Endoprosthetics of the hip or knee joint is the replacement of the affected joint with an artificial one. Pathology of the joint entails irreversible consequences in the form of limitation of movements up to and including disability. The patient is forced to constantly take medications that cause complications in the kidneys, liver, hematopoietic organs, and gastrointestinal tract.
Surgery can relieve pain, restore joint mobility, and prevent side effects of medications and disability. Surgery followed by rehabilitation can significantly improve the patient’s quality of life. But complications are possible during and after surgery. One of the most common consequences is leg swelling.
About lymphedema
Lymphedema is a swelling condition that can develop in the legs after lymph nodes are removed or injured. Lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped structures that are located throughout the body. They drain fluid away from different areas of your body. The inability to drain fluid leads to tissue swelling.
During surgery, lymph nodes in your pelvis were removed to get rid of any remaining cancer cells. This increases the risk of developing leg lymphedema. The risk will be higher if you have had radiation therapy or had lymph nodes removed in your groin. If you only have lymph nodes in your pelvis removed, you may be less likely to develop leg lymphedema.
Lymphedema may develop immediately after surgery or years later.
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Facial lymphatic drainage
How to relieve swelling after blepharoplasty or facelift, and also get rid of bruises after surgery?
lymphatic drainage
will best cope with this task . This is a soft and painless procedure, the essence of which is manual or hardware impact on the skin in the direction of lymph flow.
A course of electrostatic and microcurrent drainage can be started 2-3 days after facial plastic surgery
- in accordance with the recommendations of the plastic surgeon.
Most often, to achieve the desired effect (quickly relieve swelling after blepharoplasty, get rid of bruises, tone the skin), 3 procedures
.
For those who strive for excellent results and want to take care of their skin, we recommend a course of 5 procedures
.
The effect of lymphatic drainage massage after blepharoplasty / facelift
- Tones the skin, improving blood and lymph circulation;
- Restores normal metabolism of nutrients in soft tissues;
- Improves the skin's ability to regenerate;
- Lifting the skin and muscle layer;
- Fights wrinkles;
- Models beautiful facial contours;
- Strengthens the effect of comprehensive facial rejuvenation;
- It has a general stimulating effect on blood vessels and epidermal cells and, as a result, quickly relieves swelling.
A course of restorative procedures after plastic surgery on the face reduces the recovery time by 2 times!
This means that after just 1 week, the visible consequences of surgery (swelling and bruising) will be barely noticeable or disappear completely, and your skin will look healthy and well-groomed.
Read more about the cost of a recovery course after plastic surgery
Risk factors for developing leg lymphedema
Risk factors for developing leg lymphedema include:
- weight gain or excess weight;
- infection of the affected leg;
- radiotherapy of the pelvic area;
- reappearance of cancer.
There are other factors that are thought to increase this risk. These include:
- Sedentary lifestyle.
- Flying on an airplane.
- Compression of the leg. It occurs when there is a tight ring of pressure in one area of the leg and is often caused by wearing certain clothing.
- Exposure to extreme temperatures.
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Pressotherapy using the Pressoprogram device
The technique is aimed at combining physiological tissue drainage and massage. This effect helps normalize lymphatic drainage and blood circulation, get rid of swelling, increase skin elasticity and improve overall well-being. Huge boots, resembling jackboots, are put on the patient’s feet, and a wide belt is placed on the stomach and hips. The pressotherapy device is equipped with a special computer, with the help of which a specialist selects a treatment program for each specific zone. Compressed air begins to flow into the “clothes”, which provides a delicate but intense massage.
How to reduce your risk of developing lymphedema
It is impossible to predict which patients will develop lymphedema, but there are preventive measures to reduce the risk of its occurrence.
Protect your skin
One of the measures to reduce the risk of developing lymphedema is to protect the skin as much as possible from injury or infection. This is because the affected area begins to receive cells that fight the infection, which in turn causes swelling. Your legs may simply not be able to handle the removal of this extra fluid.
Treat cuts and scrapes
- Wash the area with soap and water.
- Apply first aid ointment to it.
- Place a clean, dry gauze pad or Band-Aid® over the top.
Treat burns
- Wrap an ice pack in a towel and apply to the burn for 15 minutes. You can also wash the burn with cold water.
- Wash the area with soap and water.
- Apply first aid ointment to it.
- Place a clean, dry gauze pad or bandage on top.
Watch for symptoms of infection, which include:
- redness;
- edema;
- heating of surrounding tissues;
- sensitivity.
Call your doctor or nurse if you have these symptoms.
Don't wear tight clothes
Avoid wearing tight clothing that leaves deep marks on your legs, such as socks or sweatpants with elastic cuffs. Wear loose-fitting clothing that does not leave marks on your legs.
