One Eleven Health Hub

10/13/2026

You can end the tax.

To do that, we have another ask of you. Over 11,000 letters have been sent and that's fantastic - but we also need to talk to people. After you have sent a letter - please call your Member of Parliament (or their office staff) to tell them you sent this letter.

MPs need to know how you feel about the tax on massage therapy. Tell them.



ANBMT
Massage Therapy Association of Manitoba Inc.
Registered Massage Therapists' Association of Ontario
Massage Therapists' Association of Nova Scotia
Massage Therapist Association of Saskatchewan
Registered Massage Therapists Association of British

10/13/2026

COULD THAT SWELLING AFTER CANCER TREATMENT
BE LYMPHEDEMA?

Lymphedema is swelling after damage to the body’s drainage
system. Lymph node surgery, radiation to those areas, and
some chemotherapies can all cause it. Fluid has fewer ways
out, so it can collect in an arm, hand, breast, chest, leg, foot,
groin, or neck.
It is not only something that happens to women after breast
cancer. Men can get cancer related lymphedema after
prostate treatment, melanoma, male breast cancer, and other
lymph node surgery or radiation too.

HOW LIKELY IS IT?

Numbers vary, but large studies give a fair picture:
• After breast cancer: about 1 in 5
• Only a few checker nodes removed: about 1 in 15 to 1 in
20
• Many underarm nodes removed: about 1 in 4 to 1 in 5
• Many nodes plus radiation: often closer to 1 in 3
• After many gynecological cancers: often about 1 in 3
• After prostate treatment with pelvic nodes plus radiation:
can reach about 1 in 5 in higher risk groups
It can start during treatment, months later, or years later. Most
cases appear in the first few years, but the risk does not
simply vanish.

PUFFINESS RIGHT AFTER SURGERY IS COMMON.

Watch for heaviness, tightness, or swelling that does not
settle, or that shows up later on the treated side.
THE EARLY SIGNS ARE QUIET. DO NOT WAIT FOR A BIG

SWOLLEN LIMB.

• A ring, watch, bracelet, or sleeve feels tight, even if you
have not gained weight
• One shoe or sock feels tighter than the other
• A cuff, collar, or waistband leaves a deeper mark on one
side
• The area feels heavy, full, tight, or tired
• New aching
• Swelling that comes and goes, especially later in the day
• Less ease of movement in a wrist, elbow, ankle, or fingers
• Skin that looks a bit puffy or feels different when you press
it
Swelling can show in the breast or chest after breast cancer,
in the leg or groin after pelvic treatment, or in the face and
neck after head and neck treatment. One side simply feels
different.
There is an early stage with almost no visible swelling, just
heaviness or tightness. That is the best time to start care.

WHY EARLY ACTION IS IMPORTANT

Lymphedema is usually lifelong. It cannot be cured, but it can
be controlled. Left alone, it often gets worse, the skin can
thicken, and infections become more likely. Started early,
proper treatment and the right compression can slow or stop
that slide.

SEE A VODDER LEVEL 3 LYMPHEDEMA THERAPIST

Vodder Level 3 is the training that qualifies someone as a
lymphedema therapist in combined decongestive therapy.
That is the pathway for cancer related lymphedema, not a
short introductory course.
Combined decongestive therapy, also called CDT, is the
standard plan:
1. Vodder manual lymph drainage. Precise, gentle work to
move fluid toward working pathways
2. Compression
3. Movement that supports drainage
4. Skin care, because cuts and infections make swelling
worse
This is not a regular massage with a bit of lymph work added
on, and it is not deep tissue.
If you are currently under the care of an oncologist team, tell
them you want to explore manual lymph drainage and
combined decongestive therapy. Make sure they know and
are happy for you to go ahead.

