Once someone is diagnosed with lymphedema, that person will have it for the rest of his or her life. The Lerner Technique offers comprehensive care with long-term affects, Sehlin noted. The manual lymph drainage improves the activity of the lymph system by stimulating the lymph vessels, improving circulation and breaking up of scar tissue. The bandaging improves the efficiency of the muscle and joints to pump the fluid out, prevents the re-accumulation of evacuated lymph fluid, and helps break up deposits of accumulated scar and connective tissue. The exercises, done with the bandages on, accelerate the lymph vessel activity, improve lymph circulation, increase the volume of lymph fluid that can be transported, and maintain and improve range of motion and strength.
Skin care is aimed at keeping the skin supple and eliminating the possibility of infection.
Lymphedema treatment is something the patient needs to continue at home.