About Us
Welcome to Lymph Drainage Specialists. How we got here.
OUR VALUES:
From the therapist's perspective, we've seen that managing chronic swelling conditions such lymphoedema, lipoedema and venous insufficiency can be a challenge. We aim to deliver quality, choice, convenience, empowerment and education to our clients.
A WORD ABOUT QUALITY
In a world where fast fashion sells online for less than the cost of lunch, it's easy to believe that the same applies to effective compression garments. The garments on this site are trusted because they meet high European quality standards and/or have been selected by therapists through experience and for their industry reputation. A quality garment not only does the job properly, it feels better and lasts longer than a cheap imitation. This means it will be worn regularly and deliver the health benefits that it should.
OUR MISSION:
We want to help simplify oedema management and make it easy, fun and full of choices. So we've provided detailed instructions on self-measurement where necessary, so that customers who know their health condition can confidently order online. As long as you check in with your doctor and/or therapist regularly, there is no reason you can't measure and order your own compression garments using this site as a guide.
*CAUTION:
When ordering your own compression garments online, it's best to have an existing diagnosis and, in the case of lymphoedema, lipoedema and venous insufficiency, be aware of which stage of progression you are in. These factors will determine garment suitability. You should never order compression garments if you don't know the cause of your swelling/heaviness/pain. Always see a doctor if you are experiencing swelling of an unknown origin.
COMPRESSION FOR VARIOUS STAGES OF DISEASE
Effective compression treatment starts with a diagnosis and education about the management of your condition. With advanced stages of lymphoedema and lipoedema, it is often necessary to first undertake decongestive therapy before being measured by a professional for a custom compression garment. In a case like this, be aware that the garments on this site (with the exception of Comfiwave) won't be suitable, and may roll, gather and constrict if they don't fit well.
Whilst our products come in plus sizes and varying comfort features, they are still standard garments, made for mild to moderate swelling conditions.
Compression socks, stockings and pantyhose will not reduce advanced swelling. Rather, they are designed to prevent progression of disease, including that which isn't yet visible to the eye. For example, someone in the early stages of venous disease might not be visibly swollen but have trouble standing or sitting for long periods without getting sore legs. Standard compression garments would work well for this person, because the shape of their legs will be suitable. In this case it is advisable to tell your doctor about what you are experiencing, so that they can rule out more harmful causes of pain.
Naturally it's best to have regular appointments with a trained therapist when it comes to managing chronic swelling. To find a therapist local to your area, visit the Australasian Lymphology Association website.
MEET OUR FOUNDER:
Brigitte Mente is a lymphoedema therapist, listed on the NLPR with the Australasian Lymphology Association. She is also a remedial massage therapist and member of Massage Myotherapy Australia. Her personal journey with venous insufficiency lead her to study lymphatics and the treatment of chronic swelling diseases.
Here she shares her family legacy of chronic swelling disease.
"Having venous disease run in my family, I know how debilitating sore legs can be and how much relief you can get from wearing compression during the day. Long periods standing at work in my twenties saw me puzzled at how much my young legs would ache. I couldn't see anything wrong with them. It was just a feeling of terrible tiredness and aching. It bothered me when my kids were little as well. In those days I didn't know I'd inherited venous insufficiency. Had I received a diagnosis earlier, I'd have avoided years of pain and discomfort, just through wearing compression!
OMI
Looking back to my grandmother's days, I now believe she suffered from undiagnosed lymphoedema during the last years of her life. She spent most of that time bed-ridden and would shuffle painfully when walking. I never saw her legs because she hid them under long dresses, but her feet were heavily swollen. If I could go back and help, I'd have decongested her legs and measured her for some flat knit compression pantyhose, custom and crotchless, so she wouldn't have to pull them down every time she'd visit the outside loo! Winters in rural Austria are COLD.
DAD
My father had large varicose veins popping out of his legs at the height of his building career when I was a child. He was a keen jogger and suffered knee trouble as well, which caused him considerable pain. We rarely heard him complain, but he did get very grumpy at times. He did end up having the veins removed surgically, but they eventually came back years later. The grown-up me would have given him some robust compression socks for work with knee sleeves for extra support, good compression running tights for jogging, plus some nice, cottony, full-leg length Comfiwaves for recovery and pain relief at night. Not to mention plenty of stretching and manual lymphatic drainage!
Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is prevalent in the European population. Approximately 40.8% of individuals have CVI, according to a study. This condition is associated with cardiovascular risk factors and disease. Interestingly, CVI is not solely age-related; symptoms can develop as early as 15 to 25 years old.
MUM
My mother seemed to suffer what we in the industry call lipolymphophlebedema. This condition combines the symptoms of lipoedema (fibrotic fat disease), lymphoedema (fluid issues) and venous insufficiency (varicose veins). Her upper body was of normal appearance. But from the waist down, her body was disproportionately large, lumpy, flabby and her legs were marbled with spider veins. She was a beautiful woman, but thinking back now I remember moments of feeling sorry for her as a child, especially when we went to the beach. Here was this lovely looking lady, who cooked healthy meals, tried diets and exercise, but nothing would change her proportions or the soft lumpy texture of her tissue. Mum was diagnosed with cardiac decompensation when she was older and she passed away last year from a massive heart attack. She would periodically wear CCLI knee high compression prescribed to her by her specialist. Anything more would have sent too much extra load back to her heart.
I don't tell this story to frighten anyone. Only to try to paint a picture of what lymphatic related diseases can look like.
If I could impart any words of wisdom to those out there with swelling issues or unexplained aching and pain, it would be this: See your doctor and tell them about it. Tell them that's it's affecting how you function and that you'd like to get a diagnosis. Rule out muscular tension as the cause. Get a referral to a specialist if your GP can't help. Because a treatment plan isn't possible without a diagnosis. And good treatment includes determining which type of compression is right for you!
Get it early and prevent progression. The longer a lymphatic overload goes untreated, the worse and more expensive it becomes.
Costly custom garments become necessary as malformation and other complications set in over time. So don't wait! Diagnosing chronic swelling conditions early rather than late means far better outcomes and quality of life. And who doesn't want more of those?"
THE FOUR PILLARS OF CONSERVATIVE THERAPY
Add to compression: regular moderate exercise, good skin care and manual lymphatic drainage and you have a sound conservative management strategy for chronic swelling disease. These four pillars along with a healthy anti-inflammatory diet will prevent future complications and produce a happier, healthier you.
Thanks for reading this to the end!
Do you have a story to share about chronic swelling?
Which garments have helped you stay comfortable and active?
