Your Life Daily: Healing Hands That Go Skin Deep

By KAREN HAMBRIDGE

DOROTHY SMITH had been suffering from constant discomfort since undergoing surgery in 1999 for breast cancer.

The 65-year-old from Earlsdon, Coventry, had gone under the knife to remove the tumour and lymph glands.

But within weeks of the operation she noticed her right arm swelling. She was suffering with lymphoedema. "It wasn’t painful but it was uncomfortable," said Dorothy. "It would tingle during the night and it was noticeable to others."

On the advice of medics she started to wear a compression sleeve and avoided lifting and doing anything too strenuous with her arm.

She was also shown how to massage her arm herself and had a treatment on the NHS.

And the massage did work, helping ease the tight skin which had stretched because of the lymph fluid filling it underneath.

Then in 2004 Dorothy found a lump in her left breast and was worried any surgery would leave her with lymphoedema in her left arm.

But the treatment was less invasive and so lymphoedema didn’t occur.

"It would have been a real problem to have lymphoedema in my other arm," said Dorothy, who is married to Michael, a professor at Loughborough University and has two grown-up children.

"When you have the condition for years everything thickens and becomes fibrous. You can contract infections which can be very severe and even life-threatening."

However, as the condition was mild she knew it would not be a medical priority. So she turned to private therapy.

Then Dorothy, who worked for adult education services before her retirement, spotted an article about Rebecca Culley, a qualified manual lymph drainage (MLD) massage therapist, based in Coventry.

Her daughter was due to get married this year and Dorothy wanted to look her best.

And after six treatments Dorothy has seen a significant improvement. "I had my arm measured at the lymphoedema clinic and it had reduced from 19 per cent to 14 per cent," said Dorothy. "I can certainly see a difference, it is far less swollen and theskin is less tight and it is softer. The massage has reshaped my arm too."

"People don’t realise what lymphoedema is and how it can affect you. Not only is it uncomfortable and limiting it is also a constant reminder of the illness you had.

"I have my outfit picked for the wedding now – a silk dress and jacket – and I know I am going to feel happy and confident wearing it now."

Fact File – WHAT IS MLD?

MANUAL lymphatic drainage (MLD) is a light skin technique developed by Dr Emil Vodder in the 1930s in Austria to assist drainage of extra fluid in the body.

The lymphatic system is a network of vessels which carry electrolytes, water, proteins etc from the tissue fluids to the bloodstream.

This flow can be interrupted due to illness, surgery or trauma resulting in a build-up of lymph fluid under the skin.

This leads to the characteristic swelling of lymphoedema. MLD is a precise skin stretching technique which is very subtle and aids a gentle flow of lymph fluid with the vessels which are close to the skin.

It can provide a painkilling effect, soothing the nervous system, reducing pain and improving mobility.

It can reduce swelling, help the immune system and have a soothing effect.

As well as lymphoedema MLD can help with water retention, migraines, sports injury swelling, pain relief, scars, burns and eczema, post cosmetic surgery, post-op swelling, facial rejuvenation and joint pain.

(c) 2007 Coventry Evening Telegraph. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.