COMPRESSION GARMENTS

Do not guess your size to order online. Compression only
works if it is graduated: firmer at the hand or foot, gentler as it
goes up the limb. That moves fluid up and out.
A fitter (at a drug store, or sometimes a therapist themselves),
usually needs a doctor’s prescription to order. They will take
many measurements to get the correct fit for the individual. A
trained Lymphedema Therapist can recommend tightness,
knit, and garment type (sleeve, sock, stocking, pantyhose etc)
and, with your permission, send that to your doctor. A
Lymphedema therapist is not necessarily able to write the
prescription themselves.
A random garment from Amazon, or Temu, bought without
measuring, is often just tight. Tightness is not treatment. Even
pressure, or a band that digs in at the top, can trap fluid in the
limb. This is the opposite of the intended effect.
Early signs usually need lighter graduated compression, fitted
to you, not the strongest garment on the shelf.
Off the shelf can work for some people. But still get measured
first. The fitter will recommend it if a stock size will work
correctly, or if you need a custom garment made for that limb
or torso. Please remember, bodies are not all the same.
Loose spots and tight spots change how it works, how it feels,
how easy it is to get on, and whether you will actually wear it.
If you spend money on a garment that lives in a drawer
because it does not fit, it is not helping.
A custom garment from an established manufacturer costs
more. But it should also be more comfortable. Garments can
take some getting used to, and a proper custom piece is more
likely to do the job it is meant to do. Well established brands
such as Juzo, Bauerfeind, and Sigvaris, among others, can
make garments to your exact measurements. Some offer a
free one time adjustment. That adjustment is usually only in
reduction, because material cannot be added later to make a
garment bigger. Some makers offer more than one resize. Ask
before you order.
Manufacturers generally recommend replacing a garment
after about six months of regular wear. Elastic wears out with
use and washing. An old sleeve can still feel snug and still not
be doing the job correctly.
If you wore a good garment before and then stopped, do not
assume you can put the same one back on. The fabric may
have lost its spring, and the limb may have changed size.
Even if the garment is not six months old, get remeasured and
re-order. An old, poorly fitting garment can pinch, roll, or leave
a tight band. That can cause problems instead of moving fluid
up and out.
If a garment rolls, wrinkles, hurts, anything goes numb, or
makes the hand or foot puffier, take it off and get it checked
with your fitter.

SAME DAY MEDICAL CARE IF

The area is red, hot, rapidly more swollen, or you feel feverish
or unwell. That can be infection and needs prompt medical
treatment. Do not wait for a therapy appointment.

WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW

Compare both sides. You will likely notice jewellery and
clothes fit changes before you notice visible swelling. Keep
skin clean and moisturized. Treat cuts quickly. Avoid tight
bands on the at risk side. If one arm is at risk, try to have
blood pressure and blood draws on the other arm when
possible.
If these signs are on the treated side, get a lymphedema
assessment. You do not need to wait until there is a good
visible size disparity.

BOOK WITH NEIL THOROGOOD RMT AT ONE ELEVEN
HEALTH HUB

Neil is a Vodder Level 3 lymphedema therapist at One Eleven
Health Hub in Lower Branch, just outside Bridgewater, Nova
Scotia. He offers Vodder manual lymphatic drainage and
combined decongestive therapy for lymphedema patients on
the South Shore, Lunenburg County and beyond if you are
able to get to the clinic.
If you have not had a diagnosis or seen a Doctor about your
symptoms, book an appointment with them, then book a 45
minute consult with Neil to discuss your options.
If you are already in care, and you are familiar with manual
lymph drainage, treatment, self care, and compression, a first
appointment is often best as a 90 minute manual lymphatic
drainage assessment and treatment.
Not sure which is right? Call, text, or email and we can work it
out together.
Please note; If you are seeing an oncologist now, let them
know first and confirm they are happy for you to start manual
lymphatic drainage.

BOOK OR ENQUIRE

Online booking: https://oneelevenhealthhub.janeapp.com
Call or text: 902-529-1916
Email: [email protected]
One Eleven Health Hub 111, Lower Branch Road, Lower
Branch, NS B4V 4M4
Minutes from Bridgewater. Exit 12 off Highway 103.
Neil Thorogood RMT, Vodder lymphedema therapist &
combined decongestive therapy, manual lymph drainage,
myofascial release, Neurofascial reset, General Swedish
massage including deeper tissue treatments.

