Silver Cross Lecture Aims to Answer Your Questions About Lymphedema

Dayle Zimmer wants people to know there is help for those who suffer from lymphedema, even if they’re not entirely sure they have it. 

“Following my double mastectomy in August, I had terrible pain in my right arm and some swelling,” said Zimmer, 71 of Palos Park. “I was referred to Shirley Ryan AbilityLab at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox by my surgeon, Dr. Jennifer Gambla. 

One of the certified lymphedema therapists there, Beth Leonard, got her in right away to take measurements of her arm to compare with those taken before the mastectomy. 

“They said, sure enough, I had lymphedema. And I thought, ‘Oh my gosh. I’m going to have to live with this pain forever. But Beth said, ‘No. We are going to take care of this.’” 

Zimmer worked with her therapists several weeks to meet her goals of reducing her swelling and pain, and then improving her function. 

Since Zimmer had several lymph nodes taken during the double mastectomy in August, as well as several more during a lumpectomy four years earlier, she was told by Dr. Gambla she could develop lymphedema. They took baseline measurements of her arms in case there was swelling after surgery. 

What is Lymphedema?

Lymphedema is an abnormal collection of lymphatic fluid in the tissue just beneath the skin. This swelling commonly occurs in the arm or leg, but it may also occur in other body areas including the breast, chest, head and neck, and genitals. Lymphedema develops when a body region, (for example, in the case of breast cancer surgery) where lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes are missing or impaired, becomes overloaded with lymphatic fluid. 

While Zimmer was able to drive herself to therapy at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab at Silver Cross, initially, she had to use her left arm for everything, since the right hurt so much. 

“Beth and Anna Kopacz didn’t waste any time with me during therapy. My sessions included manual lymphatic drainage massage and stretching. It was really painful at first, but I could tell it was helping.” 

Within a few weeks of two sessions a week, Zimmer’s pain was down, as was the swelling. By the end of treatment in early November, she also had full range of motion to be able to reach the upper shelves at home. 

She credits the therapy at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab for helping her, and strongly recommended a friend who was suffering from lymphedema following breast surgery to go for therapy. 

“She was holding her arm; protecting it. But if you keep doing that, the arm will stay in that position. She went to therapy, started moving it and is doing so much better. I would tell people who have lymph nodes removed to not wait. Get into therapy as soon as you are able. 

“Beth and Anna, I just love those two. They worked so hard on me. They were just amazing. I’m so glad I had therapy at Silver Cross.” 

March is Lymphedema Month

To spread awareness and help others, the certified lymphedema therapists at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab at Silver Cross will present a program “Living with Lymphedema” from 5 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 19, in the Conference Center at Silver Cross Hospital, Pavilion A, Lower Level, in New Lenox. 

During the program, participants will learn:

• The anatomy and function of the lymphatic system
• Risk factors for developing lymphedema
• Recognizing signs and symptoms of lymphedema
• Management/treatment of lymphedema
• What to expect during initial evaluation and treatment at The Shirley Ryan AbilityLab at Silver Cross. 

Certified lymphedema physical therapists at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab at Silver Cross Hospital offer evaluation, therapeutic services, and patient/caregiver education for lymphedema-related conditions. 

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with lymphedema and need treatment, Silver Cross is here to help. To schedule an appointment, please obtain a physician’s order for Outpatient Lymphedema Therapy, then call 815-300-7110. 

For more information, visit https://www.silvercross.org/care-treatment/rehabilitation/lymphedema/