I know it is complicated and so often misunderstood, that it seems as though it might just be your imagination. But for the last 16 years we have been studying and caring for people that have a glitch in their crazy lymph system. Lymph swelling is a sneaky little thing that creeps in ever so slowly and makes trouble in compromised tissue. It often feels like an area is suddenly too tight. Or it may feel like there is some tugging or pulling at your skin. You may feel a burning or a local tingle. You may feel bloated. It is usually pretty sly and it is just really hard to tell. That is why it is so often missed.

When we look at the body we know that the lymph system keeps everything flowing the way it is suppose too. We have natural watersheds that allow our body to drain off all the extra fluid and waste products. When the watersheds are blocked than the flow becomes sluggish. As we age the lymph system is naturally slower in its ability to flush the system, which means we should really learn how to boast our system.

What we know is that the lymph system has its main terminus nodes right below your clavicles. Then the other big sets of nodes are in your tummy region. They look like a chain of pea pods. Then you have a big set of nodes in your armpits and in your groin area on both sides. These nodes are the collector sites and everything drains from your arms and legs to them. If perhaps nodes are missing, damaged (as with radiation) or there are scar lines prohibiting the collection or flow pattern, then the lymph system becomes backed up. Think of it like a stream running one way back to your heart and all of a sudden there is a pile of rocks that get in the way. You know the way a dam works, well that is how much fluid can collect in an area.

And you know what happens when you have water that is not moving. Now you can see why the tissue would feel tight or thick or lumpy. It can get tacky or sticky and our fatty tissue loves to stick to lymph fluid that is not moving. Which is what all that lumpy stuff often is about. The protein rich fluid is not moving and becomes stagnant.

Because the stream has only one-way values, the values can become easily damaged and stop working altogether.

Your job is to keep your lymph system healthy and to keep the fluid moving right to your heart. There are easy ways to teach the lymph system to become more efficient. Gentle massage to the main nodes is one of the best ways to keep the flow moving. When we do gentle massage we are creating a vacuum effect and it pulls the fluid that is caught. It makes new watersheds and channel ways so that fluid can drain around the problem area. If you have multiple scar lines, or scars that might be interrupting the natural flow pattern there are things that your physical therapist that is trained in specialized lymph treatment can teach you. If you have areas where there is tightness and tissue changes after surgery, then your lymph system might need a little pick me up. It is not just your imagination; it is probably your lymph system.

Brought to you by Sheree DiBiase, PT - Lake City Physical Therapy, PA owner. She and our other qualified and knowledgeable therapist can be reached at (208) 667-1988 2170 Ironwood Center Drive, Coeur d'Alene, or our Spokane Valley location (509) 891-2623.