How to Get Excess Fluid Out of Legs Because of Chemo

Your lymphathic system is vital to the proper circulation of fluids throughout your body. But when you undergo chemotherapy, your lymph vessels can become impaired and the fluids in your body don't drain from your extremities properly. In this instance, your legs can swell with excess fluid. However, there are things you can do to stimulate lymphatic drainage and remove fluid from your legs.

Things You'll Need

• Compression stockings or garments
• Pneumatic compression stockings

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Instructions

• 1

  Exercise every day. Any amount of exercise will stimulate your lymphatic system and help to reduce the fluid buildup in your legs. Ask your doctor or physical therapist about specific exercises you can do to promote the drainage of fluid from your legs.

• 2

  Wrap your affected leg; wrappings help to stimulate the lymph fluid to flow out of your leg back toward the center of your body. Wrap the bandage tightly from your toes to your thigh. Loosen the wrapping a bit as you proceed up your leg.

• 3

  Get a manual lymph drainage massage from a trained massage therapist. But first ask your doctor if he recommends this for you. If you have undergone radiation therapy, the tissues in your leg may be too delicate for this massage. Lymph drainage massages stimulate the flow of lymph fluid from legs.

• 4

  Get pneumatic compression to stimulate lymphatic drainage if your doctor advises. A sleeve that is connected to a pump inflates and deflates, putting pressure on your leg. The pumping action and pressure help move the lymph fluid away from your leg and reduce the swelling.

• 5

  Wear compression garments on your legs every day. These stockings are made of material that compresses your leg to stimulate lymphatic drainage and reduce the fluid buildup. Your doctor or other health care professional can help you select the proper stocking size, or you can have compression stockings custom-made for your leg size.

• 6

  Try these treatments in combination if your doctor advises. This is called complete decongestant therapy (CDT). But don’t do this if you have high blood pressure, heart problems, blood clots, diabetes, paralysis or any kind of infection.