Lymphedema is a condition where the lymphatic system can’t drain fluid properly — causing persistent swelling, heaviness, tightness, and skin changes in the affected area. It most commonly develops after cancer surgery where lymph nodes were removed (especially breast cancer), after radiation therapy, or from chronic venous insufficiency in the lower legs. It can also appear after orthopedic surgery, abdominal procedures, or any event that damages or overloads the lymphatic system. The swelling isn’t just uncomfortable — left untreated, it worsens over time and increases the risk of infection, skin breakdown, and permanent tissue changes. At Dolphin Pointe, our lymphedema therapists hold advanced certification in complete decongestive therapy — the gold standard protocol that combines manual lymph drainage, multi-layer compression bandaging, therapeutic exercise, and skin care. We’re one of the few teams in northeast Florida with this level of training. Our program operates inside our physical therapy clinic at our rehabilitation center in Jacksonville’s Arlington neighborhood.

Our lymphedema program follows complete decongestive therapy (CDT) — a four-component protocol that is the internationally recognized standard of care for lymphedema management. The first component is manual lymph drainage (MLD) — a specialized, gentle hands-on technique where your therapist uses precise, rhythmic movements to redirect lymphatic fluid from the swollen area into functioning drainage pathways. This is not massage. The pressure, direction, and sequencing of each stroke follow the anatomy of the lymphatic system exactly. The second component is multi-layer compression bandaging — short-stretch bandages applied in specific layers after each drainage session to prevent the fluid from returning. Your therapist wraps the affected limb in a way that creates a gradient pressure from the hand or foot upward, pushing fluid toward the body’s core where it can be processed. These two components work together: drainage moves the fluid out, compression keeps it out.

The third component is therapeutic exercise performed while wearing compression bandaging. Muscle contraction during exercise acts as a pump that assists lymphatic flow — but the exercise has to be performed with compression in place or the pumping effect is lost. Your therapist prescribes specific exercises matched to your condition and monitors your response. The fourth component is skin care education — because lymphedematous skin is vulnerable to infection, dryness, and breakdown. You’ll learn how to clean, moisturize, and protect the affected area to prevent the cellulitis infections that are one of the most common complications of unmanaged lymphedema. Our team also fits patients for compression garments — sleeves, stockings, or wraps — that maintain the results of treatment during daily life. Patients from Arlington, University Park, Fairways Forest, and across Jacksonville are referred to our lymphedema program by oncologists, vascular surgeons, and primary care physicians who need a certified team they can trust with this specialized care.

Lymphedema after breast cancer surgery affects an estimated 20 to 30 percent of patients who have lymph nodes removed. In a metro area the size of Jacksonville, that translates to hundreds of new cases every year from breast cancer alone — and that doesn’t count the patients who develop lymphedema from other cancers, radiation, venous insufficiency, or surgical complications. Many of these patients are never referred to a lymphedema specialist. They’re given compression stockings and told to elevate the limb. Those measures manage symptoms temporarily, but they don’t reduce the swelling or prevent the condition from progressing. Certified lymphedema therapy is the only treatment that addresses the underlying drainage failure and produces lasting volume reduction.

Finding a certified lymphedema therapist in Duval County is harder than it should be. The certification requires hundreds of additional training hours beyond a standard physical therapy degree — courses in lymphatic anatomy, manual drainage technique, compression bandaging, and patient management that most PT programs don’t include. Many clinics list “lymphedema” as a service but don’t have therapists with the advanced certification to deliver the full CDT protocol. At Dolphin Pointe, our lymphedema team holds that certification. Jacksonville’s warm, humid climate also affects lymphedema patients — heat increases swelling, and humidity makes compression garments less comfortable to wear. Our climate-controlled facility and our therapists’ experience managing Florida-specific challenges give patients a treatment environment that works with their condition, not against it. Families from Colony Cove, San Marco, Riverside, Mandarin, and across Duval County choose Dolphin Pointe for lymphedema therapy because the certification, the protocol, and the results match what their oncologist or vascular surgeon expects.

1. Referral and lymphedema evaluation. Your oncologist, surgeon, vascular specialist, or physician sends a referral. Your therapist performs a detailed assessment — limb measurements, skin condition, medical history, surgical history, and lymphatic function evaluation. We photograph and measure the affected area to establish a baseline for tracking volume reduction.

2. Intensive treatment phase. The first phase of CDT is intensive — typically daily or near-daily sessions for two to four weeks. Each session includes manual lymph drainage, multi-layer compression bandaging, therapeutic exercise in bandages, and skin care review. Limb measurements are taken at each session to track volume changes. Most patients see measurable reduction within the first week.

3. Compression garment fitting. As your swelling reduces and stabilizes, your therapist fits you for a compression garment — a sleeve, stocking, or wrap — that you’ll wear daily to maintain the results. Proper fit is critical. A garment that’s too loose doesn’t maintain pressure. One that’s too tight restricts circulation. Your therapist measures and orders the garment to match your specific anatomy and stage of reduction.

4. Maintenance phase and self-management training. After the intensive phase, you transition to a maintenance schedule — less frequent visits focused on monitoring, garment adjustments, and self-drainage technique training so you can manage daily at home. Your therapist teaches you a simplified version of the manual drainage technique you can perform on yourself between visits. Your referring physician receives a full report with volume measurements and treatment outcomes.

Lymphedema therapy is part of our physical therapy program at Dolphin Pointe Health Care. We also offer balance training, vestibular therapy, and pain management under our physical therapy clinic in Jacksonville, FL.

Compression stockings and elevation aren’t enough. If you’re living with swelling that hasn’t responded to basic treatment — after cancer surgery, radiation, vascular issues, or any procedure that damaged your lymphatic system — our certified lymphedema team can help. Call 904-914-8801 to schedule an evaluation. We serve patients from Arlington, University Park, Springfield, San Marco, Riverside, Mandarin, Orange Park, Regency, Downtown Jacksonville, and the Beaches communities.

Dolphin Pointe Health Care
5355 Dolphin Point Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32211
Phone: 904-914-8801
Open 24 Hours