Massaging the Flanks and Back
The general rule of massaging is to massage towards the heart. However, since there are so many lymph nodes in the flanks, you can massage in any direction and be effective. You can do clockwise, counterclockwise, up-and-down, or site-to-side. The most important thing is that you are massaging and encouraging the fluid to be processed.
Frequency and Duration
We recommend patients to massage at least 3 times per day for 10-15 minutes - morning, noon, and night. Ideally these massages are done without the compression on. However, it is still effective to do it over the compression if you don't have time to remove the compression. You can NOT over-massage. Whenever you have a spare moment at home, work, driving, feel free to massage.
White Blood Cell Buildup
The majority of our patients will have "firm spots" or "lumps and bumps." This is a normal part of the healing process. Oftentimes the firm spots seem to show up overnight. Do not be alarmed, they will go away over time. The body puts these white blood cells there to help heal. Once a patient has a firm spot, they will be there for several weeks. In rare cases they can remain for several months. These are not permanent and just need time to heal.