I had an appointment with a lymphoedema practitioner today who I hadn’t seen before. She was really good and went through all the options with me. My lymphoedema is mild (7%) and I wear a sleeve. She talked me throught all the exercises and I shall endeavour to do these daily. She said that MLD could be benefitial as it can help the lymphatic fluid to find new routes but there’s no gaurentee. I’m not sure whether to have it or not. It’s a big commitment as I would have to go everyday for two weeks which is hard as I work full time. It is also a huge financial commitment as it is £110 a go which would total to £1100. I have BUPA but they will only gove £500 towards outpatient treatment and I have already used that. Has anyone else found any benefits from MLD?
I’ve had MLD and it does help. I had weekly sessions privately which cost £35 for 40 minutes. It isn’t available intensively as there is so much demand. Through my therapist I heard about the clinic in Austria where she trained. I went for 2 weeks intensive treatment last year. It cost me about £1000 plus flights and it included 2 hourly sessions a day. It was full board in a very nice room. I looked at it as a holiday which it was. I went again this year. Unfortunately, because of the euro rates suddenly changing it meant I paid a lot more. Even so, if you are prepared to pay £1100 it would certainly be better value to have a 2 week holiday thrown in. I’m a teacher like you so went in the Easter holidays. It’s one type of holiday that doesn’t go up when the kids are off school!
If you want any more details let me know.
If you can afford MLD with a well qualified therapist, then go for it. £35 is about the going rate - I was paying £36. (Thank goodness for overtime!)
My MLD therapist is Vodder trained - revalidates and updates her qualifications every two years at the Vodder school in Austria (same place you went to, Kelley, I think) and is a mine of info on lymphoedema, including new research and techniques. I have learnt so much from her and found the MLD so beneficial. An hour’s worth of top-notch treatment + loads of good advice. She also stocks better quality kinesio tape!
This kind of treatment is sometimes available on the NHS, but you really have to throw your toys out of the pram to get it. I’ve had a little MLD from the NHS over the years and I was very grateful for it, but frankly, it wasn’t nearly as good.
It’s terribly sad, though, isn’t it, that one’s quality of life with lymphoedema depends so much on how much money one can scrape together.
My therapist actually advertised in the local paper. I don’t think the LSN provides lists of MLD therapists, but I could be wrong.
But if you google ‘mld uk’ you will get to a website listing qualified MLD practitioners country-wide. You could also try asking around, if you’ve met up with anyone else who has lymphoedema, to find out if there is anyone locally they could recommend.
Hi, I also have Lymphoedema and was refered to my local clinic where the nurse learnt me how to do Simple Lymph Drainage (SLD) which takes around 15-20 mins ( and is free!! ) although not as good as MLD but hopefully this will ease my symptoms she also told me to wear my sleeve every day ( as i wasn’t wearing it in the hot weather, naughty me!! )
Love Mizzy xxx