Compression Pump Therapy
| Lymphedema is swelling that occurs when the lymph nodes are not
able to drain enough fluid out of tissue. The swollen tissue is easily
injured. Some people develop lymphedema after injury or surgery,
or even after radiation therapy. The swelling may develop immediately after surgey, or it may manifest years later with no known cause. Other patients are genetically predisposed, and may develop the lymphedema over time. Sometimes it may begin as a teenager, other times its just starts much later in life.
A compression pump, also called a Lymphedema pump, is used with an arm or leg sleeve for people with extreme leg swelling. The sleeve is placed around the extremity and attaches to a pump with tubing. The pump squeezes and releases parts of the sleeve in cycles to help push the fluid up and out of the extremity. The fluid gets taken up in your body's circulation and leaves your body as urine. Before the pump is used, the leg is measured to be able to check if the pump is working effectively. Before using the using the pump to reduce the swelling you may have compression garments or bandaging. Your doctor may order a new compression sleeve for you to wear to control the swelling once the pump has reduced some of the edema. If you are to use the pump at home to continue your treatment, the nurse or therapist, or technician will teach you how to use the pump. |
| Treatment |
| Treatment is often done for 1-2 hours, 1 to 3 times each day. You may use sleeves on both legs for 1-2 hours or you may use the sleeve on one leg for two hours, then switch the sleeve to the other leg for 2 hours. The same applies to use on one or both arms. Your doctor or Therapist will decide what pressure setting to use on the pump. |
| Virtual Compression Pump Therapy
Multi-Chamber Garment Model |
| In order to view the animation you must start by hovering over the arm (right or left) or leg (right or left). When you hover over one of the body parts it turns to a slight blue. Then click on it and you will see the multi-chambered garment appear over the body part. Then click on "click here to see the motion" to see the compression motion of the garment. |
