Benefits of Lymph Drainage Therapy: Pre and Post Surgery

This is the second blog in a series about the benefits of Lymph Drainage Therapy.

Most people have no idea what Lymph Drainage Therapy is. Just hearing the word drainage might gross you out. However, LDT can be a powerful tool for improving your overall health and quality of life. And you don’t need to be sick in order to benefit from this type of therapy. Last month, I talked about how LDT can help with sinuses, eye puffiness, ear infections, etc. In this month’s blog, I will share how beneficial LDT can be when received both before and after surgery.

Benefits of Lymph Drainage Therapy Before Surgery
There are endless reasons why people get surgery. In most cases, it doesn’t matter what type of surgery you’re having to receive Lymph Drainage Therapy. The benefits of receiving LDT before surgery are:

  • Reduced recovery time from anesthesia
  • Fewer anesthesia side effects (i.e. grogginess, nausea, headache)
  • Faster healing in incision area
  • Increased energy
  • Shorter overall recovery time

Planning Ahead

Ideally, LDT should be received the night before surgery. However, even a few days before surgery would be beneficial. If you are a new client and are thinking about receiving LDT for pre-surgical care, I would try to fit a few sessions in to see how you respond. If there isn’t time we can combine with another modality or have a shorter session. Another benefit of having LDT before surgery is that it encourages your body’s parasympathetic response. In other words rest and digest mode. It helps put you in a relaxed state of mind.

Benefits of Lymph Drainage Therapy After Surgery

Post-surgical treatments are also beneficial and can be done in conjunction with other prescribed therapies (physical therapy, occupational therapy, etc.). The post surgical benefits of LDT are:

  • Reduced swelling, bruising, and inflammation
  • Decreased scar tissue in and around scar site
  • Improved range of motion
  • Increased energy
  • Shorter overall healing time

Surgeries Suitable for Lymph Drainage Therapy

LDT is beneficial to patients undergoing a broad range of surgeries and medical procedures. Here are some of the types of surgeries/procedures for which I have provided LDT:

  • Mastectomy or lumpectomy
  • Joint Replacement Surgery (knee, hip, shoulder)
  • Cosmetic surgery (breast reconstruction, augmentation, and reduction; liposuction; tummy tuck; eye lift; face lift, etc.)
  • Back surgery
  • Open heart surgery
  • Achilles tendon surgery

Is LDT Right For You?

There are a few instances where Lymph Drainage Therapy is not recommended. If you have a heart or clotting condition, or are taking blood thinners, LDT is contraindicated. The lymphatic and circulatory systems are very good friends. However, the lymph travels in only one direction – towards the heart. The circulatory system, as its name implies, pumps blood to and from the heart through its veins and arteries. So if you have a condition where you don’t want fluid increasing towards the heart, we need to stay clear of LDT. But don’t worry, there are other suitable modalities we can incorporate to help improve your overall health. I’ll save that for another blog. The best way to find out if it LDT can be beneficial to your pre and post surgical care is to contact me so we can talk about it.

Lymph Drainage Therapy in Southern NH

Getting in touch with a professional who understands the benefits and application of LDT can significantly improve your surgical outcome and overall quality of life. Contact me today to learn more about this therapy and how you may benefit from it.

Address:

32 Daniel Webster Highway, Suite 16
Merrimack NH, 03054

Contact Info

(978) 577-5905

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