At Rush, we understand that lymphedema can be uncomfortable and painful and can keep you from the things you love. That's why we provide personalized lymphedema treatments to reduce swelling, improve mobility and restore your quality of life.
Our lymphedema specialists in Chicago, Aurora and the surrounding area provide advanced surgical and nonsurgical treatment. Our cancer rehabilitation and occupational therapy experts offer many techniques to treat lymphedema without surgery. And if surgery is an option to treat your lymphedema, Rush’s microsurgeons use advanced technology to improve lymphedema with less recovery time.
The Rush Approach to Lymphedema Treatment
Lymphedema is swelling caused by a backup of lymph fluid. It can appear in your arms, legs, breast, chest wall, trunk or groin.
At Rush, lymphedema treatment is tailored to your specific symptoms and needs, with the goals of decreasing pain and swelling, improving your ability to move freely and getting you back to the activities you enjoy.
A multidisciplinary team will work to treat your symptoms with advanced surgical expertise and rehabilitation-focused care.
Nonsurgical treatment
Many nonsurgical interventions can help direct lymph fluid toward working lymph nodes, reducing swelling and improving symptoms. At Rush, you'll have access to therapists certified in treating lymphedema. They use a process called complete decongestive therapy to improve lymphedema. Your treatment plan may include:
- Lymphatic drainage massage. Specialized massage therapy can help gently move lymph fluid toward working lymph nodes.
- Compression bandages and garments. Gentle compression bandages or sleeves can help drain excess lymph fluid.
- Exercises. Low-impact exercises, called decongestive movement, can help lymph fluid drain.
- Pneumatic compression. Specialized pneumatic compression garments inflate and deflate to move lymph fluid through your body. You can use this treatment at home.
Surgical treatment
Surgery can provide long-lasting relief from lymphedema symptoms. These procedures allow you to rely less on compression garments and other therapies for lymphedema. There are two types of lymphatic surgery for lymphedema:
Lymphovenous bypass: This procedure reroutes lymphatic channels to nearby veins. This allows lymph fluid to drain around damaged lymph nodes, improving swelling and other lymphedema symptoms.
In some cases, you may be able to have lymphovenous bypass at the time of a mastectomy to treat breast cancer. This can prevent lymphedema from developing after surgery.
Vascularized lymph node transfer: This procedure transfers healthy lymph nodes from your groin, abdomen or other areas to help absorb lymphatic fluid in your limb.
If you experience lymphedema after mastectomy, it's possible to have a lymph node transfer and breast reconstruction at the same time with a procedure called total breast autologous reconstruction (TBAR). TBAR builds a new breast using your own body tissue, including functional lymph nodes that your surgeon will reconnect so they drain lymph from their new location in your breast. It all happens during the same surgery, which reduces your recovery time.
Meet our lymphedema specialists
Choosing Rush for Lymphedema Treatment
- Expertise you can trust: Rush is on the leading edge of lymphedema treatment. Our plastic and reconstructive surgeons are highly trained in state-of-the-art microvascular techniques for transplanting lymph nodes and rewiring the lymphatic system. Rush is one of the few health systems in the Chicago area offering this surgery.
- Innovative robotic surgery: Rush University Medical Center is one of the first hospitals in the country to use advanced robotic technology for microsurgery. This technology allows surgeons to repair lymphatic vessels less than a millimeter wide.
- Personalized care: Your Rush providers will develop a personalized care plan to treat lymphedema. They’ll create a plan based on your symptoms, goals, lifestyle and more. Your team may include cancer rehabilitation experts, occupational therapists, plastic and reconstructive surgeons and other experts.
- Advanced diagnostics: We offer state-of-the-art diagnostic technology like ICG lymphangiography, which uses a fluorescent dye to trace lymph drainage, pinpoint blockages and identify working lymphatic channels.
- Specialized lymphedema therapists: Our occupational therapy team offers a complete, evidence-based program of massage, bandaging, exercises and skin care, all managed by certified lymphedema therapists — including therapists who specialize in managing lymphedema after breast cancer treatment.
FAQs About Lymphedema
In most cases, lymphedema is caused when lymph nodes are removed or damaged. Commonly, lymphedema occurs when lymph nodes are removed as part of cancer treatment or are damaged by radiation therapy. Lymphedema is especially common after breast cancer treatment. It can also occur after an injury, surgery or infection.
When lymph nodes are surgically removed or damaged, it is more difficult for lymph fluid to drain. This fluid causes the pain and swelling associated with lymphedema.
When lymphedema is caused by an injury or medical treatment, it is called secondary lymphedema.
Rarely, lymphedema is caused by an inherited condition. This is called primary lymphedema.
Often, your doctor can diagnose lymphedema by examining the affected area. They may use imaging tests to see how your lymph system functions. Rush offers ICG lymphangiography, which uses fluorescent dye to trace lymph damage and identify blockages in your lymph system.
Yes. There are many nonsurgical approaches to improve lymphedema symptoms. A certified lymphedema therapist can help reduce swelling through manual lymphatic drainage and targeted exercise. Compression therapy can also treat lymphedema.
Lymphovenous bypass is a surgery to treat lymphedema. A plastic surgeon carefully attaches lymph channels to veins, allowing lymph fluid to drain around damaged lymph nodes.
Lymph node transfer surgery moves health lymph nodes from a donor site in your groin, abdomen or other areas. These nodes are placed in the area affected by lymphedema. These transferred nodes can help drain lymph fluid.
You should see your doctor if you notice symptoms of lymphedema, including swelling and hardening or thickening of the skin. Usually, lymphedema gets worse over time and will not get better without treatment. Untreated lymphedema can lead to irreversible skin damage and dangerous skin infections.
A team of providers, including cancer rehabilitation experts, certified lymphedema specialists and plastic and reconstructive surgeons, can develop a personalized treatment plan for your lymphedema symptoms, whether they are mild or severe.
If your lymphedema symptoms responded to nonsurgical treatments, like manual lymphatic drainage or compression, you may be a candidate for surgery for long-lasting relief. Surgery can allow you to rely less on compression garments, and stop using them entirely in some cases
You may also be a candidate for preventive lymphedema surgery if you are planning to undergo a mastectomy for breast cancer treatment.
Lymphedema can develop after any surgery to treat cancer that removes lymph nodes. It can also occur after radiation therapy.
Lymphedema commonly develops after breast cancer treatment. This is because lymph nodes in the armpit are often removed as part of surgery to treat breast cancer, or these lymph nodes may be damaged during radiation treatment.
