits", especially in the period after the operation, which will help to normalize the functioning of the lymphatic system and improve the patient's condition.

How to prevent the onset of the disease

Any surgical operation is a serious stress for human health, and not only physical, but also psychological. In order for rehabilitation after a mastectomy to take place as quickly as possible, it is necessary:

rule	Characteristic
Compliance with the daily routine	You need to go to bed no later than 22 hours, and sleep should last 8 hours. It is also recommended to rest during the day.
Carrying out water procedures	To make the sleep stronger, it is worth taking a swim - at the same time, you can perform a water massage on the sore arm, where the breast was recently removed and at the location of the sutures, since over time the limb may swell and become numb.
Sleep organization	With lymphostasis, you should not sleep on the side affected by the disease, and also put the affected limb under your head. It is best to prepare a high pillow for her, because this way the limb will swell less.
Choice of clothes	It is worth removing all things that have elastic bands and cuffs from the wardrobe, which will avoid squeezing the vessels of the body. Do not forget .
Injury protection	You also need to protect the limb from injury and various injuries. For example, it is forbidden to make injections into it, allow shocks, measure blood pressure so as not to pinch the vessels.

Carry bags and do physical work only with a healthy hand. In the first time after the operation, you can lift no more than 1 kg. with the hand that is closest to the removed breast.

You should not immediately after the operation rush into battle and do all the homework that has accumulated. Something can be temporarily postponed, and with something the husband and children who take care of the wife and mother can help. In addition, work should be avoided in which the affected arm is in a lowered state for a long time.

Conclusion

It is worth knowing that after a mastectomy, the body will restore the normal functioning of the lymphatic system for quite a long time, and how successfully this will happen can be understood by the appearance or absence of edema.

As soon as there are any changes in the limb, which may swell, get sick, or there will be a noticeable red spot on it, you should immediately consult a doctor. He will conduct the necessary examination, collect tests, and then prescribe the necessary treatment. And the sooner a woman starts therapeutic measures, the higher the chances that lymphostasis will be completely curable and the patient will be able to avoid complications.

In the human body through the lymphatic vessels there is a constant lymph circulation- a type of connective tissue, consisting of.

If there are any malfunctions in the lymphatic system, the outflow of lymph is disturbed, which leads to lymphedema, or lymphedema.

Lymphostasis (lymph stasis), as a rule, is observed in the lower extremities, however, in 20% of cases, pathology can develop in the hands, treatment should be started immediately.

What is lymphedema?

Lymphostasis is a dangerous pathology characterized by impaired lymph flow. Lymphostasis, popularly referred to as elephantiasis, leads to persistent swelling of the extremities due to swelling of the lymphatic vessels.

As a result of the disease, the affected limb increases significantly in size, the skin and the layer of subcutaneous tissue coarsens and thickens. Ultimately, there is an excessive development of the stratum corneum of the skin and cracks in the skin.

Most often, lymphostasis is formed in the lower extremities (75% of cases).

At 20% of patients have hand lymphedema. The remaining 5% account for stagnation of lymph in the trunk, scrotum, genitals, neck / head (with brain tumors).

Forms and stages of the disease

Depending on the causes of the development of lymphostasis, there are several forms of pathology:

Lymphostasis of the hands is also divided into degrees, depending on the volume of limb edema:

Downstream, lymphostasis of the hand is divided into:

spicy that occurs immediately after an injury or surgery. The duration of the disease does not exceed six months, after which it is restored;
chronic, develops gradually, for a long time, there is a constant progression of the disease.

Learn more about hand lymphostasis from the video:

Causes

Depending on the type of damage to the system and its cause, lymphostasis is divided into primary and secondary.

Factors in the development of primary lymphostasis are congenital anomaly of the lymphatic system. With primary lymphostasis, it is possible to determine the pathology only in the puberty period, until this time there are no signs of the disease.

Secondary lymphedema is acquired disease, and the reasons for its occurrence are:

In the vast majority of cases, women develop the disease against the backdrop of breast cancer, as well as after a mastectomy (removal of the mammary gland).

Risk group

The risk group for lymphostasis of the upper limb, first of all, includes women over 45. Also susceptible to the disease:

people whose activities are associated with the risk of various injuries (athletes);
cancer patients;
persons leading a sedentary lifestyle;
people who abuse alcohol and smoke;
bedridden patients.

Erysipelas

One of the most common complications of the disease is erysipelas - acute infectious disease of the skin and subcutaneous layer caused by exposure to streptococci.

