Is lymphatic drainage exhausting & painful?

Hi @newbie475 From personal experience, lymphatic drainage can be both exhausting and painful. It’s actually very normal. After an intense massage such as lymphatic drainage, our body expends energy to detoxify and process the fluids that have been released during the massage. You can get headaches, the body feels exhausted while it’s trying to heal.

But hang in there! Usually within a day or so you’ll feel amazingly healthy and light again. It’s crucial to drink lots of water during this recovery time. It helps to flush the toxins out of your system.

I told my massage therapist at the next appointment that I felt so awful after my first session. That I felt like I’d gone through a round of chemo. She said basically, that’s what happened! The toxins from chemo treatments build up in our tissues and when they are finally released through lymph drainage or even gentle massage those toxins can give the same reaction. The good news is that your system has been purged. So drink plenty of room temp water. Maybe squeeze a little lemon in it for flavor. If necessary have a pain relief of your choice to take the edge off. But you should start feeling better in a day or so. I’d also recommended a followup massage in a couple of weeks. It will be less traumatic and will feel really good! I have massages monthly. We owe it to ourselves. ☺️

I just read another post to see that you had radiation for breast cancer. Have you completed these treatments now?

@loribmt , thank you for your reply… now that I know it’s normal, I’ll just take it a day at a time.
I had one week of intense radiation, and hopefully I won’t need anymore.
I appreciate your kindness and your knowledge. Thank you!

I had a mastectomy January 1998. I developed lymphedema by April. It was mile but uncomfortable. I was advised to get a compression sleeve, which I did. The lymphedema persisted especially after a vacation to Hawaii in 1999. I found a LANA trained massage therapist immediately upon return. The first session produced profuse drainage of excessive amounts of fluid out of every orifice in my body: ears, nose, bladder, lungs for hours. Afterwards I began to feel human again. It was incredible. I followed with therapy massage every week for a year. It was very helpful.
In 2003, I had a recurrence which triggered more surgery and radiation. Radiation caused necrosis of the skin which was cracked and oozing. More advanced therapy with an OT brought healing and wearing compression sleeves. Thirteen years later, the fluid began building in my tissues again, more therapy with the same OT. I progressed to a pump and stronger compression sleeves. I continue the self-care daily with massage, FlexiTouch pump by Tactile Medical and custom compression sleeves. It is daily and necessary. I have been hospitalized three times with cellulitis. The first time, it became septic. I measure my success by staying out of the hospital. I fit this routine into every day. Sometimes, I feel it is the only thing I get done. I am advanced in age now, so it is still a win-win. The National Lymphedema Network is helpful with information about resources. God speed.

@texgrand6, thank you. I’m sorry you’ve suffered for so long. My PT showed me exercises and self massage I need to do daily. He was surprised by my telling him I’ve having lymphatic dumps every other night. Thank you