09/22/2026

MYOFASCIAL RELEASE FOR ATHLETES: A DIFFERENT
APPROACH TO PERFORMANCE, RECOVERY AND
MOBILITY

Myofascial release is very different from sports massage or
deep tissue massage. To start, it is slow, because that is how
the tissue behaves.
Fascia is the connective tissue in and around muscle. It also
forms sliding, protective layers around nerves and other soft
tissue, and it is continuous with the periosteum that covers
bone, including places where tendon meets bone. After
training, a collision, or an old injury, that network can thicken
and hold a shorter shape. Stretching feels like it should fix it.
By the next warm-up the range has often slipped back.
Think of myofascial release like rolling out pizza dough. The
first pass lengthens it. Lift the pin and it creeps back a little.
The next pass goes further and comes back less. You are not
forcing a new shape in one go. You are teaching the tissue to
accept a longer resting length, in a way that stretching and
training often cannot achieve on their own.
Treatment follows that same pace. The clock does not decide
when we move on. The tissue does. A full-body myofascial
release session in one visit is not realistic. We target specific
areas. Even with a short list we may not finish everything
planned, and if something else shows up on the table, that
can change what is possible during that treatment.
Sports massage and deep tissue are not the same thing
either, and neither one is MFR.
Sports massage is built around training and events. The
pressure changes with the goal. Techniques get mixed. The
session can still be timed.
Deep tissue is a way of working, not a sport plan. Slower,
firmer pressure into deeper muscle. Useful for stubborn
tightness. Still aimed at muscle, and still usually done with
lotion so the hands can travel.
Myofascial release is another mechanism again. No lotion.
The first contact is skin traction, and that drag is how the work
reaches from the surface into the deeper fascia, muscle, and
the other structures in that network. Holds are sustained.
Once the tissue starts to yield, the hand can move with it.
Until then, the point is to stay with the restriction. The tissue
decides when we move on, not a count of repetitions. The
effect can be deep without the heavy pressure or the pain
people often expect from deep tissue.
There is a difference between an old pattern and something
acute. If swelling is the main picture after a knock, a game, or
surgery, Manual Lymphatic Drainage may be the better first
treatment. If a hip, shoulder, or old injury has been affecting
you for months or years, that is more often a fascial or
nervous system problem. RAPID Neurofascial Reset can be
useful in both acute and longer-standing work. That is a
different conversation.
In sport and training, MFR usually shows up as:
Better mobility. More range where the joint should move.
Fewer compensations. Less strain dumped onto the next joint
in the chain.
Stronger over a greater range. MFR does not hand you
strength. If the muscle can travel further, you can load it
through more of that travel. That is how strength is built in the
newly available range.
That extra range can support training. It does not replace it.
Movement can feel more efficient when you are not fighting
the same restriction every rep. Releasing tight fascia may
lower injury risk because fewer joints are being asked to
cheat. None of that is guaranteed but it does happen for a lot
of people, which is why they keep coming back when the work
lands.
Myofascial release is not a shortcut to faster sprints or a
bigger lift. It can make more range available. If you then load
that range, strength can improve through those new angles,
and that can support performance. Some people book it to
train better. Some want an old pattern to stop running the
show. Some are trying to lower the chance of the same
restriction turning into an injury.
Athletes and active people who book MFR are not always
chasing a headline number, though some are. Some want the
hip that stops blocking their stride, the shoulder that will not
rotate as it should, or an old injury that is still dictating the
pattern. For others it is simpler: more efficient mechanics on
the way to whatever they are training for.
MFR works very well for a lot of people. It is not for everyone.
If you respond, you tend to feel it in how you move afterward,
not only on the table.
A restriction in one area of the body can create pain in
another, whether that shows up in hockey, running, rec
league, or physical work. MFR can make a real difference.

The first visit starts the change. Later visits are where it
continues to build.

Book a 90 minute first appointment for myofascial release with
Neil Thorogood, RMT, at One Eleven Health Hub in Lower
Branch, just minutes from Bridgewater, Nova Scotia.

