The clinic where I had a consultation required that you wear compression stockings between treatments, and I can barely tolerate a sock. (So much for the lymph specialist.) I'm now back in PT for the time being and am being given tips on how to pull the fluid out myself, essentially using a gel or lotion and stroking/pulling at all times up and away from the feet and the effected part of the legs.

And an obvious point: the closer we can get to a salt free diet the better off we are.

Finally, I had good luck with diuretics for a couple of years, until I realized that I was dependent upon having taken a Lasix within the last six hours in order to urinate. At which point I was referred to a nephrologist, who explained that even though I understood the mechanism of the edema (neurogenic vasodilation) what I didn't understand that there was twice the volume of interstitial fluid in and around the muscles of the body as there was blood in the system, but that diuretics only work indirectly, by reducing the blood supply that feeds the interstitial fluid. As a result, for every liter of fluid I wanted to get rid of in my legs, I had to part with two liters of blood. Not a good long-term plan for the health of the kidneys.

I hope this is helpful. Good Luck!

Mike