Why MLD may not be your first stop for chronic swelling

Chronic Swelling Isn't Always a Lymphatic Problem

If you have chronic long term swelling (also called edema), your first step should be talking with a healthcare provider who can evaluate the cause of your symptoms. Chronic swelling differs from the swelling you see after a surgery or injury these swelling are a part of the normal healing process and MLD is defiantly helpful in these cases.. but today we are talking about long term swelling, often you have had if for years.

While conditions such as lymphedema and lipedema can cause chronic swelling, they are not the only possibilities. Chronic swelling may also be related to venous disease, heart, kidney, or liver conditions, medications, injury, infection, or other medical concerns. In some cases, swelling can be a sign of a serious condition that requires prompt medical attention.

Seeking Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) should not be your first step in determining why you have chronic swelling. MLD is not a diagnostic tool and cannot determine the cause of edema.

MLD is a supportive therapy that may become part of your care after you have received a medical evaluation and diagnosis. For individuals diagnosed with lymphedema, your healthcare provider may recommend Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT), which includes manual lymphatic drainage, compression, exercise, and skin care. After completing the intensive phase of CDT, many people continue with maintenance MLD as part of their long-term management plan.

If you have lipedema, your treatment plan may look different depending on your symptoms and whether lymphedema is also present. A healthcare provider familiar with lymphatic disorders can help determine the most appropriate course of care.

At Kind Body Wellness, our role is to support your health—not to diagnose medical conditions. We work alongside your healthcare team to provide safe, evidence-informed Manual Lymphatic Drainage as part of your ongoing care plan.

Find a physician who knows what lymphedema and lipedema are and properly knows how to diagnosis them while ruling out any other factors that could be causing your chronic swelling. Be your own advocate, if you feel you have lipedema or lymphedema and your current doctor dismisses you—- find a different doctor. It is your body you deserve answers.