Without timely intervention of specialists, pathogenic microorganisms multiply rapidly, which leads to infection of muscle tissue, blood, and, as a result, development of sepsis.

You can recognize erysipelas with lymphostasis according to the following local features:

Common symptoms include:

headache;
temperature increase;
disorders of the digestive system;
decreased or complete lack of appetite;
fever
fast fatigue.

Erysipelas is dangerous due to the rapid development and increase in the area of \u200b\u200binflammation. Due to the high risk of developing sepsis, the treatment of pathology in lymphedema should be carried out as soon as possible.

Typically prescribed for treatment antibacterial drugs of the penicillin group, macrolides or fluoroquinolones. Also, therapy is carried out with antihistamines, antiseptics for external use.

Important: the treatment of erysipelas is much more difficult without parallel treatment of lymphostasis. Without the restoration of lymph flow, the treatment of inflammation, most often, is ineffective.

Stages and symptoms

The symptoms of hand lymphostasis are different for each stage of the development of the disease. There are 3 stages, which are characterized by their own clinical picture:

With timely diagnosis and treatment of lymphostasis at stage 1, recovery occurs in 95% of cases.

Therapy of the 2nd stage of the disease is effective in 60% of patients. Stage 3 lymphostasis is practically incurable.

Diagnostics

If any signs of the disease appear, a consultation with a vascular surgeon is necessary, which will help determine cause of lymphatic congestion.

Diagnostic measures include:

Also, pathology is differentiated from postphlebitic syndrome, vein thrombosis. For this use Ultrasound of the veins of the upper extremities.

Treatment

There are various methods of treating hand lymphostasis. The course of therapy can only be selected by a doctor.

After mastectomy

Mastectomy - resection of the breast due to the presence of a cancerous tumor in it. Due to the fact that with breast cancer there is a possibility of finding cancer cells in the lymphatic system, during surgery, removal of nearby lymph nodes, which reduces the risk of cancer recurrence.

The therapy of lymphostasis after breast resection is identical to the treatment of pathology caused by other causes, however, there is a method of surgical treatment provided for women who have undergone removal of lymph nodes.

With the ineffectiveness of conservative treatment, as well as with a sharp deterioration in the health of a woman, lymphatic drainage transplant surgery.

The essence of the operation is to use part of the inguinal lymph nodes as a donor material for transplantation in the armpit. Such treatment is highly effective, since transplantation uses the patient's own tissues.

At home

Self-diagnosis and self-treatment of pathology is unacceptable. Wrong treatment tactics can only exacerbate the problem and lead to irreversible consequences. Before starting treatment at home, a mandatory consultation with a specialist is necessary.

All therapeutic methods aimed at restoring lymph flow and blood flow in the affected arm, normalization of tissue nutrition.

For treatment apply:

medicines;
diet food;
massage;
compression of the affected limb.

Medicines

For the treatment of lymphostasis use:

angioprotectors, which help strengthen the walls of blood vessels, eliminate swelling, increase the tone of the veins. Also, drugs in this group have an anti-inflammatory effect. The most commonly used Troxerutin and Troxevasin;
phlebotonics, which contribute to an increase in venous tone and reduce inflammation. The drugs in this group include Detralex, Aescusan, etc.
enzymes(Flogenzym, Wobenzym, etc.), consisting of enzymes that enhance the therapeutic effect of phlebotonics and angioprotectors.
Also widely used immunomodulators, such as Lykopid, Eleutherococcus.

Compression

The use of compression stockings contributes even distribution of the load throughout the arm, while maintaining moisture and air exchange. The compression sleeve allows you to improve lymphatic drainage, reduce swelling, and restore limb mobility.

Compression sleeve contraindicated for use in the following cases:

Important: selection of a compression sleeve carried out by a specialist taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient.

Diet

The principles of nutrition play an important role in the treatment of stagnation of lymph in the hands. The diet for lymphostasis should be balanced and aimed at reducing swelling. The patient is advised to exclude from the diet salty, spicy, sweet foods that promote fluid retention in the body.

All meals and foods should contain a large amount of protein, while being lean and low-carb. Be sure to include fruits, vegetables and dairy products. An important step in treatment is compliance with the drinking regime - at least 1.5 liters of clean water per day.

Massage

Massage can be carried out, both with the help of a specialist, and on your own.

The edematous arm of the patient should be raised up, ideally resting on a vertical surface. Massage your hand from fingers to shoulder from all sides. For massage, stroking, circular movements, light tingling are used.

