home Audience 3 Lymph oozes after removal of drainage. Lymphostasis of the arm after breast removal: causes, symptoms and treatment. Removal of serous fluid

Lymph oozes after removal of drainage. Lymphostasis of the arm after breast removal: causes, symptoms and treatment. Removal of serous fluid

Lymphorrhea is a pathological condition that occurs as a result of damage to the integrity of the lymphatic vessels. As a result, lymphoid fluid flows freely from the open wound to the outside or into the cavity of a certain organ. The speed of the flow can be very different, it depends on the nature of the damage and the size of the affected structure.

There are few factors that can provoke the development of lymphorrhea, but most often the trigger for this problem is a violation of the evacuation of lymphatic fluid. Typically, the disease occurs due to:

Surgical operations.
Performing some medical procedures.
Blunt injuries.

The latter reason contributes to the development of lymphorrhea extremely rarely. In addition, the disease sometimes results from spontaneous rupture of lymphatic vessels. This happens if the patient suffers from lymphangiomatosis, cysts of lymphatic structures, lymphoma or lymphangiectasia.

Clinical picture

When lymphorrhea occurs, the symptoms depend on the degree of damage to the lymphatic vessels. If it develops in a postoperative wound, then there is a high risk of infection, since the incision site is constantly wet.

In cases where lymphorrhea is characterized by the leakage of fluid into any cavity, the patient experiences symptoms of irritation of certain structures, for example, the peritoneum, pleura, pericardium.

Depending on the location of the accumulation of secreted lymphatic fluid, lymphorrhea is divided into the following types:

Chylothorax is characterized by the accumulation of lymphoid fluid in the pleural cavity.
Hiluria - occurs when the bladder fills with lymph, and the discharge becomes milky in color.
Chyloperitoneum - develops when lymphoid fluid leaks into the abdominal cavity.
Chylopericardium - chylorrhea accumulates in the pericardial cavity.
Seroma is the accumulation of fluid in the interstitial space due to blunt trauma.

If fluid flows out from an open wound, it is almost colorless. As a rule, such a manifestation can last from 3 to 10 days. With the development of lymphorrhea, patients show signs of exhaustion of the body; there is a sharp decrease in the number of lymphocytes in the blood.

When lymph accumulates in the intestinal cavity, signs of malabsorption occur, and diarrhea may also occur. With the development of lymphorrhea, the patient's body rapidly loses a large amount of nutrients.

Diagnostics

To identify lymphorrhea, the specialist takes into account the patient’s condition and his complaints. In addition, the following diagnostic methods are carried out:

X-ray examination.
Laparocentesis.
Lymphography.
Puncture of the cavity in which chylorrhea is likely to accumulate: pericardium, peritoneum, pleura.

Treatment

To eliminate the manifestations of lymphorrhea, conservative and surgical methods can be used. Which one is effective depends on the degree of progression of the disease and its location.

When lymph flows externally from the extremities, the use of tight bandages is indicated. If it is not possible to apply it to certain places or it is ineffective, wound tamponade can be used to treat lymphorrhea.

In addition, during the period of treatment of lymphorrhea, the patient is prohibited from consuming any foods that contain even the smallest amount of fat, since this substance significantly increases the production of lymphoid fluid.

Also, the elimination of lymphorrhea is successfully carried out by sclerosing the affected areas with a tetracycline solution; a positive result can also be achieved with the help of doxycycline installations. In such situations, recovery occurred after 2-4 days.

When chylorrhea accumulates in the thoracic cavity, the patient is transferred to tube feeding. To alleviate the patient’s condition with this form of pathology, punctures of the pleural cavity are performed. In the absence of positive dynamics, a decision is made to ligate the thoracic duct using another operation. Similar treatment of lymphorrhea is carried out for chyloperitoneum and chylopericardium.

If conservative treatment of lymphorrhea does not bring the desired result, they try to eliminate the pathology through surgery. The most commonly used methods are:

Sclerosis of damaged structures.
Ligation.
Setting up anastomoses.

Such interventions to eliminate lymphorrhea are carried out in specialized medical institutions, since they require certain equipment and microscopes.

In cases where lymphorrhea has progressed significantly and no methods help to cope with it, tamponade of the cut duct with muscle tissue is used. A similar approach is usually used when the thoracic lymphatic vessels are damaged.

Recently, modern medical specialists have successfully practiced the use of somatotropin drugs to combat pathology. The positive effect is explained by the fact that these drugs stop or reduce the production of lymph, which leads to a stop in its release from places where the integrity of the blood vessels is damaged.

