03/03/2023
Why do you get swelling?
Swelling is the bodies natural reaction to a trauma. That trauma maybe caused by injury, surgery or be an inherited condition. And that trauma causes inflammation and swelling is a result of the inflammation.
Alternatively, the swelling may be due to an issue with your heart or veins.
No matter what the 'background' cause - which obviously needs to be established before any treatment should commence - it is your lymphatic system and venous system that work together to remove that swelling from your body.
I want to keep it simple to understand.
Your lymphatic system works in conjunction with your blood system to maintain fluid balance in your body. If something - like I've mentioned above - causes an increase in the fluid in your tissues, it is your lymphatic system that is wholely responsible for removing that swelling and taking it back into the blood stream and eventually your heart.
The lymphatic system is a network of vessels and nodes and organs that form the majority of your immune system. The lymph nodes work like filtration stations and they 'cleanse' the lymph fluid that has been collected from your body's tissues. This process produces immune cells called lymphocytes and these are produced as a reaction to foreign invading cells, like viruses and bacteria. Lymphocytes are basically fighter cells. They are your very own army of immune cells.
Anyway, if for some reason the lymphatic system becomes overwhelmed by either having too much fluid in the tissues for it to transport away, or by damage caused to the lymphatic system by injury or trauma or surgery, then fluid builds up in the tissues. If it is unable to be successfully removed, this fluid becomes stagnant - full of old, dead and dying cells - compromising your immunity and making you more susceptible to infections. Eventually it will make you unwell.
Before a therapist like me can do any treatment to help your lymphatic system do what it should be doing naturally, it's first super important to find out WHY that swelling is there. If it is not immediately evident as to the reason, like for instance, surgery or injury, then tests and investigations are recommended to determine the reason for the swelling.
So, even though you may have never heard of your lymphatic system, it is SO important to your general health and well-being - as well as being your fluid waste system. It is equally as important as your blood system because without it, you simply wouldn't survive.
If you'd like more information on the treatments I offer to help keep your lymphatic system functioning effectively and efficiently, then get in touch.