Most patients with lymphedema will certainly understand what is this. After a course of conservative treatment like CDT, bandaging, and compression garment assertion, a good result can be evident, the hand becomes softer and edema reduces. Although there’s a need to wear a garment, it is no problem for patients.
However, sometimes the swelling might reoccur, and worsen with greater volume.
The patient decides to go through a conservative course again. “If it worked once it would work again”. But regardless of CDT’s temporal effectiveness, it lasts shorter and shorter, reducing the time between sessions.
The answer is simple. “The swelling” is a collection of water, proteins, and different growth factors in tissues. Water goes off after applying pressure by massage or garment, but it comes back again after a while. At the same time, protein and growth factors stay in the tissue, moreover, excessive protein collection in the tissue eventually leads to fibrosis that can only be managed by removing tissues surgically.
All conservative approaches to lymphedema treatment are temporary,
helping to reduce symptoms, but not aiming at the cause. What can help is surgery. Lymphovenous anastomosis, lymph node transplant, post-radio fibrosis management should be performed following CDT or other conservative treatment.