To prevent the occurrence of the disease, you should follow all the doctor’s instructions and do not neglect physical therapy after surgery. It is also worth avoiding injuries and promptly treating disorders of lymphoid fluid evacuation.

Lymphorrhea is a serious disease that causes significant harm to the human body. Therefore, it is worth promoting its prevention.

According to WHO statistics, hand lymphostasis is diagnosed in more than 10% of the world's population. The reason for this is a sedentary lifestyle, neglected health problems, frequent stress, operations or injuries without proper post-operative care, as well as poor nutrition, which sooner or later leads to a slowdown in lymph flow, stagnation of toxins and waste in the body. As a result, various diseases and aesthetic defects of the limbs arise.

With lymphostasis, patients experience chronic swelling of the upper extremities, which disrupts the structure of the skin. At the same time, the upper layer of the skin of the hands becomes significantly thicker, where ulcers subsequently form, and then elephantiasis develops.
Since this disease is quite difficult to diagnose in time, it is very important to be well informed about the causes and consequences of lymphedema, methods of prevention and ensuring good lymph circulation in order to minimize the risk of the occurrence and further development of this pathology.

Main causes of the disease

Primary lymphostasis of the arm is a congenital or hereditary anomaly of blood vessels or lymph nodes. The pathology cannot be diagnosed in the first years of a person’s life; it manifests itself already during the patient’s puberty.
Secondary lymphostasis is formed as a consequence of previous diseases, operations (including operations on the chest cavity), injuries, fractures that led to edema, as well as tumors in the lymphatic system, erysipelas of the hands, and obesity.

Symptoms of the disease

Symptoms of hand lymphostasis differ depending on the stage of development of lymphostasis.

At the first stage, there is slight swelling in the arm, which intensifies in the evening and goes away in the morning. Since connective tissue growths are not yet observed at this stage, with proper diagnosis and medical care, further development of lymphostasis can still be completely prevented. However, patients usually mistake these symptoms for arm fatigue and do not seek help from a specialist.
At the second stage, irreversible swelling on the arm is already clearly visible, connective tissues grow, the skin on the arm noticeably hardens, upon external examination the arm is swollen and tense, and frequent pain in the arm appears. Treatment requires enormous effort, strict adherence to the regimen and recommendations of the attending physician.
At the third stage, the disease is already irreversible; wounds and cysts begin to appear on the affected arm, which significantly increases pain. In this case, the fingers become deformed, the hand itself ceases to function normally and loses its natural shape, and elephantiasis develops. Also at this stage, complications in the form of eczema, trophic ulcers or erysipelas are possible.
With each subsequent stage, the symptoms become more dangerous and irreversible, accompanied by various complications, and in very advanced cases, death is possible.

Diagnostic techniques

If you suspect lymphostasis, consultation with a lymphologist, vascular surgeon or phlebologist is required. Diagnosis of hand lymphostasis begins with a visual examination of the hand. Afterwards, it is necessary to conduct a biochemical analysis of blood and urine, a complete ultrasound examination of the extremities, chest cavity, as well as the pelvis and peritoneum.
In order to establish a final diagnosis, study the patency of blood vessels and find out the causes of lymphostasis, X-ray lymphography of the lymphatic system of the body is performed. It allows you to find places of blockage of blood vessels and dangerous changes in the lymphatic system.
It is imperative to carry out a differential diagnosis of arm lymphostasis with deep vein thrombosis or postphlebitic syndrome, since similar symptoms are observed in all pathologies - varicose veins on the extremities, unilateral lymphedema, edema and hyperpigmentation. In order to accurately diagnose lymphostasis, ultrasound examination of the arm and veins is performed.

Formation of lymphatic edema of the upper extremities after mastectomy

A mastectomy is a surgical operation to remove the breast due to the formation of a malignant tumor in it. Since there is a possibility that cancer cells are in the lymphatic system, during this operation it is planned to remove the lymph nodes under the arm to avoid recurrence of cancer in the future. It is possible to determine whether there are cancer cells in the patient’s lymph nodes only after they are removed. This leads to certain disruptions in the body - disruption of the outflow of fluid in the tissues of the upper extremities. Also, the cause of lymphostasis of the arms can be irradiation of the lymph nodes in the armpits during a mastectomy.
But a distinction should be made between lymphedema and postmastectomy lymphostasis. Some women may experience swelling of the arms after such an operation, but if it goes away within a couple of months after the operation, then this is post-mastectomy lymphostasis and is treatable.
If the necessary measures are not taken in time to treat post-mastectomy lymphostasis of the arm, the disease will eventually progress to the stage of irreversible lymphostasis, which requires more effort and money to cure.
Lymphostasis after mastectomy is dangerous because swelling can cause serious deformation of the affected arm, and is also accompanied by inflammatory processes.
However, there are cases that after complete removal of a woman’s lymph nodes and muscle tissue, lymphostasis does not occur. Unfortunately, it is impossible to predict the outcome of the operation in advance.