The pressure on the hand should be moderate, the movements smooth and slow. Massage lasts 5-7 minutes, it must be done every 2-3 hours.

Folk methods

Important: treatment with traditional medicine is acceptable only after consultation with a specialist.

The results of treatment appear differently for each patient. Efficiency, as well as the appearance of a positive result, depends on the characteristics of the patient, from the cause that caused the disease and from the stage of the disease at which treatment began.

As a rule, a positive result appears after 3-4 weeks of therapy, otherwise it is necessary to contact your doctor for correction or possible replacement of treatment tactics.

In the absence of the effect of conservative treatment, it can be carried out surgical intervention in the form of liposuction, lymphatic drainage shunting, lymphangiectomy or tunneling.

Prevention

All people who are prone to lymphostasis, as well as those at risk, are recommended preventive measures such as:

hygiene of the skin and nails;
mandatory treatment of pathologies of the veins, kidneys and heart;
lead a healthy and active lifestyle;
limit the consumption of fatty, salty, smoked foods.

Lymphostasis of the upper limb is a disease that requires mandatory treatment. It is worth remembering that complications in pathology can lead not only to a deterioration in the quality of life, but also to disability and even death of the patient.

Compliance with preventive measures, periodic examination by a doctor and timely detection of the disease will help to avoid complications and life-threatening consequences.

Lymphostasis of the upper limb is one of the most common complications after surgical interventions for the reason (ICD-10 code -I89.9)

Causes of lymphostasis

In the human body, all organs and systems are interconnected. In addition, various biological fluids of the body also perform a vital function. Such fluids include blood, lymph, bile, various secrets, etc.

One of the most important functions of the lymph is to regulate the amount of interstitial fluid, or in other words, the drainage function.
Lymph contains a large amount of protein, lymphocytes, hormones, etc.
No less important is the immune function of the lymph, as it gets various infectious agents, toxins, toxins and salts, which the body is trying to get rid of.

Lymphatic vessels always pass close to the blood vessels. At the same time, the cardinal difference between the lymphatic system and the circulatory system lies in the fact that on the path of the lymphatic vessels there are lymph nodes in which “unnecessary” cells settle.

For example, in infectious diseases, lymph nodes increase, as bacteria, viruses or fungi with lymph flow stay in them for a long time.

During oncoprocesses, atypical cells also enter the tissues of the lymph node with the lymph flow. Sometimes there are so many cells that the entire tissue of the node is replaced by a metastasis. Of course, in this condition, the filtration function of the lymph node is lost.

Patients who have undergone radical surgical treatment for breast cancer often face such a complication as lymphostasis of the upper limb on the side of the lesion.

The cause of lymphostasis is the surgical intervention itself. During a radical operation (mastectomy), not only the mammary gland with a tumor is removed, but also possible ways for the spread of atypical cells throughout the body.

In breast cancer, the main route of metastasis is considered to be lymphogenous - i.e. with lymph flow. Therefore, a mammary gland with a tumor and several groups of lymph nodes are removed as a single block.

After removal, the lymphatic vessels from these lymph nodes are ligated. As a result, the processes of violation of the outflow of lymph are launched.

Measures for the prevention of lymphostasis begin to be carried out already in the early postoperative period.

Sometimes lymphostasis can develop without surgery. So, with a widespread tumor process, when several groups of lymph nodes are replaced by metastases, the outflow of lymph from the upper limb is also disturbed.

Symptoms and signs of lymphostasis of the upper extremities

There are several degrees of lymphostasis:

At the first degree, the swelling is soft, the upper limb does not lose its function.
In the second degree, the edema becomes more dense, skin itching may join, the size of the upper limb (in comparison with a healthy hand) is much larger, which is accompanied by a decrease in hand function.
And the third stage is when the edematous tissues of the upper limb are dense. This is accompanied by severe dysfunction of the upper limb and severe pain.

In people with such conditions, you can often hear the term "elephantiasis." This is due to the fact that the hand on the affected side looks several times larger (in comparison with a healthy hand).

Thus, it is possible to formulate the main symptoms of lymphostasis:

Change in the size of the upper limb on the side; radical surgical intervention;
Edema of the upper limb of varying severity;
Change in the color of the skin on the arm;
Change in skin elasticity on the side of the lesion;
Pain of varying intensity;
Skin itching;
Change in the vascular pattern of the skin of the hand;
Decreased function of the upper limb.

People with lymphedema are forced to wear clothes that are several sizes larger than necessary in order to cover their defect as much as possible.

