What is Oedema (Swelling)?

Oedema is medical term for swelling that occurs when fluid is trapped in your tissues. It can affect any part of the body, but mostly occurs in your arms and legs. There are many causes of oedema that include trauma to the tissue (such as from an injury) or a variety of medical conditions (such as lymphoedema and heart disease).

What is Lymphoedema?

Lymphoedema is an abnormal form of chronic swelling, caused by the collection of lymphatic fluid in the tissue below the skin caused by malformation or damage to the lymphatic system. Signs of lymphoedema include: feeling of heaviness/fullness in a body part, a sensation of tightness of the skin, swelling (with or without pain). In advanced stages tissue changes are evident, such as hardening and thickening of the skin.

General Enquiries

071 6411 666

Email Contact

gayle@handsinot.co.za

Find Us

29/1 Peter Rd, Tres Jolie AH, Roodepoort, 2040

OR

Shop 13, Hillfox Value Centre, Cnr Albert St & Hendrik Potgieter Rd, Weltevredenpark, Roodepoort

What does Oedema (Swelling) Therapy Involve:

Different forms and severities of oedema will require different treatments. One or more of the following are used in oedema management:

  • MANUAL LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE (MLD)

    Manual lymphatic drainage is a gentle massage technique done by a qualified lymphoedema therapist. It assist with moving fluid into areas of the body where the lymphatic vessels are working adequately.

  • SKIN CARE

    In many of the more severe cases of swelling, there can be changes to the skin. a lymphoedema therapist will teach you how to look after your skin to keep healthy and prevent possible complications, such as infection.

  • HOME EXERCISES

    Exercise and movement is needed to assist the lymphatics do their job. So a home exercise regimen is required in all cases of swelling. A lymphoedema therapist will advise on exactly how, what, when and how intensely you should be exercising to help your swelling.

  • PATIENT & CAREGIVER EDUCATION

    Understanding the cause of the swelling and how to manage it is paramount to effective oedema management. Some forms of swelling cannot be cured, but with patient and caregiver education and training, even chronic swelling can managed be very effectively.

  • COMPRESSION BANDAGING AND TAPING

    There are various types of compression bandaging systems. Most commonly used are short stretch bandaging systems. They work together with the muscles in applying pressure to the limb, forcing fluid into the veins and back up to the heart. They also prevent fluid moving back into the limb. In milder cases of oedema (swelling), or in areas where compression is not possible, kinesiotape can be used to help stimulate the uptake of fluid into the lymphatics and assist with blood flow.

Swelling Conditions We Treat

  • PRIMARY LYMPHOEDEMA

    This is when the lymph vessels or nodes have not developed properly in utero. It can present at birth or later on in life.

  • SECONDARY LYMPHOEDEMA

    This is when there has been damage to or obstruction of the lymphatic system. This can be due to trauma, surgery, cancer, cancer treatments or infections.

  • CHRONIC OEDEMA

    Manual lymphatic drainage and compression therapy is a useful adjunctive therapy to treat swelling caused by vascular insufficiency (weakened valves in the veins), heart failure, kidney disease and dependent oedema (swelling caused by gravity)

  • POST TRAUMA OEDEMA

    Whilst swelling after an injury (e.g. soft tissue injury or a broken bone) or after surgery is a normal and expected process; early treatment of swelling can help patients feel better sooner and speed up the recovery process.

  • OEDEMA DUE TO BLOOD CLOTS

    In conjunction with traditional medications to treat blood clots, the use of compression bandaging can assist in the management of swelling related to deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

“Treating and managing chronic oedema is a real commitment from the patient, caregivers and the therapist; but the results are phenomenal and simply transformative when it all comes together.”

GAYLE SEAGO, Occupational Therapist

Affordable Healthcare

Our services are charged at medical aid rates and are provided by qualified, experienced and passionate Occupational Therapists.

Assessments

We provide meticulous assessment and interpretation of test results to confirm a diagnosis and implement appropriate, patient-specific treatment plans.

Home Visits

We offer home visits for your convenience or alternatively you can come to our offices in the tranquillity of Northvale AH. (near Pinehaven).

Frequently Asked Questions

Different medical aids have different rules about therapy. In most cases reimbursement for therapy is subject to your medical savings, if you have funds available, your therapy will be covered. There are certain conditions that can be treated under the umbrella of Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMB) or Oncology, ask your therapist whether either of these are applicable and we’ll assist with the application process.

Medical aid rates are applicable to all our services offered, so rest assured there are no co-payments..

A typical therapy session is around 45 minutes to an hour, depending on the condition being treated. The frequency and duration of treatment varies significantly from person-to-person. Your therapist will be able to give you an estimate on the frequency and duration of therapy once an assessment has been done..

We ask that if you are unable to attend an appointment that you let the practice know at least 4 hours before the appointment to avoid being charged a cancellation fee. We also offer home visits to selected areas on prior arrangement if getting to the practice is difficult.

Yes, we will adapt the therapy session to your needs on the day of treatment. We will help in reducing your pain to get you back on the road to recovery.

Yes, we will be able to assess the wound and assist in changing wound dressings if needed. We will promote wound healing during the therapy process.

A custom splint is one that is made specifically for you and your specific symptoms/condition by a qualified hand therapist. A prefabricated brace is one that you can buy from your local pharmacy or orthopaedic supplier. Custom splints are generally preferred when more accurate positioning of joints and tissue is required. If support is needed short term or intermittently a prefabricated brace might be an option. Speak to your therapist about what option is best for you.

If you have any other questions, please contact us