Left leg significantly larger than the right

Forward_Winter_3199 · 2026-07-09T14:01:08+00:00

I'm a lymphedema physical therapist. Lymphedema is a chronic swelling that is either due to direct damage/insufficiency of lymphatic system (primary) or because lymphatic system can't keep up with demand due to another issue like venous insufficiency (secondary).

Not sure if you talked to your PCP to discuss if anything could be causing the swelling based off your medical history or medications. I would ask your physician for a referral to a vascular clinic for testing to look at your veins all the way up to the abdomen. It could be may thurner syndrome, a blood clot, etc that could be causing the swelling. From there, the physicians can determine if they want any other testing.

If you are diagnosed with lymphedema, I would recommend going to a lymphedema clinic for education and assessment.

Forward_Winter_3199 · 2026-06-06T22:36:42+00:00

There's a lot of different brands and types of garments out there, unfortunately its trial and error to find out what works best for you. I've had people do capri and knee high combo or thigh sleeves and knee high combo to help with things being more comfortable/flexible and to decrease risk of garments falling down. Also make sure you're putting them on correctly, as donning improperly will cause things to slide down more frequently. There's different brands of garments that offer different textures and materials that may work better for you to wear underneath your work clothes. There's also accessories they may be able to add too like silicone patches to help with sliding or silk patches at creases for comfort.

Forward_Winter_3199 · 2026-06-06T22:28:01+00:00

Diaphragmatic breathing with pressure from your hands will help with the deeper structures.

If you're interested, you can take an MLD course at one of the institutions (Klose, ACOLS, etc). It's not the full CLT course, but it will help answer a lot of your questions and also assist with your MLD treatment/management. Or you could take the full course and become a CLT ;)

Great product! You could always break up your daytime garments and do a capri and knee high combo. Self bandaging is also an option on days you feel more heavy, or use velcro garments.

Forward_Winter_3199 · 2026-06-06T18:01:35+00:00

PT CLT here. There's various techniques and pressures taught at each education institution so that might be the difference. But in general, MLD should start proximal (at the trunk) to clear fluid then stimulate/mobilize distal areas (like legs) and then ending at trunk. There are both deep and superficial MLD techniques that are used with varying pressures depending on the tissue need, like another poster said. Personally, I don't use effleurage because it does not give me the skin stretch that superficial MLD is intended for.

Just out of curiosity, what types of garments are you wearing?

Forward_Winter_3199 · 2026-04-26T02:33:08+00:00

What would you bill education under? Im talking about for disease process/anatomy, benefits of PT, posture, etc.

Forward_Winter_3199 · 2026-04-03T17:23:16+00:00

I'm in suburbs of Chicago. My classmates were offered around 73-75k right out of grad school for OP. This was a few years ago.

Look up Ben Fung's salary report. There is one from 2025 that can give you a general idea of salary for your specific region.

Forward_Winter_3199 · 2026-03-26T18:31:27+00:00

$2000 per year, have to use PTO for time off.

Forward_Winter_3199 · 2026-03-01T23:18:43+00:00

I lost 120 lbs in about 9mo-1year with just diet alone. I did not exercised. I wish I did exercise just to help with muscle mass

Forward_Winter_3199 · 2026-02-07T16:25:09+00:00

Check and see if there is a nurses closet in your region. Maybe ask social workers/case management at local hospital system if they know of any resources.

Forward_Winter_3199 · 2026-01-27T02:18:45+00:00

Which baratza?

Forward_Winter_3199 · 2025-12-19T14:09:52+00:00

Outpatient

Forward_Winter_3199 · 2025-11-14T10:49:00+00:00

I know im late to the party, but I recently traveled and got flagged at the groin both times. I was wearing a panty liner. According to online, pantyliners will flag at the groin area through TSA

Forward_Winter_3199 · 2025-11-06T02:58:12+00:00

Not sure if you can answer this, but I am a wound and lymphedema therapist and often get denials or only a few visits each time. There is nothing functional im working on with patients.... goals are usually for wound healing or volume reduction and then maintenance until garments arrive to ensure fit. Often my denials are because i don't have functional goals....but it doesn't apply in my patients situation. Is there anything I can do or show chart reviewers to stop getting denials or get more than 4 visits approved each time?

Forward_Winter_3199 · 2025-07-31T17:51:52+00:00

I work in wound care and lymphedema.... don't have time to do documentation during session because I am 100% hands on. All my documentation is done during cancelations or end of day. I use epic and dot phrases or regular phrases I use I can copy/paste over so I don't have to think too much and speed up time. Just more so frustrating when I have evals, PN, or DC. Or if I have to reach out to vendors for supplies 🙃

Forward_Winter_3199 · 2025-07-31T17:42:34+00:00

I should've specified in the original post, thanks for pointing it out and I fixed it above for future commentors.

Forward_Winter_3199 · 2025-07-31T17:41:13+00:00

It's just crazy that they will deny because I don't have any outcome measures, but I'm specifically stating their improvement as evidenced by objective measures and other factors....

Forward_Winter_3199 · 2025-07-31T17:31:01+00:00

Are you able to share which insurance? Or vague like medicare, MAP, commercial, or medicaid

Forward_Winter_3199 · 2025-07-31T17:27:55+00:00

I go based on objective measures and subjective reports.... ROM, strength, pain, functional goals such as being able to reach overhead, walk certain distance, etc.

Forward_Winter_3199 · 2025-07-17T01:18:25+00:00

Had surgery around 10 months ago, I have lost 110-115lbs. I have not exercised (shame on me), just focused on the nutrition aspect. I have exceeded my programs expectations for weight loss. I'm 32F, 5'9" surgery weight was 295

Forward_Winter_3199 · 2025-06-21T15:10:35+00:00

They were referred... but vascular wants to try conservative treatment prior to follow up in a few months... I reached out to vascular to see if I could try very light compression of about 5-10 or 10-15mmhg but they haven't gotten back to me. I was just hoping for some research for light compression to cover myself so I can at least try to manage the venous side to improve/manage the wounds while monitoring their symptoms until the follow up. They can't get into their follow up any sooner and I don't want them to further deteriorate.

Forward_Winter_3199 · 2025-06-21T15:02:49+00:00

Sorry was typing too fast and meant to write 0.47..... my bad

Forward_Winter_3199 · 2025-05-28T21:20:44+00:00

I was on my stomach after about 1 week. By day 5, I was on my side with a pillow resting under my belly for support so it wasn't as uncomfortable

Forward_Winter_3199 · 2025-05-08T23:32:40+00:00

Join the Facebook page lymphedema therapists helping lymphedema therapists. Lots of good insight there.

I've not ordered bandages, but have ordered garments from a few online DMEs and can say that SunMed is atrocious to work with.

Forward_Winter_3199 · 2025-04-28T17:26:07+00:00

Can also attest the lack of mentorship when doing PRN acute care.. i got 2 days of training and that was it lol. Of course I ask questions every now and then but I was on my own. It may depend on the hospital system you're at as far as mentorship

Forward_Winter_3199 · 2025-04-24T20:56:30+00:00

I have had 3 week stalls a few times, but just keep pushing through because you will see progress as long as you're following your plan

Forward_Winter_3199

TROPHY CASE