Hello. My name is Christina, I am 45 years old. In July 2017, I underwent a left Madden radical mastectomy. Discharged with all recommendations for the prevention of lymphostasis. A week ago there was pain in the left arm, the arm was slightly swollen, the temperature rose to 37.5. Which doctor should I see now?

Hello Christina. You can contact a general oncologist at the polyclinic at the place of residence with the obligatory provision of all documentation from the hospital where you received treatment (extract). A general oncologist can recommend a consultation with a surgeon and a rehabilitation doctor

Prevention of hand lymphostasis after mastectomy

Preventive measures of lymphostasis are the most important task: since the lymph contains a large amount of protein, the risk of developing septic (purulent) complications increases (because protein is a nutrient medium for a large number of microbes).

Septic complications can develop both in the early and late postoperative period. An example of a purulent complication after surgery for breast cancer complicated by lymphostasis is erysipelas. Also, the risk of septic complications in lymphostasis of the hand increases against the background of diabetes mellitus.

Lymphostasis is a complication that needs to be dealt with as early as possible!

Often, after surgery, patients try to avoid traumatic conditions and try to cover, protect the place where the operation was. In most cases, this is accompanied by a forced position of the hand. Many tie up the arm in a bent state so that it is almost completely immobilized (as in a fracture).

Contracture of the shoulder joint is a serious complication leading to disability of the patient.

Contracture is a pathological condition, as a result of which the motor function of the joint is impaired. Contractures are flexion and extensor. After a mastectomy, patients most often deal with flexion contractures.

This condition is dangerous because, in patients, the shoulder joint ceases to unbend. And this affects the patient's standard of living: many lose the ability to take care of themselves, they cannot dress themselves, perform various manipulations, etc.

In modern medicine, great emphasis is placed on improving the quality of life of the patient, which is why it is vital to fight lymphostasis.

These measures include:

Explanatory conversation with the patient. Each patient should be informed in detail about what this or that complication threatens.
The complex of measures for the prevention of lymphostasis of the upper limb includes massage, physiotherapy exercises, apparatus methods, certain physiotherapeutic methods and diet.

Massage and exercise therapy often begin to be carried out even in the patient's room. The attending physician, together with a rehabilitation doctor, selects a rehabilitation program for a particular patient.

This takes into account indicators such as:

Age
Complaints
volume of surgery
timing of surgery
body type
comorbidities (chronic diseases)
severity of lymphostasis
Ultrasound with dopplerography of the upper limb

Massage and physiotherapy for hand lymphostasis after mastectomy

There are several types of therapeutic massage for the prevention of lymphostasis of the upper limb:

simple medical massage
pressure therapy (a kind of medical massage, using special devices that can compress and unclench the muscles of the upper limb)

pneumotherapy (air massage)
hydrotherapy (fluid massage)
lymphatic drainage (both manual and with the use of medical equipment)
self-massage

Some methods of physiotherapy are also used:

Magnetotherapy
Laser therapy
Taping (tape tape, which, when glued to the hand, forms a local zone of low pressure under itself, thereby starting the processes of accelerating lymph flow).

Therapeutic exercises for lymphostasis

For therapeutic exercises, exercises with passive and active flexion and extension, abduction and adduction of the arm, as well as rotations of the torso and neck are used.

All patients after radical mastectomy for prophylactic purposes are prescribed to wear special underwear in the form of a compression sleeve. In order to choose the right size and compression class, take into account such indicators as:

the widest point of the upper limb (or elbow area)
distance from wrist to shoulder
circumference of the wrist
circumference of the middle of the forearm.

Measurements are made with an ordinary centimeter tape. These banding indicators are also necessary for dynamic monitoring of the patient. The compression class and the size of the product are determined by the doctor.

Drug treatment of lymphostasis of the upper limb

For medicinal solutions to the problems of lymphostasis, apply:

diuretics (diuretics-lasix)
antiplatelet agents (trental)
anti-inflammatory drugs (Wobemzyme)
agents that improve microcirculation in tissues (traxevasin)
antihistamines (to combat itching of the skin - tavegil)
multivitamin complexes (milgamma)
balanced proper nutrition

Also, drugs such as detralex and phlebodia 600 have proven themselves well. Both drugs are aimed at strengthening the vascular wall of the veins of the upper limb, reducing the risk of its microruptures. There were no significant differences in efficacy.

Treatment with folk remedies

Treatment of lymphostasis with folk remedies is extremely doubtful, as it is significantly inferior to traditional methods of treating this complication.

