Raising awareness of lymphedema

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This article was published 19/02/2016 (3804 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Lymphedema made Brunkild resident Melissa Bunkowsky unable to stand for long or participate in any sports due to the painful swelling in her legs.

“My legs were always sore,” she said, looking back about 10 years ago.

Bunkowsky will be talking about her experience at the Lymphedema Association of Manitoba’s 4th annual awareness day symposium on Sat., March 12 at the Hilton Winnipeg Airport Suites (1800 Wellington Ave.)

The association provides access to resources for Manitobans with lymphedema and education and awareness of lymphedema to the general public and the medical community.

Lymphedema is the chronic swelling of a body part caused by an accumulation of lymph fluid. As well as restricting a person’s movement, the excess fluid can cause fibrosis and result in an increased risk of infection and even amputation. People can be diagnosed with primary lymphedema when they are young if their lymph glands don’t function correctly, or with secondary lymphedema when they are older, mainly when their lymph glands are damaged, or removed out of medical necessity.

In Bunkowsky’s case, she can trace the start of her condition back to her teen years when she had a fastball injury to her foot that caused prolonged swelling. She was told the swelling was a result of the injury and should disappear, but it got worse.

“One morning I woke up and my right ankle was the size of a grapefruit,” she said.

After being sent for various tests, she finally got the diagnosis of lymphedema when she was 19. Tests showed no lymphatic fluid movement in one leg and reduced movement in the other.

Her treatment consisted of medication and wearing compression stockings. However, she wanted a way to get back to her normal exercise level.

“I stopped doing so many activities,” she said.

After doing some research, she discovered a compression pump that forces the excess lymphatic fluid that collects at her foot and lower leg back up to her body core where it is naturally dispersed.

She was relieved when she was able to manage the swelling caused by her lymphedema after the births of her two children.

Bunkowsky said she agreed to speak at the symposium to share her personal story and urge others to push for accurate diagnosis and treatment.

“It’s been an interesting journey,” she said.

One of the Lymphedema Association of Manitoba’s founding co-directors  Edith Mulhall, said she hopes everyone affected by lymphedema or interested in learning more about the condition will attend the symposium.

“We are fortunate to have the support of exhibitors and vendors to showcase the products available to help manage this condition,” Mulhall said in an email.

For more information on the association and annual symposium, visit www.lymphmanitoba.ca

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