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Secondary Lymphedema.
Lymphedema is the accumulation of lymphatic fluid in tissues,
that thereby causes swelling due to the inability of the lymphatic system
to drain the excess fluids.
Secondary lymphedema usually develops when lymphatic vessels
are damaged as a result of radiation, infection, trauma, hip or knee surgery,
blood clots, long term circulatory problems or surgical removal.
Secondary lymphedema frequently develops when the lymphatic system is
damaged or disrupted through cancer surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy,
lymph node dissection or lymph node biopsy.
Traditional western medical treatments for cancer have created the single
leading cause of secondary lymphodema. Surgeries that involve the removal
of cancer - such as prostate, colon, uterus, bladder, breast and malignant
melanoma - create the most likely possibility of secondary lymphodema development
due to the removal and damage done to lymph nodes.
Excess weight creates a high risk for the development of secondary lympedema
due to the flow of lymph being blocked by fat.
Secondary lymphedema occurs most often in the arms and legs, and sometimes
in other parts of the body. It may occur immediately after surgery, or
within a few weeks, months, sometimes years later.
Venous Oedema.
Venous oedema develops due to venous insufficiency. Venous insufficiency
is caused by vascular disease, the prevalence of varicose veins, or previous
deep vein thrombosis (inactive), which develops as a result of high blood
pressure or if the heart is not working properly.
Insufficient blood flow in the veins of the legs, resulting from prolonged
physical inactivity, trauma or blood clots will also cause venous insufficency.
When venous insufficiency takes place, excess fluids cannot be efficiently
removed through the veins thereby leading to leakage into the tissues.
This then creates swelling in the affected limb - known as venous edema
- tingling, cramps, varicose veins and skin pigmentation. If severe and
extreme, ulcers and skin wasting may begin to occur.
Professor Neil
Piller, one of the worlds leading authorities on the treatment
of lymphedema, led medical
research held at Flinders University in South Australia between
2000 and 2002, to determine the effectiveness of the Chi
Machine to drain the excess fluids from patients suffering from
secondary lymphedema and venous oedema. These clinical trials showed there
was a significant reduction in fluids. Professor Piller concluded the Sun
Ancon Chi Machine was the most efficient method of lymph drainage that
he had come across to date.