Treatment procedures and disease prevention

The effectiveness of treatment depends on the stage of the disease and the timeliness of diagnosis, and, accordingly, seeking medical help. The unpleasant fact is that lymphostasis of the arm responds well to treatment only during the first stage. Later ones are incurable in most cases, since severe irreversible swelling of the limb has already formed due to damaged lymph nodes and the lymphatic system of the body as a whole.
In the first stage, treatment for arm lymphedema is focused on stopping the swelling and returning the arm to its normal state without complications.

General treatment for arm lymphedema includes:

complex drug therapy;
manual lymphatic drainage massage, which helps drain lymph from the affected part of the arm;
caring for the affected area of the hand;
individual compression sleeve and underwear;
also, in some cases, pneumomassage or lymphopress;
laser therapy, electromagnetic stimulation;
complex of therapeutic physical gymnastics and massage.

Any drug treatment is carried out under the mandatory supervision of a specialist doctor.

In the process of treating lymphostasis, especially after mastectomy, it is first necessary to restore the outflow of lymph. For this purpose, all patients are prescribed physical therapy. It is used at all stages of lymphostasis of the extremities. Physical exercise improves lymph flow, increases the elasticity of arm tissue, and also helps eliminate spasms that occur in the muscles.

Gymnastics for lymphostasis of the arm

As mentioned above, gymnastics is a mandatory stage of treatment at all stages of the disease. Experts have developed a special set of therapeutic exercises that must be done to improve lymph flow and relieve pain in the arm.

To begin, place both hands on your knees, palms down, while keeping your elbows straight. At a measured pace, turn only the palms themselves, from the back to the outside. Your fingers should be completely relaxed.
Clasp your hands behind your back. Slowly pull your palms towards your shoulder blades.
Return your hands to your knees, keeping your elbows straight, and clench and unclench your fists.
Raise each arm one at a time, hold it in front of you, then slowly lower it. Watch your breathing, it should not be interrupted; throughout all exercises, breathe slowly and measuredly.
Place both hands on your shoulders and then make circular movements with your arms and shoulders at the same time, alternately forward and backward.
In a standing position, tilt your body and lower your sore arm down, completely relax it and swing it from side to side, then back and forth.
Raise the affected arm up, hold in this position for a few seconds, then move it to the side and hold again. Breathing should be uniform.

Hand massage for lymphostasis

Massage can be done either independently or by another person who knows the nuances of such a massage. They are pretty simple.
The main thing you need to know is that the massage should be done gently, slowly, on all sides of the arm in the direction from the fingers or elbow to the shoulder, and it is better if the affected arm is raised during the massage. You can use medicated ointments and creams. During the entire massage, the patient should not experience any discomfort or pain.
The duration of 1 procedure is about 5 minutes. It is optimal to massage every 2-3 hours, but this depends on the stage of lymphostasis, or more precisely, the attending physician will say.

Treatment of hand lymphostasis using folk remedies

For the successful treatment of lymphostasis, traditional methods are also supplemented with folk remedies, but always with the knowledge and consent of the attending physician.
Among everything, plantain decoction has proven itself well. To prepare it you will need 2 tbsp per serving. spoons of dry leaves pour 2 glasses of hot water, or boiling water and, after the infusion has cooled a little, add 1 teaspoon of honey, or eat it separately before drinking the decoction. The decoction must be left to steep for 10-12 hours; it can be poured overnight, strained in the morning and drunk 30-40 minutes before meals. It is advisable to take the decoction for two months.

Garlic is also a fairly well-known method of treatment. To do this, finely chop 250 grams of fresh garlic and add 350 grams of liquid honey. Infuse this mixture for a week. Then eat 1 tbsp. spoon 1-1.5 hours before meals, two months.

The use of decoctions of cranberries, rose hips, currant leaves, as well as pomegranate and beet juice also has a good effect, since they contain vitamins C and P, which are necessary for this disease, to thin the lymph and improve lymph flow.