Compression garments, which prevent severe swelling from occurring, work differently. It ensures uniform pressure on the leg and proper fluid flow through it. You can learn more about compression stockings in the Compression Stockings section of this resource.
Avoid exposure to extreme temperatures
Extreme heat and cold can cause fluid to accumulate in the leg and cause swelling. Avoid or reduce time in hot baths or saunas.
Be careful when flying by plane
If you are at risk for lymphedema, air travel is associated with certain negative factors, including:
- Cabin pressure. The pressure in the cabin of an airplane is usually slightly less than the pressure on the ground. This causes the skin to stretch and fluid to accumulate in the legs.
- Sitting motionless for long periods of time. If you don't move for a long period of time, fluid can accumulate in your legs.
- Lifting and carrying luggage can cause muscle strain.
- Dehydration (when your body does not get the amount of water it needs).
Here are some tips to help reduce your risk of developing lymphedema:
- Buy a seat with sufficient legroom, such as a seat at the front of the cabin.
- Ask for help to carry, lift or remove luggage that is too heavy for you.
- Stand up and walk up and down the airplane aisle if possible.
- While sitting, do simple exercises with your feet and ankles. Exercise throughout the flight will help restore circulation and movement of lymphatic fluid. You can try the following exercises: Point your toes towards the ceiling and then lower them towards the floor.
- Make circular movements with your feet in one direction and then in the other.
Other ways to reduce risk
- Do not give injections (shots) or acupuncture into your affected leg(s).
- Do not use sharp pedicure tools. Use cuticle remover cream and file your nails instead of trimming them.
- Moisturize your skin frequently to avoid flaking and cracking.
- Keep the area between your toes clean and dry to prevent infections.
- Don't go barefoot.
- Make sure your shoes fit your feet to avoid blisters.
- Make sure your toe rings or ankle bracelets fit loosely.
- Try to sit cross-legged as little as possible.
- Choose a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 to protect your skin from sunburn.
- Try not to gain weight, as excess weight is one of the risk factors for developing lymphedema. If you are overweight, try to lose weight.
- Limit your salt intake. Its use can lead to swelling, which will put excess strain on the lymphatic system.
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Therapeutic gymnastics and massage
The exercise therapy complex is selected individually for each patient by hospital specialists. The complexity of the exercises depends on the etiology of the edema, the severity of the operation, the condition and age of the patient. Upon discharge, the complex continues to be carried out at home. General rules:
- perform exercises at a slow and smooth pace;
- combine exercises with breathing exercises to avoid pulmonary edema;
- do gymnastics in the first days only on your back, and then while sitting in bed.
- Walk barefoot at home every day for 10-15 minutes, alternating with raising on your toes.
An addition to the treatment of edema is massage, which helps normalize blood circulation. Classic – improves lymph outflow, increases the drainage properties of intercellular tissue. Cold is carried out with ice cubes and medicinal herbal decoctions.
How to recognize the first signs of lymphedema
After surgery, swelling occurs at the incision site (surgical suture) in all patients. This is normal and will subside a few weeks after surgery.
Swelling caused by lymphedema usually occurs in the lower leg(s). If left untreated, it can spread throughout the leg and all the way to the torso. At first, this swelling may appear and disappear. It may decrease as you lift your leg higher than your chest.
Other early symptoms may include a feeling of heaviness in your leg(s) or a feeling that clothes, socks or shoes are pressing in on you.
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Recommendations for reducing swelling after plastic surgery
Each type of plastic surgery has its own rehabilitation period. In addition, it is necessary to take into account the individual characteristics of the patient’s body.
- With blepharoplasty, swelling after surgery persists for 10–12 days. In order not to provoke its intensification, you should not wear contact lenses, apply makeup, and it is recommended to sleep on a high pillow.
- Swelling after nose surgery (rhinoplasty) subsides in approximately 2 to 4 weeks. To prevent it from getting worse, the patient should wear a plaster splint constantly for 7-12 days, and then only at night for 4 weeks. It must be remembered that the nose will take on its final shape only 6 months after the operation.
- The same amount of time—about 2 weeks—swelling lasts after VY-plasty (lip augmentation) and bullhorn (upper lip surgery). To undergo rehabilitation without complications, you must follow the recommendations after surgery.
- Swelling after breast replacement surgery lasts about 1 month, because in this case the tissues are more injured and the body “gets used” to the foreign body. It is recommended to undergo a course of rehabilitation procedures, including microcurrent therapy, bioptron, magnetotherapy and homeopathic medicines.
- A facelift is also not easy on the body, so swelling after surgery lasts about 4-6 weeks. Rehabilitation procedures developed by surgeons at the Abrielle Clinic help reduce it.
By using the recovery program, you will go through the rehabilitation period with significantly less discomfort and will always feel calm, because some of the best specialists in St. Petersburg will monitor your health.
