The Effectiveness of Complex Decongestive Physical Therapy for Pain in Patients with Rheumatoid Lymphedema: Two Case Reports

ABSTRACT

Rheumatoid lymphedema (RL) is a rare complication of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The pathophysiology of RL is not yet fully understood, and the management is also not standardized. As yet, there is low awareness regarding RL and complex decongestive physical therapy (CDPT) among physicians; hence, diagnosis and treatment are delayed. A few studies have reported the positive effects of tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitory drugs on RL. CDPT is still considered the gold standard for the treatment of cancer-related lymphedema, but there are few reports on the effects of CDPT on RL. Therefore, we report two cases of chronic International Society of Lymphology lymphedema stage II RL that exhibited good therapeutic outcomes after CDPT. One of the two patient had taken a tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitory drug, but RL still has progressed. However, CDPT with multilayer bandage showed significant reduction in the pain and edema of the lower extremities.