domingo, 11 de noviembre de 2018

IS THERE PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS ASSOCIATED WITH NONTREATMENT OR UNDERTREATMENT OF LYMPHOEDEMA - Organic Lymphatic Vascular Disease - Psychosocial impact and sequelae of untreated Lymphostatic Elephantiasis – Coping psychologically with lymphoedema – Paediatric and Primary Lymphoedema - Secondary Lymphoedema – Filariasis /Podoconiosis - Disease of the Skin

Many people who suffer from chronic diseases that entail joint organic and functional limitations like lymphedema, may experience some level of social isolation, depression, embarrassment, and despair. In many cases what else could be foreseen, if the condition is being untreated or undertreated with ineffective solutions. 



Lymphedema is a progressive disfiguring and disabling disease of the skin, classified as a functional, immune, and lymphatic circulatory system disorder (Organic Lymphatic Vascular Disease). The lymphatics are an active and integrated component of the immune response, and in lymphedema, there is always an increased susceptibility to infection due to the compromised immune system. Read more about what is an Organic Imparment HERE.



It is clear that no patient or their lymphedema is the same and neither is its progress. Some patients with lymphedema have few symptoms, and can easily do different degrees of physical activity, while others feel the strain, experience increased swelling with minimum effort, or even suffer varying degrees of disability and severe complications. Read more about lymphedema and Infectious Cellulitis HERE.



Apart from the possible psychological implications of lymphedema due to disfigurement and disability (functional limitation), patients can't be expected to have a distress-free happy-go-lucky life, when they are at the same time in the dramatic situation of seeing their health condition worsening due to undertreatment. The logical procedure should be to first solve problems of access to adequate treatment, and then manage the psychological distress problem if it still exists.




In terms of the psychological acceptance of a person affected by Stage III lymphoedema (elephantiasis), important questions arise as to what their emotional response should be to non-treatment or under-treatment, knowing the quality of life and very serious outcome that this disease could lead to. 



Lymphedema is not in itself a psychopathology, nor does it simply predispose individuals to poor mental health. What lymphedema needs is adequate compression treatment and garments for the reduction and maintenance of edema, and what influences individuals with neglected and untreated diseases to be frustrated and depressed, is precisely being medically neglected and untreated.




Psychological distress related to medical conditions is not something new, and no matter what illness or context, the impact of chronic diseases usually always affects people's lives, especially when there are difficulties in accessing adequate treatment options. 



Patients should first access the correct treatment for their illness and then be treated psychologically if needed. Self-care support and activities are important for lymphedema, but patients also need at the same time access to compression therapy and garments, to control the progression of the disease. Read more about the signs, symptoms, and complications of lymphoedema HERE.


The progressive swelling and inflammation of lymphostatic edema can lead to severe disfigurement, disability, and even fatal infectious complications. In many cases, rather than a psychological problem of acceptance on the part of the person, it is the lack of access to correct treatment that causes the stress factors, which incidentally could also be considered a serious breach of "Human Rights", in terms of access to adequate health care for individuals.




IMPORTANT NOTICE 

Lymphedema is a serious chronic and progressive disease due to lymphatic dysfunction (Organic Lymphatic Vascular Disease). The clinical treatment of lymphedema is neither a cosmetic nor an aesthetic treatment. The treatment of lymphedema is to control its progression and alleviate the symptoms related to dysfunction of the lymphatic circulatory system. 

To prevent and avoid serious complications associated with treatment, such as the possible displacement of edema to previously unaffected areas when compression therapy is applied for volume reduction, patients should use highly specialized and experienced therapists. 

Professional qualification and instruction delivered remotely online are not the same as live hands-on practical instruction in the clinical training and certification of lymphedema therapists, similar to all other rehabilitation, medical, and surgical training programs, and especially for developing the necessary manual skills to treat a disease as complex as lymphedema. 

Patients should also take special care when choosing a "Multidisciplinary Center of Reference for Lymphedema", as not all countries and centers provide the same treatment options. The best choice is a center of reference that provides “Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT)”, which is recognized as the “Gold Standard” treatment for lymphedema.

  • Read more about what is the best treatment option for Lymphedema HERE.
  • Read about what are the principal functions of Manual Lymphatic Drainage HERE.
  • Read about what are the main differences between the two principal lymphedema treatment protocols HERE. 
  • Read about what are the strategies for the implementation of low-cost treatment options for Lymphedema HERE.

REFERENCES

(Click on the texts to read the research articles)

SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

CUTANEOUS COMPLICATIONS
INFECTIOUS COMPLICATIONS
CELLULITIS / DERMATOLYMPHANGIOADENITIS
TUMOURS

TREATMENT

COMPRESSION GARMENTS

DISABILITY

DISFIGUREMENT

PSYCHOSOCIAL IMPACT

PEDIATRIC LYMPHEDEMA

LYMPHATIC FILARIASIS / PODOCONIOSIS



Articles that may also interest you: 
(Click on the texts)








  • WHAT KIND OF DOCTOR TREATS LYMPHEDEMA/LYMPHOEDEMA - WHAT TYPE OF DOCTOR IS SPECIALIZED IN LYMPHATIC DYSFUNCTION - WHICH MEDICAL SPECIALITIES ARE RELATED TO LYMPHEDEMA













CLICK ON THE TEXTS 
TO SEE  LYHMPHEDEMA INCIDENCE 
AND PREVALENCE






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