Are there any riders out there with Lymphedema?
Smiles…
Roberta
www.findaridingbuddy.com
Yes I have Lymphedema in my left leg. Not too bad about 3 inches bigger than my other leg. I hate it but I deal with it.
Yes, here too. I developed it bilaterally following surgery. Right leg much worse than left. I found a great therapist and between the compression stockings (thigh high on the right, knee high on the left), and the sequential compression pump, it has become more of an annoyance than problem. Both legs are still tender however.
Good luck!
Another lymphedema person here. I have it in my right leg and it’s very big. I use compressionn bandages, but cannot wear the stockings comfortably. I’d need to get the leg down a lot more to be able to wear a stocking. I used to use a pump, but over time it did not help and they actually say it can cause tissue damage.
The best thing I did was to go to a lymphedema specialist at the Lerner Lymphedema clinic in Cambridge MA. The lymph massage and bandaging methods were superb. I cannot find anyone in my area that is like that (I moved to Central FL), so my leg hs stayed large. I have learned a lot over the years to prevent cellulitis -that can really speed along the damage and swelling. Having had several bouts of cellulitis when I was younger caused the problems that I have today. I’ve had it since I was 16 and I am now 46.
It is a real bummer - no skirts for me and riding clothes are a problem. I did have my boot altered, but it’s stil not right. My old cobbler in MA was much better and put heavey duty black elastic along the inside of my right boot. This cobbler wants to keep the changes in leather and I don’t think it is going to work.
As for riding, I am pretty crooked at times due to my seat bones not hitting the saddle evenly. With the one leg so much larger, it puts that hip further out and my left seatbone tends to push in. The right leg is much heavier and stronger, so anything that needs right leg is easy and anythong that needs left leg is harder. I’ve owned my horse since he was a weanling, so he has only known me as his consistant rider - he has had my instructors and other people ride him, but mostly me. He’s a good boy and does well for anyone and still listens to the proper aids.
It’s mostly a cosmetic issue once I knew to be careful about being out in the heat (always cover the leg in the direct sun), going in the ocean (lots of bacteria - I cannot go in the water up north at all, but the carribean is fine), and watching out for cuts or scrapes.
So it sucks, but the alternative would have been worse -they were afraid they would have to amputate the leg if my tumor had been lower. I fouind the tumor because I rode as a kid and I could feel the lump pressing against the saddle - it was deep in my thigh and I might not have noticed it so early if I hadn’t been a rider!
MLD therapist
have you looked on the Dr Vodder School (North America) site for a therapist in your region? I know there are fewer in the States than here in Europe, but they are very highly qualified in the use of combined decongestive therapy
