Lymph Living

This one is slightly controversial. Not for me, mind you, but some people get pretty riled up about different tools used for lymphedema.

I am not a doctor or a physical therapist with lymphedema credentials. I do, however, have lymphedema, and my massage gun works great for me.

There are different types of massage guns. I borrowed my aunt’s once, and it lacked the settings mine has. It was way too harsh. I have a Sharper Image massage gun with six levels of intensity. I keep it on level one or two, and honestly, it works amazingly well to get my lymph moving.

How can I tell?

First, my arm softens.

Second, my arm shrinks to a more normal size.

Third, I get that little skin pattern that tells me my lymphatic system is happy. It’s hard to explain. It’s much more subtle than goosebumps, but it’s a distinct look. My lymphedema therapist taught me what to look for. It’s my goal when I do Manual Lymphatic Drainage because it lets me know what I’m doing is working.

This isn’t the exact massage gun I have, but it’s the same brand and has six speed settings like mine. It’s a mini version, and it looks like they don’t make my model anymore. As long as you can use a very low intensity, it should work similarly.

To use it, I start at my shoulder, work my way down my upper arm, then my forearm, and finally my wrist. Then I reverse and work my way back up to my shoulder.

When I finish, I can usually feel the gentle vibration all the way to my fingertips.

I do this while I’m using my red light therapy panel in the morning, setting the massage gun down every now and then to drink my coffee.

You’ve got to figure out how to multitask when you have lymphedema.

IYKYK! 💚

Disclaimer: This is simply my personal experience and is not medical advice. Massage guns may not be appropriate for everyone with lymphedema. Always check with your certified lymphedema therapist or healthcare provider before trying new treatments or devices.