Legs Matter Awareness Week

Legs Matter Awareness Week was created to challenge poor leg and foot care, which can often go unseen, unspoken, and unchallenged.

The awareness week takes place until Friday, June 13 and encourages those with leg and foot conditions to speak up, while shining a light on what needs to change.

Lymphoedema is one such condition that can affect a person’s legs and feet. It is a chronic condition that causes swelling in the body. Typically, it affects the arms and legs, leading to a build up of lymph fluid.

There are two types of lymphoedema, primary and secondary. Primary lymphoedema can be congenital or heredity, causing problems with the development of a person’s lymphatic system.

Secondary lymphoedema can result from many factors such as cancer and its treatments, trauma, vascular problems, repeated infections and immobility to name but a few.

Lymphoedema can make it difficult for an individual to go about their daily lives. When lymph fluid builds up in the legs, it can cause mobility issues, making it difficult for those affected to walk, leaving them struggling to go about their daily lives.

St Ann’s Hospice runs a dedicated outpatient Lymphoedema Clinic out of both its Little Hulton and Heald Green sites to help those afflicted to manage their lymphoedema symptoms.

The Lymphoedema team is made up of three St Ann’s staff members: Fiona Sanderson, Lucie Casserley, and Lisa Wong.

Though the clinic is based in a hospice, most of their patients do not have a palliative condition.

Some patients have been coming to the clinic for many years for advice and support to help manage their lymphoedema. Other patients can be discharged once their condition is stable and well managed, but they have the option to self-refer back if needed.

Bessie from Bolton, who is the Lymphoedema Clinic’s oldest patient at 101, has been using the service to manage her lower leg swelling.

Bessie’s daughter Carolyn has praised the work of St Ann’s.

“First of all, when we went there, mum’s legs were really bad. They helped treat the lymphoedema in the legs with bandages and they prescribed mum with different levels of compression stockings,” Carolyn said.

“They were wonderful. They were very patient, very kind, explained everything that they were doing, and gave mum lots of advice,” she added.

To learn more about Legs Matter Awareness Week, click here.