Online booking: oneelevenhealthhub.janeapp.com

Call or text 902-529-1916

[email protected]

111 Lower Branch Road, Lower Branch, NS

Direct billing available with most insurers.
Myofascial Release (MFR) • Neurofascial Reset (NFR) •
Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) • Deep Tissue Massage •
Swedish Massage

09/09/2026

LYMPHEDEMA AND LIPEDEMA - WHAT TO KNOW

Lymphedema and lipedema are more common than most people think. They also get missed, or written off as just swelling, just weight, or just getting older.

They are not the same condition. Both can leave a limb feeling heavy, tight, uncomfortable, and harder to move. Gentle Vodder trained Manual Lymphatic Drainage can help by stimulating the lymphatic system and moving accumulated fluid toward areas that can still drain it.

The cause is not always obvious. Lipedema is still considered idiopathic. We do not have one proven cause, though it often runs in families and is seen far more often in women. Primary lymphedema can also appear without a clear trigger, and a family history can make it more likely. Secondary lymphedema is different. It has a known reason, most often damage to or removal of lymph nodes.

That is how a lot of secondary lymphedema starts after cancer treatment. When lymph nodes have been taken out, or the area has had radiation, drainage in that limb changes. Swelling does not only show up straight after surgery. It can appear months or years later. If a sleeve, ring, or shoe suddenly feels tighter on the treated side, that matters, even when the cancer treatment was a long time ago.

If you are currently in treatment for cancer, or still under the care of an oncologist, please get permission from your oncologist before starting MLD. This does not replace oncology or surgical follow-up. Once you have that go-ahead, MLD can help with fluid, heaviness, tightness, and comfort in a limb that is no longer draining as it used to.

A Vodder trained lymphedema therapist cannot diagnose lymphedema or lipedema. Only a doctor can do that. Nurses, physiotherapists, and massage therapists may all train in MLD. What matters is proper Vodder training and how the work is done. If several of the symptoms below sound familiar, an appointment with your physician can help you get a diagnosis. In the meantime a Vodder trained lymphedema therapist can start helping with comfort, heaviness, and fluid congestion.

WHY MLD CAN HELP

When lymph flow is sluggish, fluid sits in the tissues. That extra volume puts pressure on nerves and the structures around them. People often describe heaviness, tightness, aching, or clothes and jewellery that suddenly feel too snug.
Gentle Vodder MLD works with the lymphatic system rather than forcing it. The aim is to help stagnant fluid move toward areas that can drain it better, so the tissues are under less pressure and the limb often feels lighter.

HOW IT WORKS

The work is slow, rhythmic, and very light. Specific hand techniques follow lymphatic pathways and encourage the vessels to take up and move fluid. It is not a deep massage. That lightness is what many people with lymphedema need, including post-cancer lymphedema, and what many people with lipedema need when fluid has built up as well.
Not all lymphatic drainage is the same. Some work advertised as MLD, including firmer “Brazilian” style treatments, is built for body sculpting and uses much more pressure. That is a different technique and a different goal. Vodder MLD for lymphedema and lipedema is slow, light, and specific. It is not a contouring massage.
MLD is one part of care. Compression, skin care, movement, and medical follow-up still matter, and those pieces are discussed with you during the initial consultation. Fitting for compression garments is referred out to local pharmacies.

CELLULITIS

This part matters. If a swollen limb becomes red, hot, painful, or you have fever or flu-like symptoms, that can be cellulitis. It can become serious quickly if it is not treated early. Contact your doctor or urgent care the same day. MLD is not the first step while an infection is active. Once it has been medically treated and you have been cleared, lymphatic work can be discussed again.

A QUICK LYMPHEDEMA CHECKLIST

This is not a diagnosis. Use it as a reason to book in, and to speak with your doctor if several of these apply:
• Swelling in an arm, leg, hand, foot, or another area that does not fully settle • A heavy, tight, or too-full feeling • Clothes, rings, watches, or shoes feeling tighter on one side • Aching or reduced movement • Swelling that is worse later in the day • Skin that starts to feel thicker or firmer over time • Repeated skin infections in the same area • New or returning swelling in a limb months or years after lymph node surgery or radiation
Lipedema looks different. It more often shows as symmetrical, painful, diet-resistant fat, commonly in the legs, often with easy bruising. The feet are often spared at first. Some people have both. A physician makes the diagnostic call. MLD can still help with the fluid and discomfort that often come with it.