Disease prevention

With lymphostasis of the upper extremities, it is very important to follow all the rules of hygiene and minimize the entry of infections into the lymph. It is advisable to do regular self-massage and exercise, especially if you lead a sedentary lifestyle. Regularly moisturize your skin with nourishing creams.
Avoid injuries, burns, scratches, and also try not to overheat so as not to provoke lymphedema.
Stick to proper nutrition and sleep patterns; this is an important part of the prevention of various diseases, including lymphostasis of the hand.

Complications

If the disease is ignored, irreversible swelling of the affected tissues, deformation of the fingers, loss of functionality and shape of the hand occurs, which leads to the development of elephantiasis. Additional complications are possible in the form of eczema, trophic ulcers or erysipelas.
With each subsequent stage, the disease becomes more dangerous and irreversible, and in very advanced cases, death is possible.

A common complication after breast removal (mastectomy) is the development of lymphedema (lymphedema) of the upper extremities. The occurrence of this disease is not easy to predict, since much depends on the volume of the operation, the general condition of the patient and the treatment methods used after mastectomy.

Causes of hand lymphedema

During a mastectomy, not only the mammary gland, but also lymph nodes and blood vessels can be removed. But lymph (tissue fluid that is necessary to cleanse our body of waste products) still needs to continue moving, so it seeks its way through other lymphatic vessels that were not damaged during surgery. As a result, on the side of the operation, the lymph flow slows down sharply and swelling in the arm begins to develop. The degree of development of postmastectomy edema depends on the number of lymph nodes removed, as well as on how significant the lymphatic vessels were in the initial outflow of lymph.

Important! Take care of your hand and avoid bruises, scratches, injuries and heavy loads

Heavy loads very often become a provoking factor for swelling of the arm after a mastectomy, as they contribute to the expansion and overload of both venous and lymphatic vessels. Moreover, it is important to avoid both lifting heavy objects and repeating monotonous hand movements. The most serious complication of lymphedema is erysipelas. This is an infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, causing fever, redness of the hand, poor health, provoking a sharp and persistent increase in swelling of the hand. Once occurring, this severe infection can recur again and again. Streptococci, which cause erysipelas, are ubiquitous, including in the air, and all people encounter them regularly. But the risk of developing an infection increases sharply with various skin injuries (bruises, injuries) and in the presence of lymphedema. It turns out that the swelling provokes erysipelas, and the infection, in turn, increases the swelling. Breaking this “vicious circle”, even with complex treatment, can be difficult even for experienced specialists.

What are the signs that indicate lymphedema is developing?

The main manifestation of lymphostasis (stagnation of lymph) is swelling, which can appear almost immediately after surgical treatment or months and years after it. At the initial stage of the disease, it is always painless and primarily affects the forearm and hand. According to external signs, the hand becomes swollen; marks on the skin from rings or a wristwatch bracelet may remain.

If lymphedema is accompanied by pain, this should alert you. First of all, pain is the reason for additional research and consultation with an oncologist (to exclude a recurrence of the underlying disease). Regarding the treatment of lymphedema, you need to contact a lymphologist and this issue should not be delayed. At the early stage of edema development, irreversible changes in the skin and subcutaneous tissue have not yet occurred. The swelling is mild, it is much easier to cope with it than later, when the swelling becomes denser and goes away very reluctantly.

Diagnosis and treatment of lymphedema

Treatment of lymphedema after mastectomy should be comprehensive and consist of several stages. The first is consultation and diagnosis with a lymphologist. At the appointment, the doctor determines the density of the swelling and takes measurements of the arm, which will be required to control the process of reducing swelling in the future. If necessary, ultrasound angioscanning of the upper extremities is performed.

The second stage is improving the outflow of fluid from the hand. For this purpose, complex non-drug therapy is used all over the world, the basis of which is manual lymphatic drainage and limb bandaging. However, the lymphologist selects the specifics of the procedures, duration, number of sessions, and additional treatment methods taking into account the individual characteristics of each specific patient.

After the process of reducing swelling is completed, the final stage begins - the selection of compression hosiery according to special measurements. Elastic compression is an important component of effective treatment. In the treatment of lymphedema, a completely separate type of flat-knit compression hosiery is used. It has a low degree of elongation, holds its shape and functions as a bandage.

