HAVRE, Mont. (NMB) – Northern Montana Health Care has announced that Joanne Nelson is now nationally accredited to provide Certified Lymphedema Therapy. A press release says that following more than 135 hours of training with the Norton School of Lymphatic Therapy, she took the Lymphedema Association of North America’s board examination to obtain her Certified Lymphedema Therapist credentials.
Lymphedema is an abnormal buildup of fluid in the skin due to damage in the lymphatic system. The risk for developing lymphedema increases after a surgery that removes or damages lymphnodes, radiation therapy, having active cancer, or having an infection from surgery. Lymphedema can start within a few months of injury to the lymphatic system or even decades later, but most often develops within about one to two years after the injury.
When a patient is referred for lymphedema therapy, the CLT will use manual techniques as well as compression therapy to decongest the affect area and will then make recommendations to prevent re-accumulation of fluid.
