Day Compression Versus Night Compression
People with lymphedema soon learn that their condition is chronic. While that doesn’t necessarily mean that things will get steadily worse, it does mean that patients must take the management of their condition seriously. Among other things, that means following your healthcare providers’ advice regarding compression wear. Wearing compression garments is a fundamental component of any plan to combat the progression of the condition. These garments are carefully designed to promote the return and recirculation of lymph. Most rely on graduated compression. This means a given item or garment squeezes more tightly at more distant points, and less so closer to the heart. This graduated compression sets up a gradient; encouraging lymph to drain back into compromised lymph vessels in the legs, for instance, by squeezing you most tightly at the ankles, and less so at the upper calves. When lymph pools in the tissues of the ankles, for example, it can cause problems with the health of the tissues themselves, and the skin in affected areas. These areas become more fragile, and more prone to infection, and skin may thicken, discolor, or break down. Compression wear helps with all of these symptoms. You should always wear your compression garments as directed. Some patients are surprised to learn that they must to wear specialized garments around the clock. That’s not to say that you can, or should, don a garment and never remove it until it’s time to do laundry. Your doctor will likely proscribe garments that should be worn during daylight hours, and separate garments that are appropriate for nighttime wear, while you sleep.