Greater Baltimore Lymphedema Center in Baltimore, MD

Overcoming the challenge of finding the right diagnosis, helping you reclaim the life you want to lead

Although it is common for cancer patients to develop lymphedema, it often goes undiagnosed, putting patients at risk for tissue damage and infections like cellulitis. Heavy-feeling limbs and limited range of motion can appear right after surgery or radiation, or begin decades later. Patients don't always make a connection between new swelling and their treatment for cancer years before. Lymphedema can also be mistaken for other conditions such as congestive heart failure, deep vein thrombosis, chronic venous insufficiency, lipedema, or a recurrence of cancer. Education is the key to diagnosing and controlling lymphedema in its earliest stage.

Our oncology rehabilitation program coordinates with each patient's physician team to provide restorative services to patients with active cancer; receiving chemotherapy or radiation treatment; post surgery; or in remission. Our dedicated program allows for exercise in an environment conducive to cancer patients and, at times, side-by-side with other survivors.

Our Team

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Alan L. Kimmel, MD
Medical Director, GBMC Rehab Medicine
Internal Medicine

Virginia Moratz, OTR, CHT, CLT
Administrator and Clinical Director

View the full team of rehabilitation specialists

Our Services

Our Lymphedema Center features a new Oncology Rehabilitation Program. This brings cancer patients another means for healing through our connection with GBMC's Division of Oncology and the Greater Baltimore Wound Care and Lymphedema Centers. We offer:

Eight private treatment rooms, a gym, and an education area
Therapists to monitor exercise regimens in coordination with the types of chemotherapy patients received to maximize safety and success
Ideal environment for patients to regain strength and stamina during or after cancer treatment
Elite Occupational and Physical Therapy - Both Occupational Therapists (OT) and Physical Therapists (PT) are certified in lymphedema treatment, having completed over 135 hours of specialized education
Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Services - providing comprehensive rehabilitation for neurologic, orthopedic, spine, and hand injury diagnoses
Bariatric Exercise Services - Learn effective exercise routine without stress of back, hips or knees
Hand Therapy Services - A certified hand therapist with 40 years of experience provides services for issues of trauma or arthritis, coordinated with the referring physician

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"I was deathly ill with swelling, open wounds and morbid obesity. My legs were filled with lymphatic fluid. Mobility was painful, nearly impossible. I felt hopeless.”

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Your First Appointment

Please contact us regarding any necessary cancellation of appointments greater than 24 hours before appointment time. To ensure your first appointment goes as smoothly as possible, please be sure to have the items below available upon your arrival:

Medical record reports pertaining to your condition
All medications you are currently taking in their original containers, including aspirin, vitamins and herbal supplements
If you have had previous care for lymphedema, wear or bring any/all garments you use(d)
A list of allergies to medications, foods or latex
An adequate supply of oxygen if you require oxygen - the Center does not have oxygen available for routine patient use
Insurance cards and forms, any prescription or referral for services
The name, address and telephone number of the physicians you would like to receive reports
A copy of your Advanced Directive if you have one
You may be with us approximately 1 1/2 hours

Services Explained

Hand Therapy Services

Hand therapy at GBMC is provided by certified hand therapist (CHT), Virginia Moratz, OTR, CHT, CLT, who has 40 years of experience in the field. Hand therapy is a specialty that can include treating hand diagnoses in trauma, such as fractures and sprains and complications like regional pain syndrome. It can address repetitive stress like tennis elbow, trigger finger, or skier's thumb. Hand therapy is also appropriate for carpal tunnel syndrome, thoracic outlet and rheumatoid or osteoarthritis. Our services include:

Evaluation
Manual techniques
Range of motion and strengthening
Modalities as ultrasound
Ergonomics
Postoperative protocols
Custom splinting and fracture bracing

Oncology Rehabilitation

The Oncology Rehabilitation Program was launched in late 2008 to provide expert outpatient rehabilitation to cancer patients enduring the adverse effects of treatment. With a mission to restore and improve the cancer patient’s quality of life, the Oncology Rehabilitation Program has the advantage of private treatment rooms and a rehabilitation gym where patients can work on improving therapist supervised strength and stamina as well as address function, activities of daily living and ergonomics. Care is coordinated with the patient’s cancer care team and can be in conjunction with speech or swallowing therapy at the Dance Center. Oncology rehabilitation can begin before, during and after the cancer treatments regimen to assist with issues of fatigue, weakness, mobility, success at everyday activities important to the patient.

Specialized services provided by physical, occupational and speech therapists, help oncology patients with:

Mobility, flexibility and strength
Scar adhesions and restrictions
Depleted functional capacity and energy conservation issues
Sensory loss, neuropathy related pain
Lymphedema
Compromised activities of daily living in the home and in the community, including work ergonomic issues
Adaptive devices, equipment, braces and splints
Safety, balance and coordination
Seating problems
Swallowing and speech

Bariatric Exercise Program

The mission of the Bariatric Exercise Program is to meet the challenges of the obese patient who wishes to learn effective exercise without stress of back or hips or knees. At GBMC equipment and furniture is available to accept patients with morbid obesity.

The program will include weigh-ins.
The intention will be to complement goals set up by physicians at GBMC with specialties in bariatrics.
Emphasis will be placed on teaching the patient to transition to regular exercise at home or health club and to make exercise part of a routine and rewarding.
Any activity of daily living issues for self-care, work or community will also be addressed.
Patients with associated lymphedema may be additionally eligible for the comprehensive Lymphedema Management Program.

Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Services

At GBMC, there are outpatient physical therapists (PT), occupational therapists (OT), and speech therapists (SLP) available for the needs of referred patients from the community and for GBMC employees. The Lymphedema and Rehabilitation Center has a dedicated rehabilitation space with private treatment rooms and an onsite gym. Most insurances, including worker's compensation, can be authorized. We treat: