Hi Ariel

In the absence of any advanced training in lymphedema, we recommend our providers know their patient's medical history and avoid needling the edema risk limb.

Sonya

Ariel,

Dry needling does a great job of reducing inflammation and the resultant edema by increasing blood flow and has been shown is research most recently in a study in 2025.  That said, these studies looked at orthopedic injuries/conditions that had intact lymphatics.  In lymphedema (I do not profess to be an expert or even someone who treats it) but can speak to the neurophysiology and mechanism.  The reason for the edema in lymphoma is a different mechanism so I do not see having the same effect as would be seen in say an acute ankle sprain with edema.  Also, if the lymphoma is the result of CA surgery with removal of some or all of the nodes then you run a high risk of conditions like cellulitis so knowing the patients history is crucial.  At this stage of what I have read, we don't recommend needling into the effected area but certainly corresponding segmental needling and even opposite side needling may be warranted in an attempt to help with the other modalities that may be use.

Frank