For example, the use of dietary supplements containing succinic acid, hirudotherapy, as well as the use of various salt compresses is permissible only with the permission of the doctor and as an addition to the main traditional treatment.

Hello. My name is Vera, I am 60 years old. Since 2016, I have been registered with a mammologist for cancer of the right breast. I had surgery in February 2017. The breast could not be saved. During the first month after the operation, the right arm greatly increased in size, began to bend worse, and itched. Having got an appointment with the doctor who performed the operation on me, I received a course of special treatment for lymphostasis (massage, physiotherapy exercises, physiotherapy procedures). In addition, she received various medications. Feeling much better. As soon as I was discharged from the department, I canceled everything on my own, because I think that folk remedies are better. A neighbor gave an infusion for compresses. What is lymphostasis in general, and why should it be treated in a hospital? From what treatment the result is better?

Hello Vera. Lymphostasis is a complication in the form of a violation of the outflow of lymph in the arm on the side where the operation was performed. A serious enough complication to experiment with infusions from a neighbor. It is unlikely that your neighbor is a doctor and will be able to help you. All types of treatment are reduced to a complex of traditional methods. And only in rare cases can be supplemented with folk remedies. Be sure to see a doctor as soon as possible for further examination and treatment. Make the Right Choice

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Lymphostasis of the hand is a serious disease that causes persistent swelling. Let's look at the causes of the disease, methods of treatment and preventive measures that will get rid of lymphostasis.

Lymphostasis is a persistent swelling of tissues, which is formed due to disturbances in the outflow of lymph, that is, tissue fluid. As a rule, lymphostasis affects the lower extremities.

There are several factors that can become a direct cause of lymphostasis:

Surgical operations in which lymph nodes were removed.
Erysipelas.
Problems with lymphatic and venous vessels.

There are several stages of lymphostasis, each stage has its own symptoms and characteristics. The last stage of lymphostasis is elephantiasis or elephantiasis. Such a condition is characterized by a strong increase and thickening of the volume of the limbs, as well as trophic disorders of the subcutaneous tissue and skin, and as a result, the patient's disability.

Puffiness, which becomes the main symptom of lymphostasis, appears due to a slight inflammatory process. For example, after a bruise, there may be swelling of the soft tissues, this is due to the influx of lymphatic fluid.

After a while, the swelling disappears, for this, compresses, injections and medications are used. But there are violations that are associated with the functioning of the lymphatic system, and then any bruise can lead to violations of the outflow of lymph. With lymphostasis of the hand, patients experience chronic edema, which significantly disrupts the structure of the skin. Seals the upper layer, on which ulcers subsequently form, and elephantiasis progresses.

Causes of lymphostasis of the hand

The causes of hand lymphostasis are based on injuries and damage to the lymphatic system. As a rule, these are burns, bruises, operations, fractures, sprains or dislocations. Also, the causes of lymphostasis of the hand include:

Depending on the cause and type of damage to the lymphatic system, there are two types of lymphostasis: primary and secondary.

The causes of primary lymphostasis of the hand are an anomaly of the lymphatic system and blood vessels, usually congenital. The disease cannot be determined in the first years of life, it begins to manifest itself during puberty.

The causes of secondary lymphostasis of the hand are not congenital, and any healthy person can acquire them. These include: tumors in the lymphatic system, injuries, chronic diseases, a sedentary lifestyle (this applies to bedridden patients), erysipelas of the hands, operations on the chest cavity, obesity.

Lymphostasis of the hand after mastectomy

A mastectomy is the removal of the breast due to a malignant tumor. When the breast is removed, the lymph nodes under the arm may be removed. This leads to a violation of the outflow of lymphatic fluid, that is, to lymphostasis of the hand after mastectomy. If, during a mastectomy, the lymph nodes that are located in the armpits are irradiated, then this also becomes the cause of lymphostasis.

Due to the disturbed outflow of lymph, that is, damage to the drainage and lymph nodes, a persistent and severe swelling of the arm appears. If the swelling went away a couple of months after the mastectomy, then we are talking about post-mastectomy lymphostasis. If the edema that appears does not come down and is not treatable, then we are talking about lymphedema. Lymphostasis does not appear in every woman who has undergone a mastectomy, but if it does, it can accompany her throughout her life or go away after months or even years of fighting the disease.

The danger of hand lymphostasis after mastectomy is that swelling can cause hand deformity and is often accompanied by inflammatory processes. Post-mastectomy lymphosis causes a lot of inconvenience to patients and causes stress and depression during the treatment period.