If lymphedema is not treated, then in addition to fluid, protein molecules will gradually accumulate in the tissues, which cannot be “cleaned out” on their own. Professional medical assistance is required here. With the accumulation of protein molecules, fibrosis begins to develop - irreversible tissue changes.

Prevention

In some cases, swelling can be removed completely, sometimes only reduced. Further preventive and supportive recommendations on the regimen of wearing compression hosiery, performing therapeutic exercises, nutrition, etc. depend on this.

To date, there is no lifelong cure for lymphedema, because its root cause is the removal of lymph nodes and damage to the lymph drainage pathways. Medicine is not yet able to restore them. Therefore, preventive examinations by a lymphologist and following simple recommendations will allow you to maintain a normal appearance of the hand, good health, and avoid the development of complications.

The editors thank the specialists of the Phlebology Center clinic for their assistance in preparing the material.

Currently, the level of cancer is quite high. This can be explained by various conditions: poor environment, unhealthy lifestyle, large number of chemical additives in food. Among all cancer diseases, one of the leading diseases is occupied by women.

Unfortunately, it often happens that we seek help quite late, so we have to remove the breast, and this entails other problems, for example, lymphostasis of the arm after a mastectomy. We will try to understand this disease in our article.

What is lymphostasis?

Surgery to remove the mammary gland is performed only in extreme cases, when doctors are sure that other treatment methods will not give the desired effect. The most common complication after surgery is swelling of the upper limb, which develops due to lymphostasis.

If after surgery there is a violation of the outflow of lymphatic fluid, then they say that lymphostasis of the arm has developed after removal. In this case, the affected organ becomes enlarged. If this problem is not eliminated, then the process spreads to neighboring tissues, where microcirculation of blood and lymph is disrupted. From this condition it is very close to fibrosis and trophic ulcers.

If you add to this, sepsis is just a stone's throw away. When large lymph nodes are removed as a result of surgery, the drainage function is disrupted, which leads to swelling of the arm.

Reasons for the development of the disease

With lymphostasis, persistent swelling is observed, which occurs due to impaired outflow of tissue fluid. If you have been diagnosed with lymphostasis of the arm, the reasons may be the following:

Operations involving the removal of lymph nodes, which include mastectomy.
Erysipelas.
Chronic problems with the lymphatic and venous system.

Regardless of the cause, this disease requires immediate treatment to prevent serious complications from developing. There are cases when lymph nodes and muscle tissue are completely removed, but lymphostasis does not develop, and in some cases a severe complication begins even with the slightest intervention.

Types of lymphostasis

Doctors distinguish several stages in the development of lymphostasis:

Early swelling.
Late.

The first type usually develops immediately after breast removal, as damage to the lymph nodes occurs and lymph leaks out. This swelling is also called soft.

Late lymphostasis of the arm after removal of the mammary gland can develop quite a long time after the operation. Most often, such complications affect women who were exposed to radiation before or after surgery. They can also be triggered by scarring processes, which prevents the restoration of normal lymphatic drainage.

You should not take measures to eliminate this problem on your own; you should consult a doctor, because late swelling can often signal a recurrence of cancer. If this is not confirmed, then treatment of arm lymphostasis after mastectomy can begin.

Diagnosis of the disease

Typically, after the operation, the woman will remain in the hospital for about three weeks under the supervision of doctors, so during the examination, the doctor can detect problems with the lymphatic system in time.

If swelling begins to develop at later stages, then you will also need to consult a gynecologist, who will definitely ask:

What operation was performed and how many there were.
Were there any complications in the early stages after breast removal?
The time when lymphostasis of the arm appeared after removal of the mammary gland.
How does the disease progress?
What medications have you already taken?
The presence of other chronic diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease.

Since it is not the gynecologist who should treat lymphostasis, he will recommend that you consult a specialist for an adequate solution to this problem.

Lymphostasis of the hand: symptoms

If the disease is mild, you may notice the appearance of swelling of the arm, which usually increases during the day and goes away after a night's rest. Physical activity or, conversely, a long immobile position can lead to an increase in edema.

At this stage, there are completely no irreversible changes in the connective tissue, therefore, if you contact a lymphologist in time, the prescribed treatment will allow you to get rid of this problem.

The average degree of the disease is characterized by swelling that does not disappear after rest. In this case, connective tissue grows, the skin becomes stretched and thickened, and pain may be felt. With persistent lymphostasis, increased fatigue and cramps are observed.

