Lymphedema Therapy in D.C.

Looking for a lymphedema therapist or physical therapist in Washington, D.C. or the surrounding area?  I’ve seen a BUNCH of them, and these are my absolute favorite physical therapists who I would recommend to any breast cancer survivor (or new mom, cough cough) in Maryland, Northern Virginia, or Washington, D.C.

Bretta Fabian. Bretta is my all-time favorite physical therapist.  Her years of training and experience have helped her get directly to the root of the problem and know exactly what to do to help get the body back working the way it should be.  Over the years, Bretta has eased the swelling in my arms, taught me manual lymph drainage techniques, stretched the cords of scar tissue running up and down my arms until they gently release (important both for lymph drainage and mobility), manipulated scar tissue on my chest (to relieve pain and unbind the muscles), put my back back in joint, and realigned my pelvis after childbirth (ooh, that was embarrasing to type. But if you’ve ever had that pain, you need to know there’s help out there, and it may only take one visit).  Bretta is affiliated with the George Washington University Medical Center and works closely with their surgeons.  The only drawback is that her practice does not take insurance or medicare, so you’re on your own.  Bretta is at the Center for Wellness Solutions, 202-862-0770.

Vicki and Janice at The Adventist Rehabilitation Hospital of Maryland.  Adventist Rehab has five lymphedema specialists.  I have been very happy with and can highly recommend Vicki, who trained under the founder of the Norton School of Lymphatic Therapy.  Vicki helped me understand how the lymph system works, both verbally and by referencing the instructive posters that surround the treatment area.  Vicki is a master at lymphedema wrapping, has instructed both my husband and me in manual lymph drainage techniques, and has a cheerful, supportive demeanor in all that she does.  Vicki is creative and helped me find lymphedema wrapping materials when I was allergic to everything she’d worked with before.  She also returns phone calls from current patients and aids in ordering lymphedema sleeves, gloves, and nightwear garments.  Adventist Rehab also has a half-dozen or more physical therapists at each site who are highly skilled in a number of different hands-on and rehabilitative therapy techniques.  Janice in particular is a real treasure for hands-on work including scar tissue manipulation, muscle-energy techniques, and rehab to restore everyday function.  (Both Vicki and Janice are referred to here by first name only, as they don’t have a web presence of their own.)  Adventist accepts many forms of insurance with a physician’s referral.  240-864-6200.

Katina Marinos, MPT, is the chief physical therapist at a small practice in Rockville called Manual and Sports Therapy.  Her specialties, as you may be able to tell from the name, are manual work and sports medicine, although she worked for years with an orthopedic medicine group and has an exhaustive knowledge of the interplay between the bones and muscles, making treatment comprehensive and effective.  Katina is a physical therapist who can take you from couch to marathon, as both she and her almost 70-year old father have run marathons in the past few years; she trains people of all ages and abilities to run well and without injury.  This family-run, woman-owned business is a comforting, encouraging place to heal, and Katina has been able to work wonders realigning my bones, neck to legs in the past few years.  If your bones or muscles hurt, she’s absolutely wonderful.  Katina accepts some insurance with a referral.  301-770-1613.

I’ve seen at least five other physical therapists around the area in the past three years, in a quest to find one to relieve the pain AND take my insurance, but these are my absolute favorites and it’s not fair to keep them to myself any longer.  If you live outside the D.C. area, to find a lymphedema therapist, check out the National Lymphedema Network.  If you need help affording lymphedema sleeves, gloves, and/or gauntlets, try the Marilyn Westbrook Garment Fund.  If you think that insurance should cover these garments that cost $100-$1000 each that are necessary for breast cancer survivors and other edema suffers, please let your Congresspersons know that you support H.R. 4662, the Lymphedema Diagnosis and Treatment Cost Saving Act of 2010, introduced February 23 by Congressman Larry Kissell (NC-8) and now cosponsored by Congressman Ron Paul (TX-14).

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Glory.

Glory.

We did it.

I walked my first 5k since high school today.

I walked with friends who kept me talking, and we finished the course.

It wasn’t about me as a cancer patient, or even a recovering cancer patient. It was just about friendship, and walking with friends and their families for a good cause. (I wasn’t up to pushing a stroller because of the back problem.)

It was awesome.

I’m going to try to push it up a notch this week. There’s a 1k race in Frederick, Maryland on Thursday. Thanksgiving morning. I’m going to try it — and give thanks every step of the way that I’m able to walk again, to run, to be active again, one year later.