If lymphostasis of the hand after mastectomy appears in the first year of treatment, then, as a rule, it is not dangerous and can be treated. The swelling is mild, but accompanied by bursting, aching pain and heaviness in the arm, all this causes a lot of inconvenience. If you do not take up the treatment of lymphostasis of the hand after a mastectomy in time, then the disease will go into the stage of severe dense lymphostasis, the treatment of which is a longer and painstaking process.

Why does lymphedema appear after mastectomy?

With a mastectomy, not only the breast is removed, but also the lymphatics, vessels, nodes that received and gave lymph from the mammary glands. After the breast and lymph nodes are removed, the body fails.

The size of the removed lymph nodes can be different, it all depends on the stage and shape of the tumor and its location. In very severe cases, it is possible to remove the pectoralis minor muscle and level 3 lymph nodes.
Lymph nodes are removed because there is a possibility that cancer cells are located in the lymphatic system. And if they are removed, then in the future it is possible to avoid a recurrence of cancer.
It is possible to determine if there are cancer cells in the lymph nodes only after their removal. The oncologist conducts histological examination of the removed lymph nodes and the mammary gland.
Lymphostasis during mastectomy occurs due to a malfunction in the body. After the lymph nodes have been removed, the body does not stop directing the lymph, but all of it accumulates in the area of the shoulder and arm.

It is impossible to predict the outcome of the operation in advance. There are cases when, after the complete removal of lymph nodes and muscle tissue during mastectomy, lymphostasis does not occur. But it also happens the other way around, when the slightest interference in the lymphatic system causes severe lymphostasis of the hand.

Symptoms of lymphostasis of the hand

Symptoms of lymphostasis of the hand depend on the stage of development of lymphostasis. Let's look at the stages of the disease and the symptoms that accompany it.

First stage:

Slight swelling on the arm, which appears in the late afternoon and disappears after sleep, that is, in the morning.
Puffiness appears constantly, but at this stage, patients rarely seek medical help.
At the first stage, connective tissue growths have not yet begun, therefore, when seeking medical help, further development of lymphostasis can be prevented.

Second stage:

Irreversible swelling appears on the arm.
Connective tissues grow and hardening of the skin on the arm occurs.
Due to swelling, the skin on the arm is swollen and tight, which causes pain in the arm.
As a rule, it is at this stage that patients seek medical help.
Treatment is possible, but requires full compliance with the recommendations and great effort.

Third stage:

The disease becomes irreversible
All the symptoms described in the first and second stages are intensified.
Wounds and cysts appear on the arm.
Fingers are deformed, that is, lymphostasis of the extremities appears.
The hand becomes inactive due to the development of elephantiasis.
Eczema, ulcers, or erysipelas may also occur.

Symptoms of hand lymphostasis completely depend on the stage at which the disease is located. With each stage, the symptoms become dangerous and irreversible and entail a lot of complications, in very difficult cases, death is possible.

Diagnosis of lymphostasis of the hand

Diagnosis of hand lymphostasis begins with a study of the symptoms of the disease and a complete examination of the hand. When diagnosing, it is necessary to do a biochemical analysis of blood and urine and a clinical analysis. It is necessary to consult a vascular surgeon and conduct a complete examination of the chest cavity, small pelvis, peritoneum, veins and extremities. In order to finally confirm the diagnosis - lymphostasis, and find out the reasons for its appearance, lymphography of the lymphatic system and lymphatic vessels is performed.

At the first signs of lymphostasis of the hand, that is, when swelling appears, you should immediately contact a vascular surgeon, lymphologist or phlebologist. The doctor will be able to reliably determine the cause of the swelling, and in the case of progressive lymphosis, he will prescribe a set of tests and ultrasound.
In the diagnosis of lymphostasis of the hand and the study of vascular patency, a lymphoscintigraph is used, in other words, x-ray lymphography. This technique allows you to observe changes in the lymphatic system and find places of blockage of blood vessels.
Lymphostasis of the hand can be confused with deep vein thrombosis or post-phlebitic syndrome. In all cases, varicose veins, mild swelling, unilateral lymphedema, and hyperpigmentation are observed. In order to accurately diagnose lymphostasis of the hand, ultrasound of the limbs and veins is performed.