If lymphostasis reaches the last stage, which is considered severe, irreversible changes in the lymphatic system are already observed. Fibrocystic formations and elephantiasis can be observed. These changes cause the contours of the hand to change and its functioning to be disrupted.

The worst thing is a serious complication of this period - sepsis, which can lead to death.

Treatment of lymphostasis

Therapy for this disease includes two stages:

Ambulatory treatment. Prescribed by a lymphologist. At this stage, treatment of arm lymphostasis after mastectomy comes down to the following procedures:

2. Surgical treatment if lymphostasis of the arm due to breast cancer could not be overcome by conservative methods. Surgery is also indicated in cases where the disease progresses rapidly.

Drug therapy

If lymphostasis of the arm develops, only a doctor should prescribe treatment. Along with all physiotherapeutic methods, drug therapy is used, which prescribes:

Angioprotectors.
Phlebotics.
Immunostimulants.
Enzymes.
Antibiotics if erysipelas occurs.

All of these groups of drugs, together with procedures, make it possible to restore normal lymph flow and strengthen the walls of blood vessels.

Therapeutic exercise for lymphostasis

Not only a massage for arm lymphostasis will be effective, but also a set of physical exercises that your doctor will recommend to you. All complexes are aimed at improving lymph flow. You can start classes from 7-10 days after surgery.

Afterwards, the woman feels some stiffness in her arm and shoulder girdle, which causes her to begin to slouch and press her arm to her body. This leads to additional problems in the form of headaches and cramps that disrupt the movement of lymphatic fluid.

Massage and physical therapy will help to avoid such consequences or get rid of them, if they already exist. The effect will depend on the time when classes begin - the earlier, the better.

You can perform the suggested exercises while sitting on the bed with your shoulders straightened. Repeat each exercise from 4 to 10 times. Do not push yourself to the point of exhaustion; if you experience discomfort or pain, you need to rest.

Straighten your arms and place them on your knees, palms down. It is necessary to turn the hands over, just without straining.
The position is the same, alternately clench your fingers into a fist and unclench them.
Your arms should be bent at the elbows, with your palms resting on your shoulders. Slowly raise and lower your arms.
Bend in the direction where the operation was performed, lower your hand and make small movements back and forth with it.
You need to raise your hand on the operated side up and hold it in this position for several seconds.
Inhale - raise your hand in front of you, hold your breath and move your hand to the side. Exhale - lower your hand.
Perform at the shoulder joint.
Place your fingers behind your back and straighten your arms. Try to raise your arms in this position.
Join your hands behind your back in a “lock” and press them to your lower back.

Perform all exercises slowly, take your time. In this case, it is not the speed of execution that is important, but the regularity.

Healing massage

Before a woman is discharged from the hospital, the doctor will definitely talk with her about her daily routine, the sets of exercises that need to be done, and will also show and talk about massage techniques.

Traditional healers against lymphostasis

There is no need to panic if you have been diagnosed with lymphedema of the arm after a mastectomy. Treatment with folk remedies in combination with other methods of therapy will give good results.

First of all, traditional medicine advises taking diuretic infusions and decoctions that will not contribute to fluid retention in the body. Taking diuretic tea has a good effect, here is the recipe for its preparation:

Collect, dry and chop blackcurrant leaves.
Combine them with the same amount of rose hips.
Brew 1 teaspoon of the mixture with 200 ml of boiling water.
Take 100 ml before meals 4 times a day after the tea has steeped.

If you ask traditional healers about how to treat lymphostasis of the hand, they will give you a lot of recipes. Here are some of them:

If you combine folk recipes with physiotherapy and drug treatment, you will be able to get rid of lymphostasis.

Diet for lymphostasis

We must always monitor our weight, since extra pounds do not add to our health, and even more so if there are problems with the lymphatic system. Nutrition for arm lymphostasis should be rational and within reasonable limits; after all, we eat to live, and do not live to eat.

Any food can become a medicine; ancient philosophers spoke about this. The following dietary recommendations can be given during lymphostasis:

Reduce the amount of foods containing animal fats.
Remove smoked meats and sausages from your diet.
Increase your consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits.
Do not give up whole grains in the form of cereals.
The diet should include fermented milk products.
It is not recommended to eliminate butter completely, but replace most of it with vegetable oil.
Food should be boiled, stewed, and not fried.
In addition, you can add a multivitamin.

You need to get up from the table with a slight feeling of hunger. This will not only be good for your health, but will also give you more strength.