WHAT TO BOOK

If you think you may have lymphedema or lipedema and you have not spoken with anyone yet, a 45 minute consultation only appointment is usually the best place to start. That visit is for history, what you are noticing, and whether MLD is appropriate. If the picture is more involved, stay with that 45 minute consultation first rather than jumping into a long treatment.
If the condition is already diagnosed and has been well managed and controlled, book 60, 75, or 90 minutes. Which length fits best depends on the area or areas where symptoms are present, and how many limbs need work.
If you are not sure which to choose, call or text 902 529 1916. Leave a message if we cannot pick up and we will get back to you.

WHY THE TRAINING MATTERS

Lymphatic work is a specialty. MLD is practised by more than one profession, including nurses, physiotherapists, and massage therapists. Neil Thorogood is a Registered Massage Therapist and Vodder trained lymphedema therapist at One Eleven Health Hub in Lower Branch, near Bridgewater on Nova Scotia’s South Shore. He is trained in Manual Lymphatic Drainage and Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) through Vodder School International, Levels 1, 2 and 3.

BOOKING

Online booking and direct billing are now available for most major insurance companies.
Book with Neil Thorogood, RMT https://oneelevenhealthhub.janeapp.com
Call or text 902 529 1916 mailto:[email protected] 111 Lower Branch Road, Lower Branch, NS Minutes from Bridgewater, Exit 12 off Highway 103
One Eleven Health Hub. Vodder MLD and CDT.

09/09/2026

Why is it so important to decongest before being fitted for compression garments?

Compression garments are designed to contain and maintain — not to reduce a swollen limb.

If you are fitted while your limb is significantly swollen, your garment is being made to fit the swelling you already have.

Decongesting first allows the limb to be reduced and shaped before measurements are taken. Then your compression garment can do what it is meant to do — help maintain that reduction.

I have seen the difference firsthand during my own treatment this year, and it has really reinforced for me just how important this step is.

Decongest. Measure. Fit. Maintain. 💙

09/02/2026

💙 DO YOU LIVE WITH LYMPHEDEMA OR CHRONIC EDEMA?

There may be funding available to help with the cost of your compression garments!

Round 2 of the LANS Compression Garment Funding Pilot Program is NOW OPEN!
Applications are being accepted September 1 – December 1, 2026.
The program provides funding support for eligible compression garments for Nova Scotia residents living with lymphedema or chronic edema.

If the cost of compression garments has been a barrier for you, this is definitely worth looking into!

Want to know if you're eligible or how to apply?
Visit:
🌐 www.LymphedemaNovaScotia.com

We’re sharing this because we know how important properly fitted compression can be for managing lymphedema and chronic edema, and we want to make sure our patients and others throughout Nova Scotia know that this funding is available.

💙 Please SHARE this post with anyone you know who may benefit. You never know who might need this information!
And if you need support with lymphedema management, Manual Lymphatic Drainage or decongestive therapy, Neil is here to help. He is Vodder-trained in Manual Lymphatic Drainage and a certified Lymphedema & Decongestive Therapist.

💙 Let’s spread the word and help get this information to the people who need it!

09/01/2026

PRE AND POST SURGERY. POST INJURY

Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) at One Eleven Health Hub, Lower Branch, near Bridgewater.

TO WORK TOWARD:
• Less swelling
• Less pressure
• Less pain
• Faster recovery

That tight, heavy, too-full feeling after a sprain, a knock, or surgery is often extra fluid sitting in the tissues. Fluid takes up space. Space raises internal pressure. Pressure on the nerves usually means more pain.

MLD is not a deep-tissue massage. In this instance, with swelling present after injury or surgery, deep-tissue work on the congested area is usually the wrong tool. Extra pressure on already swollen tissue can add inflammation, add pain, and slow early recovery. MLD is a light, rhythmic, skin-deep treatment that helps move some of that fluid out of the congested area. As swelling drops, pressure drops. With less pressure on the nerves, pain often eases.