Treatment of lymphostasis of the hand

Treatment of hand lymphostasis depends on the stage of the disease. Lymphostasis of the hand is a severe, in some cases irreversible, swelling that occurs due to damaged lymphatic system and lymph nodes. Swelling on the arm may also appear due to the inflammatory process, after a bruise or blow. Edema occurs due to the influx of lymph to the affected area.

As a rule, edema disappears on its own, but in the case of lymphostatic edema, swelling can be eliminated only with the help of medicines and only in the first stages of the disease. But lymphostasis can cause not only a bruise or burn, but also a disease of the lymphatic system, which is characterized by impaired lymph outflow.

The treatment of hand lymphostasis is completely aimed at stopping the swelling and returning the hand to its normal state, without complications. The speed and effectiveness of treatment depend on timely seeking medical help and diagnosing lymphostasis. The course of treatment provides for the full implementation of all the rules and recommendations, which include therapy, drug treatment and the desire of the patient. They treat lymphostasis of the hand, as a rule, with conservative methods that are aimed at creating all the conditions that will help, cleanse the lymphatic vessels and bring the lymphatic tracts and nodes into a normal working state.

Treatment of lymphostasis of the hand consists of:

Complex drug therapy.
The use of manual lymphatic drainage, which helps to carry out the outflow of lymph from the affected area.
Care of the affected hand, the use of ointments and creams.
Selection of a special compression bandage and underwear.
A complex of therapeutic gymnastics and massage.

In some cases, for the treatment of lymphostasis of the hand, it involves pneumomassage or lymphopress. The procedure is carried out under the strict supervision of a doctor. Also, for the treatment of lymphostasis, laser therapy, electromagnetic stimulation are used, which have a positive effect on the lymphatic system. Running lymphostasis, that is, lymphostasis of the hand in the last stages, is practically untreatable. In the last stages of the disease, osteopathic visceral techniques are used as a treatment, which can reduce swelling and improve lymph inflow and outflow.

Treatment of hand lymphostasis after mastectomy

Treatment of hand lymphostasis after mastectomy begins after the stage of development of lymphostasis is determined. Lymphostasis after mastectomy is dense and soft. Mild lymphedema of the arm after mastectomy is a reversible swelling that is treatable and may occur up to a year after surgery. If mild lymphostasis has not been cured, then it develops into an irreversible form of the disease - dense lymphostasis.

Dense lymphostasis of the arm is directly related to the scars that form in the region of the lymph nodes after undergoing a course of radiation therapy, which is used to treat mastectomy. Many doctors claim that the appearance of dense lymphostasis of the arm after a mastectomy is the first sign that the cancer cells have not gone away, that is, a recurrence of oncology is possible.

In the process of treating lymphostasis, it is very important to restore the outflow of lymph. For this, collaterals are connected, which ensure normal blood circulation and lymph outflow. Another method of treatment is exercise therapy. A set of therapeutic exercises is recommended to start a week after the mastectomy. This kind of rehabilitation should be carried out at all stages of hand lymphostasis. In the first days after the removal of the mammary gland, it is very difficult to carry out therapeutic exercises, as the body hurts and the hands do not obey. But the sooner you start therapeutic exercises, the more likely it is to avoid the appearance of lymphostasis. Physical exercise will improve the outflow of lymph, increase the elasticity of the tissues of the shoulder and arm, and help eliminate spasms that occur in the muscles.

It will not be superfluous to visit the pool and undergo a course of treatment using a compression sleeve, which helps to stimulate lymph flow. Please note that the main treatment for hand lymphostasis after mastectomy is special gymnastics, massages and physical education, and only then drug treatment.

Hand massage for lymphedema

Hand massage with lymphostasis can be done both by the patient himself and by any person who knows the skills and nuances of therapeutic massage. As a rule, during mastectomy and lymphostasis, upon discharge from the hospital, I instruct the patient and one of the family members regarding hand massage and the technique of its execution.

Let's look at the options for hand massage for lymphostasis:

Raise up the arm that has swelling or the arm that had a mastectomy. Place your hand on a vertical surface. With the other hand, gently massage, stroke the affected arm. This must be done from the fingers to the shoulder and from the elbow to the shoulder, but not all over the arm. Sometimes, with such a massage, therapeutic ointments and creams are used.
It is necessary to massage the hand from all sides. Carefully work the sides of the arm, inner and outer. Massage movements should be soft, slow, slight pressure on the subcutaneous tissues should be felt. But this does not mean that the hand needs to be squeezed hard. During the massage, you should not feel any discomfort or pain.

The duration of one massage procedure is about 5 minutes. Massage is recommended every 2-3 hours, depending on the stage of lymphostasis and the type of edema.