Particular attention should be paid to the amount of fluid you drink during the day. It should not exceed 1.5 liters per day. It is advisable to drink this amount before 16-17 hours. It’s better not to drink liquid before bed; if you want, you can indulge in a glass of kefir or fruit.

in case of illness

After any operation, a person needs recovery, and there is no need to talk about breast removal. This is not only physical trauma, but also great psychological stress for any woman.

First of all, in order to recover faster after surgery, and even more so if you have lymphostasis in the arm after breast removal, a special role is given to your daily routine. To recover, the body needs rest, so sleep at night should be at least 7-8 hours. Don't sit up in front of the TV until midnight; it is advisable to go to bed at 22.00 or 22.30.

To have a sound and healthy sleep, you need to take a warm shower, paying special attention to water massage of sore spots. Many doctors do not recommend taking a bath. You can prepare a second, higher pillow for your sore arm if you have lymphedema in your arm. The photo just demonstrates that this position is more comfortable.

While there are problems with the lymphatic system, it is not recommended to sleep on the sore side, much less put your hand under your head. After waking up in the morning, you need to pay attention to the morning toilet, do a little exercise and take a light breakfast.

If you don't need to rush to work, you can take a walk in the park. At home, you can remove your prosthetic bra to allow your body to rest. During the day, a nap is recommended; it will help you regain your strength faster after surgery.

Many women, almost immediately after returning from the hospital, rush into action and begin to put things in order, wash, and clean. This is strictly prohibited; your household must take this into account, and they will have to take on most of the worries themselves if they want to see their mother and wife healthy.

After a mastectomy, the body will take a long time to restore its lymphatic system. How successfully this happens can be judged by the presence of swelling on the arm. A ring on your finger can be a good indicator: if it puts on as easily as before the operation, then everything is going well.

For those who have a personal plot or their own house with a plot of land, the amount of work there should also be significantly reduced. If this cannot be avoided, then prepare a bench for work. As soon as you feel a little tired, you need to rest.

Don’t forget not only about the area of surgery, but also about your healthy breasts. Try to avoid injuries and jolts, especially in crowded transport.

How to prevent the development of lymphostasis

If you were unable to avoid a diagnosis such as arm lymphostasis, treatment will still be needed to prevent more serious complications. But you can take some measures to minimize the risk of such a disease or prevent it altogether:

You should remove items with tight elastic bands and cuffs from your wardrobe to prevent squeezing lymphatic and blood vessels.
Use your healthy hand for manual labor, carrying bags, etc.
It is necessary to measure blood pressure on a healthy arm.
Try to exercise every day.
As soon as you notice some changes in your hand, be it redness, swelling, pain, you should immediately consult a doctor.
In the first year after surgery, you can lift weights of no more than 1 kg with the hand on the side of the removed breast.
Avoid work that requires you to sit for long periods of time with your torso bent forward and your arms down.
The hand must be protected from all injuries and damage; even injections cannot be made into it.
Sleep on your back or healthy side.

Any adult or child can fall or injure themselves unexpectedly. The consequence of such an accident will be bruises, abrasions or even wounds. As a rule, a small amount of clear liquid flows out of the wound along with blood - lymph flows.

A small abrasion usually heals quite quickly, but larger wounds cause more trouble. The wound may not heal for a long time, and fluid will continue to flow out of it. People call her ichor. Before you understand why fluid is flowing from a wound, you need to understand what lymph and the lymphatic system as a whole are.

Lymph and lymphatic system

Lymph is a clear, colorless liquid containing lymphocytes, the scientific medical name for ichor. It always begins to stand out at the site of any skin damage.

Having received a wound, a person most often treats it independently at home with an antiseptic (hydrogen peroxide or brilliant green), then covers it with a plaster or bandage. The main task in treatment is not to introduce infection into the healing wound. After all, even after it has been tightened by a crust, the risk of infection exists. If after a long time a wound, for example, on a leg, does not heal, a person panics and goes to the doctor with the words: “Help, fluid is oozing from the leg.”

Any doctor will immediately reassure the patient, because lymph is designed by nature to remove salts, water, protein and toxins from tissues and return them to the blood. Lymph is always contained in the human body in a volume of 1-2 liters.

The lymphatic system is a very complex component of the vascular system of the human body. It is involved in metabolism. Its main function is to cleanse and disinfect the body of the “garbage” accumulated inside and prevent the penetration of external infections.

The lymphatic system is involved in maintaining and improving human immunity, protecting against viruses and harmful microbes.

Causes of lymph flow

Pus or ichor?

