Home → Day-to-Day Matters → Arm Lymphedema → Ask-the-Expert Conferences: Arm Lymphedema → April 2008: Preventing and Treating Arm Lymphedema → What to do for swelling caused by bandaging?

What to do for swelling caused by bandaging?

Page last modified on: August 25, 2008

Question from PS: Do you have any suggestion for treating hand lymphedema when bandaging and sleeve/glove seem to make it swell more?: Answer —Nicole Gergich, M.P.T., C.L.T.-L.A.N.A. : That is a complicated situation, as there are so many issues that surround a complicated hand. It can range from the quality of the bandaging that's done, the size of the hand, and the compression class of the garment being used. Many times bandaging and garments become an exercise in strategy and what works for one patient isn't going to work for another. I think just sampling different garments, different bandage strategies, or different alternatives in mechanisms of compression may help. I have thousands of strategies in mind, but I think it's impossible in a conference situation like this to give very specific strategies. There are some good resources for follow-up with bandage strategies or garment strategies. Many of the custom garment companies have advice on constructing garments that could be helpful. Or collaborating with other therapists, if you have a network with other therapists you work with, passing ideas back and forth of what's been helpful, innovative strategies that you can share with one another.

On Wednesday, April 16, 2008, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Preventing and Treating Arm Lymphedema. Kathryn Schmitz, Ph.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S.M.,Nicole Stout Gergich, M.P.T. C.L.T.-L.A.N.A., and moderator Jennifer Sabol, M.D., F.A.S.C. answered your questions about ways to prevent and manage lymphedema.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Kathryn Schmitz, Ph.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S.M. is assistant professor in the Division of Clinical Epidemiology at the University of Pennsylvania and adjunct associate professor in the Division of Epidemiology at the University of Minnesota.

Nicole Stout Gergich, M.P.T., C.L.T.-L.A.N.A.

Nicole Stout Gergich M.P.T., C.L.T.-L.A.N.A. is a physical therapist and lymphedema specialist at the Breast Care Center at the National Naval Medical Center. She is also the president of the Oncology Section of the American Physical Therapy Association, and has previously served on the Medical Advisory Board and research committee for the National Lymphedema Network.

Jennifer Sabol, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a breast surgeon who directs the newly developed Breast Care Center at Lankenau Hospital in Wynnewood, Pa. Among her many interests, Dr. Sabol spearheads several research initiatives to advance the care for women with breast cancer and improve methods of breast cancer detection and treatment.