Lymph Living

Does red light therapy actually work for lymphedema?

Well, I don’t know. Here is my experience:

I started with the Hooga Pro300 (it was around $250 when I bought it) and used it consistently for about a year. When the fan eventually broke, I upgraded to the Tundra Tribe panel, which I still use about three times a week.

Before buying either one, I did my homework. I compared things like light intensity, whether the panel included both red light and near-infrared (NIR) light, the wavelengths (nanometers), and several other features. At the time, both panels seemed to be well-designed, reputable options.

So…did they work?

That’s the hard part.

I honestly can’t say.

I don’t have a “control arm.” My right arm and hand have lymphedema, and that’s the only side I treated. During the time I used the panels daily, I never noticed a dramatic improvement. If I go on vacation for two weeks and don’t use it- same. No difference. If I use it 3 times a week- same. My swelling didn’t suddenly decrease, my arm didn’t feel dramatically lighter, and I wasn’t measuring any obvious changes with any of it;

But…

It also didn’t get worse.

Maybe that’s meaningful. Maybe it isn’t. I honestly don’t know.

Should you buy one?

I don’t think there’s a right answer.

Personally, I’m someone who likes feeling like I’m doing everything I reasonably can to take care of myself. Wearing my compression, exercising, using my pump, practicing good skin care, and yes—using my red light panel—helps me feel like I’m taking an active role in managing my lymphedema.

Does the red light help? Maybe.

Does it hurt? Not in my experience.

Is it worth the investment? That depends on your budget, your expectations, and how you personally weigh the possibility of a small benefit against the cost.

One interesting thing happened recently. I had ICG lymphatic imaging performed at the Cleveland Clinic, and according to that test, my arm should look much worse than it actually does. That tells me something I’m doing is helping—I just can’t say whether red light therapy is part of the reason. Tomorrow I’ll share more about that test and what I learned from it.

I’d love to hear from you.

Have you tried red light therapy for lymphedema? Did you notice any changes? Or are you still on the fence?