Other Lymphedema Treatments
There are other treatments for lymphedema. Talk to your doctor or lymphedema therapist about which ones are right for you.
Other treatments for lymphedema include:
- Treatment of scars. Scarring from surgery can make it difficult for your body to eliminate fluid. Scar treatments help soften the area around the scar and make it less tight. It will help drain fluid from your legs.
- Improved posture.
- Using kinesiology tape for athletes.
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Cheek swelling during wisdom tooth removal
Extraction of extreme molars (wisdom teeth) is considered one of the most difficult tooth extraction operations. It is accompanied by an incision of soft tissues and suturing, so inflammation after it is inevitable. Swelling after wisdom teeth removal lasts longer and is accompanied by pain.
Moreover, an elevated temperature may persist for several days, the patient may have difficulty swallowing, and experience pain when opening the mouth and during speech.
In this case, there is a risk of infection and serious inflammation, therefore, after depulping the extreme molars, it is necessary to take antibiotics and rinse the mouth with antiseptic solutions.
Make an appointment
To make an appointment with a lymphedema therapist, contact your healthcare provider. They will decide together which lymphedema therapy is right for you. Once your doctor has made a referral, you will be contacted to schedule an appointment. If you have any questions, call Rehabilitation Service at 212-639-7833.
Lymphedema therapy is provided at several Memorial Sloan Kettering locations. For more information, visit www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/diagnosis-treatment/symptom-management/rehabilitation/medicine-therapy.
To find a lymphedema therapist in your area, you can visit the following websites:
Klose Training
www.klosetraining.com
Norton School of Lymphatic Therapy
www.nortonschool.com
Academy of Lymphatic Studies
www.acols.com
Lymphatic Association of North America
www.clt-lana.org
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How to reduce tissue swelling after implant installation?
Although swelling of the gums after implantation and swelling of the adjacent soft tissues are expected and considered normal, this condition must be dealt with. To do this, prepare gauze or clean, thin cotton towels at home in advance and freeze a large number of ice cubes.
Immediately after surgery:
- remove the ice from the freezer, put it in a plastic bag and wrap it in a towel;
- Sit in a comfortable place, with your upper body elevated;
- apply the prepared cold bundle to the cheek on the side where the implantation was performed;
- hold the cold compress for five to seven minutes, then take a 10-minute break and repeat the procedure.
Apply ice according to the described scheme several times for one and a half to two hours. On the first day, it is allowed to do several such approaches, in agreement with the doctor.
Causes of leg swelling
When there is too much fluid in the tissues, it means that there is a malfunction in the functioning of the body. Most often, swelling is caused by:
- protein metabolism disorder;
- damage to cell membranes, increasing their permeability;
- changes in pressure differences in tissues and vessels;
- impaired blood circulation.
There are many reasons for such failures. Some are temporary (allergic reaction, bruise, infection). Others indicate the development of pathologies of the lower extremities (varicose veins, thrombophlebitis). Still others indicate serious diseases of the internal organs (heart, kidneys, lymphatic system).
A person cannot independently determine why his foot is swollen: because of uncomfortable shoes or because of a blocked blood vessel. Therefore, you should not postpone a visit to the doctor for subsequent treatment.
Prevention measures
Compliance with preventive measures will help avoid severe swelling of the leg after surgery. Doctors recommend adhering to the following rules:
- during the rehabilitation period it is necessary to minimize the load on the legs;
- When taking a horizontal position, you must ensure that your legs are higher than your head;
- daily contrast shower is useful;
- You need to adjust your drinking regime with the surgeon and strictly adhere to it;
- a salt-free diet is recommended;
- drinking alcohol-containing drinks (especially beer) negatively affects the general condition and causes swelling, so you should avoid them;
- even in the absence of swelling, you should wear medicinal knitwear;
- You should not take hot baths or visit the sauna, or stay in the sun for a long time.
Swelling after surgery occurs quite often. You won’t be able to get rid of them quickly, painlessly and safely on your own. Therefore, it is not worth taking any action without knowing the reasons. If swelling does not go away for a long time, you should consult a doctor. He has the necessary knowledge and capabilities, so he will help speed up recovery and relieve swelling of the limbs.
What is leg swelling
Swelling of the legs is an external manifestation of the accumulation of fluid in the body. At the same time, the limb itself noticeably increases in size, the skin on it becomes loose, and when pressed, dents appear that do not disappear instantly.
Swelling usually occurs in the evening, although it can still cause discomfort the next morning. It is localized:
- in the feet;
- in the ankles;
- in the legs;
- from socks to knee.
Depending on the reasons, either one leg or both may swell. Symmetrical distribution often indicates generalized edema, which may be a symptom of a life-threatening condition.
If this trouble appears rarely, then you can fight it with folk remedies. The regularity of occurrence indicates a disease of the internal organs. Therefore, it is important to establish the nature of the swelling.
