Madison's First Lymphatic-Centric Clinic

Welcome to Madison Lymphatics and Bodywork, Madison’s first lymphatic-centric clinic.  We are a patient-focused environment specializing in Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) and have experience and comfort treating: post-surgical patients, cancer patients, chronic lymphatic conditions such as lymphedema and lipedema, as well as those with generalized inflammation, chronic immune impaired conditions (Lyme disease, Ehlors Danlos Syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, etc), long/post-COVID symptoms and hypersensitivity.

Established in 2023, the staff at Madison Lymphatics and Bodywork have a combined experience of 14 years of MLD specific work treating a wide array of patients with complex health histories. Formerly known as Therapeutic Massage Center of Middleton, we strive to empower patients with knowledge and information to help them navigate their health journey.

For more information on how Madison Lymphatics and Bodywork can help you achieve your health goals, call us at 608-203-8550.

 

***Note***

If you are having difficulty getting scheduled at the time/day or with the provider you would like – please don’t hesitate to call/text us to be added to our cancellation list as cancellations are common. Sometimes we are booking farther out – we use our cancellation list as a means to get patients in sooner. Thank you. 

therapeutic services

Post Surgical Manual Lymphatic Drainage

Post-surgical manual lymphatic drainage helps clear out excess lymph fluid caused by surgical trauma, which assists in faster healing and pain reduction. Scar tissue work is also performed when appropriate to help reduce adhesions after surgery which will help with overall appearance of surgical site and surrounding areas, increased lymphatic flow and help reduce future scar adhesion complications. 

Manual Lymphatic Drainage

A gentle form of bodywork that stimulates the lymphatic system to reduce edema/systemic inflammation, remove toxins and waste, and encourage a healthy immune system. This type of treatment is appropriate for most (see contraindications). Very beneficial for patients: post-cancer, with lipidema/lymphedema, dealing with autoimmune conditions, with long COVID, with systemic inflammatory conditions such as Lyme, PCOS, endometriosis and many more. 

The lymphatic system is your body's unsung hero.

Therapeutic Bodywork

An effective way to treat a wide array of tension and soft-tissue injury related conditions. Massage therapy sessions are designed for the client’s individual needs in order to provide the optimal outcome.  Massage therapy can be beneficial for not only relaxing tense muscle tissue, but also can help to calm an over active sympathetic nervous system.  

What Sets Us Apart

At Madison Lymphatics and Bodywork, we approach our  sessions differently than other clinics that you may have been to before.

We always focus on the patient’s individual needs, analyzing a number of different aspects of their health, to see how Manual Lymphatic Drainage or Therapeutic Massage would be most beneficial. We believe that educating our patients on their lymphatic imbalances and what may be causing it is imperative to recovery and health.

All of our practitioners are graduates of nationally accredited schools and have thorough knowledge of the lymphatic system, anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, and an understanding of how it all works together.

Before each treatment, we do a full intake with the patient asking questions that will help formulate a session designed for optimal results. We never do pre-choreographed routines and continually strive to provide our patients with unique treatments that produce the desired outcome.

Our practitioners at Madison Lymphatics and Bodywork all use the Vodder Method in their Manual Lymphatic Drainage sessions. Modalities that may be used during a typical massage therapy session include Myofascial Release, Trigger Point Therapy, Deep Tissue Massage, Swedish Massage and Cranio-Sacral Therapy. 

Sessions at the Madison Lymphatics and Bodywork are the perfect compliment to any physical therapy, chiropractic, or naturopathic care.

Our Clients Love Us

5/5
Carmela was amazing! She has a magical touch and was incredibly knowledgeable about my post surgery needs with the lymphatic drain massage. I left feeling relaxed and more comfortable. She also made several recommendations to help me at home, in between appointments. I am looking forward to becoming a regular client.
Returning Client 60 Min. MLD
5/5
Courtney is so amazing at what she does. Regular sessions with her keep my lymphedema and tightness from scarring controlled. For anyone that has gone through breast cancer treatments I highly recommend Courtney to treat the Lymphedema and scar tissue that happens as a result and provide you relief.
60 Min Manual Lymphatic Drainage
5/5
Couldn't be happier with my experiences so far with the lymphatic drainage massage with Carmela. My c section scar was 3.5 years old and I wasn't optimistic that it could be helped, glad I was wrong!
Returning Client 60 Min. MLD
5/5
Courtney is amazing! I have lots of health issues and a sluggish lymph system. I have been seeing her regularly for a while now and her work is helping me tremendously. She is extremely knowledgeable, and in general a super fun and engaging person. Highly recommended seeing her!
Returning Client 60 Min. MLD
5/5
Carmela has been wonderful. She is knowledgeable about the kind of care I need and is so empathetic. She has helped ease my recovery and I look forward to continuing my care with her. The space is clean and professional. I highly recommend Therapeutic Massage Center if Middleton.
Returning Client 60 Min. MLD
5/5
Warm, welcoming atmosphere. Courtney is kind and professional and thorough. I'd recommend her to anyone looking for a lymph massage.
60 Min Manual Lymphatic Drainage

What Is The Lymphatic System?​

A good analogy for the lymph system and how inflammation affects the lymph system:

  • Imagine your lymph system as a bathtub shower.
  • Your lymph fluid is shower water.
  • Your body is the tub.
  • Your lymph nodes are the drain (imaging lots of little drains – not one big one).
  • In a normal healthy lymph system – water from the shower comes out as fast as it goes down the drain leaving no standing water behind.

Now imagine an acute injury or trauma like a sprained ankle – this looks like turning the shower water off and putting the bathtub water on full blast for a short period of time. Let’s say 20 mins. There is standing water but eventually your body (the bathtub drains) are able to move this excess fluid through, leaving no standing water after a couple of days.

 

Imagine chronic inflammation, like in the case of an autoimmune disease. This looks like turning the shower water off and putting the bathtub water on a slow steady stream forever. There is always a small amount of standing water in the bathtub because this stream is always larger than the amount of shower water and your drains can only handle the amount of water produced when the shower is turned on.

Now imagine lymphedema, which can be from lymph node removal, trauma, radiation or scar tissue. This is like taking away some of the drains. There is no excess water, just not enough drains to allow for no standing water.

What causes inflammation?

Lymph is a by-product of blood flow. With inflammation, we have more blood flow and then more lymph. Therefore, inflammation affects the lymphatic system.

Possible causes of inflammation (although it is different for everyone)

  • Diet: eating foods that create an inflammatory/allergic response to or eating too little/too much.
  • Exercise: too little or too much.
  • Hormone imbalance.
  • Genetics: having a predisposition to something like an autoimmune disease.
  • Acute or chronic stress.
  • High Cortisol levels, (caused often by chronic stress)/
  • Environment: allergens or sensitivities.
  • Acute trauma like an ankle sprain.

We look at all of the above factors that could play a role in inflammation and then assign them as either a pebble, rock or boulder.

We imagine a cylindrical vase filled half way with water and start adding in your individual inflammatory factors into the vase. We begin to see symptoms of inflammation when the vase overflows. 

For example, if you have an autoimmune disease (this would be a boulder), have a sensitivity to gluten (pebble) and a close relative just passed away (rock), this could be enough to tip the water over the edge. We often make referrals to other professionals that can help manage your pebbles, rocks and boulders so we can focus on what we do, which is treat the overflow of inflammation (i.e. lymphatic fluid) that we see.

 

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