Treatment of lymphostasis of the hand with folk remedies

Treatment of hand lymphostasis with folk remedies is a treatment that has evolved over many years. That is, we can say with confidence that folk methods of treatment are a proven panacea for hand lymphostasis. Let's look at the most effective recipes that are used in the treatment of lymphostasis with folk remedies.

Treatment with plantain

2 tablespoons dried plantain leaves
2 cups boiling water
1 teaspoon honey

Pour boiling water over plantain leaves overnight and let it brew. Strain the decoction in the morning. Should be taken 30 minutes before meals. Before drinking a decoction, you must eat a spoonful of honey, this enhances the healing effect of the tincture. Drinking a decoction is recommended for two months.

Tar treatment

1 tablespoon of tar
1 head of onion

The onion must be baked in the oven, and the onion must be baked in the husk. After the bulb has baked, it must be cleaned and mixed with tar. Spread the resulting mixture on a thick layer of gauze bandage and apply it to the lymphostasis on the arm at night. In the morning, you need to remove the bandage, wipe your hand with warm water and do a light massage. Traditional medicine recommends taking honey before applying a compress and after removing it. Honey actively fights against lymphostasis of the hand, accelerates and enhances the effect of other medical procedures. Repeat the procedure, it is recommended for a month or two.

garlic treatment

250 grams minced fresh garlic
350 grams of liquid honey

The ingredients must be mixed and infused for one week. You need to take the mixture one tablespoon one hour before meals, the course of treatment is 60 days.

Treatment of hand lymphostasis with folk remedies involves taking tinctures and lotions to the affected hand from herbs and plants that contain vitamin C and P. These vitamins help to thin the lymph and improve its outflow and inflow through the lymphatic system. Drink pomegranate juice, decoctions of currants, cranberries and rose hips. Eat fruits and drink red juices, as they contain a lot of vitamin P: grapes, beetroot juice, currants, mountain ash.

Gymnastics with lymphostasis of the hand

Gymnastics with lymphostasis of the hand is a mandatory therapy, without which a full-fledged treatment is simply impossible. We offer you a complex of therapeutic exercises, which is recommended for hand lymphostasis. Each exercise must be done in five sets of ten times - this is the optimal physical activity that will help improve lymph flow and relieve pain in the arm.

Place your hands on your knees so that your palms look down, try to keep your elbows straight. Slowly turn your palms over, from the back to the outside. Please note that the fingers should be as relaxed as possible.
Put your hands behind your back and connect to the lock. The arms should be bent at the elbows, and the palms pressed to the back. Slowly pull your palms towards your shoulder blades.
Hands on your knees, elbows straight, alternately clench and unclench your fists.
Raise your hand up, hold it in front of you, slowly lower it. Observe the breathing technique, slow inhalation and exhalation.
Clasp your hands behind your back in a lock on straight elbows. Raise your arms up so that the shoulder blades are brought together.
Put your hands on your shoulders, slowly lower and raise.
Place your hands on your shoulders and make circular motions with your arms and shoulders, back and forth.
Stand up, tilt your body and lower your sore arm. Relax your arm completely and swing it from side to side and back and forth.
Raise your sore arm up and linger in this position for a couple of seconds, then take your hand to the side and linger again.

In addition to gymnastics, preventive measures are very important for the treatment and prevention of lymphostasis.

With lymphostasis of the hand, it is very important to follow the rules of hygiene and regularly care for the affected limb. Remove nails and calluses, decontaminate used tools to minimize infection in the lymph.
Avoid injury, burns, scratches and any kind of damage. Try not to overheat, as this will only increase the lymphatic swelling.
Lead a mobile lifestyle, as sitting in one place or lying down can cause lymph stagnation in the body and will only complicate the disease.
Use various nourishing and moisturizing creams, this will save your hand from cracks and dryness.
Stick to a diet and nutrition rules, this is an important part of the complex treatment of hand lymphostasis.

Lymphostasis of the hand does not make a person disabled. Lymphostasis does not interfere with everyday activities and lead an active lifestyle. Be patient and follow all the rules of treatment, nutrition and gymnastics, and you can cure hand lymphostasis.

It is important to know!

Lymphostasis is a violation of the outflow of lymph, accompanied by edema. The volume of the limb in this condition increases. Severe lymphedema is called elephantiasis. The impetus for the development of lymphostasis can be an injury (bruise, dislocation, fracture, burn), often a violation of the outflow of lymph occurs after surgery.