A clinical overview of pain experienced by cancer patients suffering from lymphoedema: A physiotherapy perspective

Objectives: To reveal how frequently pain occurs in patients with lymphoedema, analyse its cause and outline the main forms of physiotherapy management at PMCI.

Methods: A modified version of the Complex Physical Therapy method of Conservative Management of Lymphoedema was introduced by the physiotherapy department following a clinical study conducted between 1990 and 1993. The study revealed that the modified version of the technique was equally effective in reducing swelling. Whilst conducting the study and since that time, more specific physiotherapy methods were employed to address the variety of pain problems revealed.

Results:

Frequency of pain – importance of full physiotherapy assessment
-   Cause of pain in lymphoedema
-  cause of pain in lymphoedema
-  pain resulting from joint and soft tissue restriction
-  pain resulting from neural compression
-  pain resulting from swelling

Conclusion: A significant amount of pain suffered by cancer patients with lymphoedema can be attributed to joint and soft tissue restriction, with neural compression and actual swelling being responsible for a less significant proportion.