Thursday, March 2, 2023

Lipedema Fitness: Living in Compression

MARCH IS LYMPHEDEMA AWARENESS MONTH

Having #lipolymphedema means I wear #graduatedcompression every day for the rest of my life. 

I personally wear Juzo dynamic knee highs in 30-40 mmHg strength because of my secondary #lymphedema - I also prefer a cm silicone border to help them stay put and not roll down (which kills when it does). 

WHAT IS GRADUATED COMPRESSION: Graduated compression starts stronger at the bottom (40 mmHg) and gradually lessons (30 mmHg) as it goes up your limb, this helps your body push the lymph fluid up instead of it pooling in your limbs.

When I first got fitted for compression I cried. It was not easy to transition into it. 

At the time it only came in black or tan (now it comes in great colors), and was so thick; it took some time for me to get good at putting it on, we actually joke that putting compression on is the workout!

I’ve actually punched myself in the face on accident trying to pull up my compression leggings. Woof, and I know I’m not alone in that.

Wearing it under pants is challenging, and under workout pants can literally take your breath away - and wearing it in the summer can suck the life right out of you. 

BUT - I would much rather wear it than be without it, because when my legs swell up with lymph fluid - it is excruciating. 

The compression also helps my #lipedema and #hypermobileehlersdanlossyndrome by supporting my legs as I move, lipedema legs can be very heavy and the tissue moves freely (uncomfortable and painful) and the hyper mobile EDS means my joints can dislocate really easily. 

Having the support from the compression helps a lot. 

Let me know if you have any questions, and there is a great live product review of my knee highs in my Instagram video section from a couple years ago (click here).

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