If the flow of lymph in small quantities is normal, then the presence of pus is a reason for concern or even a visit to the doctor. According to statistics, suppuration of sutures after surgery occurs in 15% of operated people.

Other reasons for possible suppuration:

Damaged skin that has not been treated with antiseptics;
Individual intolerance to drainage or prosthesis;
Weakened immunity.

How to distinguish pus from lymph?

When fluid leaks from a wound, you can distinguish pus from lymph by the color of the fluid that is released from the wound. If the discharge is red, then blood flows out. Lymph is a colorless viscous liquid, and pus is cloudy, most often yellow or yellow-green.

Lymphorrhea and lymphostasis

Excessive discharge of clear fluid is called lymphorrhea. This condition is caused by impaired drainage of lymph from the human body. Gradually accumulating, the fluid increases tension in the tissues located nearby and makes it difficult for itself to drain. This causes tissue swelling. Lymphorrhea often occurs after surgery or other medical procedures.

This is a fairly serious problem that requires observation by a specialist or even repeated surgery. With severe lymphorrhea in the legs, the disease can develop into.

Lymphostasis is a pathology of the lymphatic system in which lymph circulation completely stops. In the most severe third stage of the disease (popularly called “”), there is a continuous flow of lymph from the wounds. Treatment should only take place under the supervision of medical professionals.

Leakage of lymph in trophic ulcers

One of the serious complications in which the situation of lymph leakage from wounds on the legs occurs is trophic ulcers. Ulcers appear with such a common disease as varicose veins.

Trophic ulcers are a chronic process, usually lasting more than 6 weeks, in which a skin defect occurs on the leg (usually on the lower leg) with a weak tendency to heal. This disease occurs due to venous stagnation of blood caused by varicose veins.

The most common cause of ulcers is increased stress on the veins of the legs when a person walks for a long time or spends time standing on his feet. If the patient engages in heavy physical labor and is not treated, the disease progresses. Thinning of the skin and walls of the veins in the legs occurs, the veins “come out” and become visible and painful.

When trophic ulcers appear, lymph and purulent-bloody discharge flow, and the smell is usually unpleasant. Itching occurs when cleansing. In this situation, urgent effective treatment is necessary, the purpose of which is to clean the wound and prevent infection.

The result of treatment of trophic ulcers.

How to stop lymph flow

In a situation where discharge from a small wound bothers the patient with unpleasant sensations, doctors recommend treatment with hydrogen peroxide (using a piece of bandage or a cotton swab). If the situation does not improve or suppuration occurs, then you should undergo a course of more complex drug treatment: ointments with antibiotics (for example, Levomikol) are most often prescribed.

If drug treatment for suppuration does not help, then the wound is often opened surgically, then the pus is removed and the wound is disinfected. Next, treatment is carried out until the wound surface is completely scarred.

If lymphorrhea is diagnosed, treatment should be more complex:

treating the wound with special solutions (fucorcin, dioxidin, hydrogen peroxide) or streptocide powder - done 2-3 times a day. Also, brilliant green and sea buckthorn oil are used for drying and healing;
dressing the affected area with knee socks or an elastic bandage;
medications (antibiotics are prescribed to act on microorganisms that cause suppuration in the wound);
surgical suturing of the wound.

Treatment with herbal decoctions and infusions

As an additional therapy for lymphorrhea, treatment with folk remedies is used:

plantain infusion Helps stabilize lymph flow. Freshly picked plantain leaves are crushed. Then in the evening the mixture is poured with water at a ratio of 2:500. In the morning, drink the resulting infusion on an empty stomach (1/2 cup), then drink the rest throughout the day. The next portion of the infusion is re-prepared in the evening;
dandelion decoction relieves swelling well. To prepare it, add 1 spoon of chopped dandelions to half a liter of boiling water and cook for 5 minutes. The decoction should be drunk 1 glass in the morning on an empty stomach. Additionally, apply lotions with it at night on the sore spot;
decoctions of cranberries, black currants (leaves and berries), dogwood, rowan or rose hips. All these plants contain vitamins P and C, which are necessary for the patient. Decoctions prepared in advance are taken half an hour before meals;
freshly squeezed pomegranate and beet juices will be very useful for lymphorrhea.

The process of leakage of lymph (or ichor) from any wound is a normal reaction of the human body. To avoid causing further problems and complications, the patient must treat the damaged area of skin and prevent infection. If the problem cannot be solved on your own, then you should definitely contact a specialist.