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Lymphedema Help

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Steps to reduce Lymphedema. And prevent this:   

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Steps	Procedure	Links/Procedure	Pictures Click on Pictures for links
1	Understand the Lymphatic System	Lymphatic System	Lymphatic System
2	Open up the Lymphatic system	a. Gently massage you neck b. Gently exercise by doing 3 of each of the following with slow music will be good: Move head to each side, left/right Move head forward Move head back up Move arms up to shoulder height Bend legs up and down
3	Exercise Rebound Mini-Trampolines Doctors recommend that everyone get moderate exercise three to four times each week. Dr. Dean Ornish's program for reversing heart disease, for example, includes walking 30 minutes daily or 60 minutes every other day. This recommendation is due to the body's inbuilt need for activation. The lymph system, for example, bathes every cell, carrying nutrients to the cell and waste products away. Yet the lymph is totally dependent on physical exercise to move. Without adequate movement, the cells are left stewing in their own waste products and starving for nutrients, a situation that contributes to arthritis, cancer and other degenerative diseases as well as aging. Vigorous exercise such as rebounding is reported to increase lymph flow by 15 to 30 times. Bones become stronger with exercise.
4	Use FlexiTouch systems from Tactile for massage areas which are affected. Evening before going to bed. If time permit, in the morning too. Session time about 1 hour.
5	Use a Reid sleeve during the night, as long as you can.	Peninsula Medical
6	Use compression garments during the day
7	Go to Step 1 as often you have time

Do you have problems with your insurance to obtain any of the above items, follow these steps:

• Obtain from your doctor your need for above equipment. Important to stress the level of Lymphedema, see: Grades. You may need to educate the doctor on this.
• You need to document your request (Sample letter, see below), with the doctors letter and submit this to your healthcare provider.
• If they don't approve you need to escalate your request up your health care provider. Typical Steps are:

1. Your medical group, You need your doctor/specialist approval and letter. Submit this to your Insurance Company.
2. Your insurance company 1st level, if not approved:
3. Your insurance company appeal and grievances, check with them how
4. Your insurance company highest level of appeal and grievances if such department exist.
5. If you are not successful next level is: in California DMHC (Department of Managed Heath Care. First call them at 188 - HMO-2219. Their website is http://www.hmohelp.ca.gov/
6. You need to fill in a complaint form. Pick either PDF or HTML, in your preferred language. Under point 5 and 6 state "see attached letter", Samples below (You may need to modify all of these for your own purpose):

Lymphedema.htm