At Laneways, we provide compassionate, non-judgemental care for every body.
If you’re experiencing swelling, heaviness, pain, or reduced function, we’re here to help. We offer clear assessment, diagnosis, and evidence-based treatment tailored to you, with personalised plans to support better movement, comfort, and confidence in your body.
Nadia is an accredited lymphoedema therapist and a member of the Australasian Lymphology Association.
She works across both Laneways and a large public health lymphoedema service in Melbourne, supporting people with a wide range of presentations and complexity.
This dual experience means your care is informed by both specialised outpatient treatment and higher-level clinical management, so you can feel confident you’re receiving evidence-based, up-to-date care.
Lymphoedema is a chronic swelling condition caused by a problem with the lymphatic system. When the lymphatic system is damaged or not working effectively, lymph fluid can build up in the tissues under the skin, leading to persistent swelling, heaviness, and tissue changes.
Lymphoedema most commonly affects the arm or leg, particularly after cancer treatment, but it can also occur in other areas of the body such as the breast, chest wall, or abdomen. It may develop gradually and can range from mild to more significant swelling over time.
There are two main types of lymphoedema:
Treatment is tailored to your diagnosis and goals, and may include:
We offer consultations in clinic, via telehealth and in your home including under the Medicare Chronic Disease Care Plans, Aged Care and NDIS funding. We can support access to the SWEP government funded garment scheme.
Manual Lymphatic Drainage is a clinical lymphatic massage technique designed to physically facilitate the movement of fluid within the body. Rather than a standard remedial massage, MLD is a targeted manual therapy used to move lymphatic fluid away from overloaded or congested areas, assisting in the reduction of limb volume and the improvement of patient comfort.
As part of your lymphoedema management plan, MLD may be used for:
MLD is integrated into an accredited management plan, supported by evidence-based skin care, exercise, and compression therapy.
In collaboration with your medical provider, we provide conservative management for vascular disease and complex swelling. We offer evidence-based physiotherapy to support circulation, improve limb health, and reduce the risk of secondary complications.
Management of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), focusing on reducing limb heaviness, aching, and skin changes.
Targeted care for patients presenting with a combination of venous, lymphatic, and lipoedema-related swelling.
Collaborative management of vascular wounds and venous ulcers, focusing on optimal healing environments and skin integrity.
We work closely with wound care nurses, General Practitioners, and Vascular Specialists to ensure your dressing protocols and compression therapy are perfectly aligned.
Individualised movement programmes and medical-grade compression to enhance vascular return and manage persistent fluid retention.
We are happy to coordinate directly with your existing medical team to ensure a seamless and effective management plan for your condition.
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Common signs include persistent swelling, feelings of heaviness, tightness, or fullness in a limb, breast, or body area. You might also notice shoes, clothing, or jewellery feeling tighter in the affected area. If you have a history of surgery, lymph node removal, radiation therapy, or recurrent skin infections, these can increase your risk. An accurate diagnosis involves a thorough clinical assessment by an accredited lymphoedema practitioner which we offer at Laneways.
This depends entirely on your specific body, goals, and needs. Initially, you may visit every week or two for assessment, garment fitting, or active symptom management. As your symptoms stabilise and you gain confidence with self-management techniques, appointments typically shift to routine check-ins every few months.
Medicare: Medicare does not directly cover the cost of purchasing compression garments, though a GP Chronic Disease Management Plan (CDMP) can help subsidise your allied health consultation fees.
State Schemes: In Victoria, eligible clients may access government subsidy schemes such as the State Wide Equipment Program (SWEP) to assist with garment costs. Laneways regularly applies to the SWEP scheme on behalf of eligible clients and is here to guide you through the process.
Private Health: Many private health insurers offer rebates for prescribed compression garments under ‘extras’ cover. We recommend checking your policy’s specific benefits for lymphoedema garments. Laneways regularly assists clients with health fund rebate requests and is here to support you through the paperwork.
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