Steps Into Treatment: IPCT One / Four

Steps Into Treatment: IPCT One / Four

Today marked the beginning of my two-week intermittent pneumatic compression therapy (IPCT) treatment. Leading up to the appointment, I was feeling a mix of nerves and anticipation. This was the first active treatment I’d received beyond wearing compression garments so I wasn’t sure what to expect.

Before the session, I performed a full simple lymphatic drainage (SLD) massage, as recommended. Once at the clinic, the treatment began with a layer of loose cotton being placed over my leg to protect the skin during the process. Then, a large inflatable device with similar in appearance to a sleeping bag, known as an inflatable auxiliary sleeve, was carefully fitted around my leg and secured.

As the machine powered on, I began to feel a gentle, ball-like pressure moving rhythmically up my leg. Starting at the foot and progressing to the thigh, the sequence would pause once the pressure reached the top, then restart again at the foot, gradually increasing in intensity with each cycle. The entire process lasted around 30 minutes and to my relief was completely pain-free.

After the compression massage, my leg was coated in surgical emollient to moisturise and protect the skin in preparation for bandaging. The wrapping process began with a thin material around my toes and the end of my foot to prevent isolated swelling. Then, padding was applied from the base of my leg to the knee, secured with tape and reinforced with a self-adhesive bandage.

To complete the wrapping, I stood with a slight bend in my knee while the upper leg from knee to groin was wrapped in the same structured layers. Once complete, movement became quite limited. While I can still walk, I’m unable to bend my leg more than 90 degrees without feeling discomfort or numbness in my foot.

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