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They are called "anti-embolism stockings" or hose.
Those have to be worn to help this and anytime you fly anywhere. There are lots of things to know about prevention and care. We don't generally have to deal with this as much as other cancer patients do, but anytime there is surgery or lymph node removal, lymphedema is a possibility. It can show up years later too. Please check into MLD therapy. It's manual lymphatic drainage and is the only therapy that really helps lymphedema, which can be quite serious if left untreated. It's not curable once you get it but can
be managed. There are some good sites about it online if you do a Google search for MLD and lymphedema.
I've been going for treatment for my neck which has lymphedema and severe fibrosis after my surgery. After only a week, the swelling is down and my onc said I was more symmetrical now. The discoloration that was purple is now pink, and the fibrotic tissue is much softer. MLD is a light, rhythmic movement of the skin in order to help the lymphatic vessels move the lymph fluid. Those pumps they use makes it go to the top of your leg or arm and stay there. Then it becomes a bigger problem.
Be sure you go to a therapist who is certified by the Vodder School and went the entire time. Some people go to weekend sessions and become certified by someone. The training takes four intensive weeks. My MLD therapist is a licensed massage > therapist and was the first to be certified in the state. So check out their credentials.
It works! I can testify to that. My oncologist was impressed with the progress too. I have range of motion in my neck now and can move my head all the way to my shoulder now. Before this all I could do was move it a few inches. It's not as tight now but that's still there and will be until the fibrosis is gone or managed.
Best of luck with this!
Joy
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