Manual Lymph Drainage

[Sodasmom]

I was curious if anyone on this board has had Manual Lymph Drainage? I have read that it can really reduce water retention and keep things "moving" in your body...With all of the medication I am on for lupus, I was really hoping to do it but I can't find much on it with Lupus Patients good or bad.

I have found a few therapists in my town that were trained in Austria at the Vodder Institute and I guess that is the place you want someone trained at...

I am going to ask my Rheumy about it when I see her next but I thought maybe someone on here has some experience with it.

Thanks!
Cori style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif

[leahb133]

I went to beauty school and the massage therapists were right next to me.. I used to get free massages all the time.. however they said with manual lymph drainage.. patients with lupus need to be careful becuase it can release a lot of toxins into your body .. this is true with all types of massage but esepcially with the manual lymph drainage.

[Sleaps2much]

Hi Cori,

I am a massage therapist and Leah is right, it can release toxins too quickly. If you're curious and really want to try it maybe just go for half hour first and make sure the therapist is first, qualified and registered and second, has done lymph drainage and knows how the toxins can effect you (flare, down for a few days sick as a dog...) everybody is different so it will be a wait and see how your body reacts.

Another alternative is to have an epsome salts bath. The salts in the tub draw the water out of your body (bringing with it the toxins). Just make sure the salt in the tub is more concentrated than the salt in your body: 1 to 2 cups of epsmom salts in a full tub. Make SURE you drink lots of water before the tub, during and after because it really does draw a lot of water out of your body and you will be dehydrated and feel worse if you don't.

So now you have two things to bring to your doc.

Happy draining! lol

Sleaps

ps. I am not a doctor and this does not take the place of medical advice, please listen to your doctor first!

[leahb133]

I didn't realize that epsom salts did all that. I am going to take a bath using them this week.

[Sodasmom]

Thank you for your insights!...I do get massages from time to time and I always make sure that they don't work too hard or I flare up the next day. I will talk to my doc about the lymph drainage and see what she says...

I started using Epsom Salts about a year ago in my bath and they are WONDERFUL! I usually do it every night before I go to bed and I turn on the jets in my tub...I always wake up the next morning with less water retention and I sleep much better.

The other thing I use from time to time with the salts is some Apple Cider Vinegar. It helps complement the Espom Salts because it too draws the Toxins out of your body.

I love doing things like that because it makes me feel like I am doing something for my body other than just pumping medication into it. I know we all need our medications and I would never stop taking mine, but knowing that I can help a bit naturally keeps my spirits up a bit.

On another note, Sleaps you mentioned that you are a massage therapist. I was actually thinking about getting licensed in massage therapy but I was worried that with my lupus it might make me too tired to stand all day and work with my hands. If you don't mind my asking, is it a hard career to manage with lupus?

Thanks!
Cori style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/jump.gif

[Sleaps2much]

LOL, No, i definitely do not recommend going into massage if you have fatigue or joint pains. I've been in it for 12 years and before my strokes I could do as many massages as I wanted in a week, now Im lucky if I get six in a week but I'm hangin on with a thread because I do love it.

Save your money, it's an expensive course to learn that you will not be able to do it. Normally I think the statisics are max 10 yrs for a massage therapist and that's a healthy one. I've learned how to sit down a lot while doing it but...

Sleaps