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Compression Garments in the Treatment of Truncal Lymphedema:
A Conversation with Lymphedema Therapist Lesli Bell, PT-CLT/LANA

Q: Why is the use of compression garments so important in the treatment of truncal lymphedema?
LESLI — Compression is a standard part of the treatment of lymphedema, and helps to keep lymphatic fluid from building up in the affected quadrant. The fluid build-up in the chest can often be very painful, so a well-designed compression bra can make an enormous difference in patients’ quality of life. (However, a badly designed one can make things worse, so choose carefully -- see FAQs: Compression Bras vs. Mastectomy and Sports Bras in the Treatment of Truncal Lymphedema.
Q: What has been your patients’ response to treatment with massage and compression garments?
LESLI — In my experience, once patients get treated with massage or manual lymphatic drainage (MLD), they feel much better. However, it used to be that the only way to keep swelling down after treatment was with bandages – which were hard to put on, uncomfortable, and looked terrible under clothing. Now that a good compression bra is available, my patients have a vastly improved quality of life. Some women I’ve seen couldn’t leave the house, couldn’t be touched, could hardly get through the day. After they were treated with massage (MLD) and fitted with the Compressure Comfort® Bra, they stopped suffering and got their lives back again.
Q: When should patients wear compression bras?
LESLI — From the first hint of any symptoms of truncal lymphedema onwards. Symptoms include pain and tenderness, a sense of fullness in the armpit, back, side, or breast, visible indentations or “pitting” in the skin, or one breast being larger than the other or different than it was before surgery. (You should consult your health care provider immediately if you see any of these symptoms.) Some therapists also recommend that the Compressure Comfort® Bra be worn preventatively. For instance, some patients choose to wear it during exercise, or while flying, when changes in cabin pressure may make the development of truncal lymphedema more likely. In addition, many patients find that compression bras are useful for supporting swollen tissues, protecting skin, and holding dressings in place during recovery from surgery or radiation treatments. Compression bras are even being used for women who have had open-heart surgery, or who have diabetes or osteoporosis. Now that most insurance companies cover compression bras, we are finding that they have a wide range of applications. (For more information on insurance coverage for compression bras, visit http://www.bellisse.com/orderinfo.shtml.