WHO IS IT FOR?
Pre-surgery, post-surgery, and post-injury, when swelling is present or likely.
On the South Shore that often means an ankle or knee sprain, a shoulder injury, orthopaedic surgery, or general surgery.
If you live with lymphedema, lipedema, or post-cancer swelling, MLD is also a core part of Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT).

USED AT THE RIGHT TIME, MLD CAN HELP
• reduce post-injury swelling
• reduce post-surgery swelling
• decrease pain by lowering internal pressure on the nerves
• support cleaner tissue healing and help limit excess scar tissue
• make walking, sleeping, and getting back to daily life easier
Less fluid. Less pressure. Less pain. More room to heal.

WHEN TO START
Early treatment is best practice. Pre-surgery MLD, when there is time for it, can prepare the tissues before the operation.
After surgery, always get authorization from your surgeon before treatment. Work can begin as soon as that clearance is given. Same-day treatment is possible for some people. After a general anaesthetic, most people are better the day after. A short series of visits is usually more useful than a single session.

SUGGESTED NUMBER OF VISITS
• Before surgery: a couple of sessions if there is time
• After surgery or injury: 2 to 3 visits a week for the first couple of weeks
• After that: less often, only if swelling, tightness, or discomfort is still there
The suggested number of sessions is discussed and agreed by patient and therapist at the first post-injury or post-surgical appointment. With the patient’s consent, that number can be reduced or increased later, depending on how the area responds.

WHY THE TRAINING MATTERS
Lymphatic work is a specialty. Neil Thorogood is a Registered Massage Therapist at One Eleven Health Hub and a Vodder-trained Manual Lymphatic Drainage and Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) therapist (Vodder School International, Levels 1, 2 and 3). That training is specifically for swelling, pre- and post-surgical care, lymphedema, lipedema, and injury recovery.

BOOK
Online booking and direct billing are available for most major insurance companies.
https://oneelevenhealthhub.janeapp.com
A 60-minute treatment can be enough for some more common injuries, for example an ankle sprain. For a more serious injury or post-surgical visit, a 90-minute MLD assessment and treatment is usually the better first booking. It leaves time for a full intake discussion, assessment if needed, and treatment. Unsure which to choose? Call or text and we will help.
Book Manual Lymphatic Drainage with Neil Thorogood, RMT, CDT
One Eleven Health Hub, Lower Branch, minutes from Bridgewater, Exit 12 off Highway 103
https://oneelevenhealthhub.janeapp.com/ /3
Call or text 902 529 1916
mailto:[email protected]
111 Lower Branch Road, Lower Branch, NS B4V 4M4

08/21/2026

Sharing this post of Krystals and I just wanted to add a little note of gratitude to everyone who has come out to the community acupuncture sessions that Krystal and I have offered this year. ❤️
We donate our time so that these sessions can be available to everyone for free, and we’re so grateful to those who choose to make a donation when they attend.
Those donations allow Krystal to purchase back-to-school supplies for local families to pick up for free.
Thank you for helping us turn these small community sessions into something that can give back in another way. We really appreciate everyone who has supported them. ❤️
And a very special shoutout to Krystal, who puts so much time and heart into this. She’s the one out there shopping for all the supplies, putting everything together, and making it happen, and she’s still doing it all this year with a brand-new baby! 🥹❤️
Krystal you are a superstar
Thank you to everyone who has supported our acupuncture sessions and helped make this little community project possible. ❤️

One day only! ALL school items are FREE

12 to 2 pm
724 king street in Bridgewater
First come first serve

Please bring remaining donations by Thursday in our lobby in the box

07/30/2026

☀️ Summer Holiday Notice ☀️

One Eleven Health Hub is now closed for our summer break.

The clinic will reopen on Monday, August 17th, and we'll respond to all phone calls, emails, and messages as soon as possible after we return.

If you'd like to book a massage therapy appointment with Neil while we're away, online booking remains available 24/7 at https://oneelevenhealthhub.janeapp.com

Thank you so much for your continued support.
We look forward to seeing you back in clinic soon

Maria & Neil
One Eleven Health Hub

06/30/2026

Community Acupuncture has been cancelled for this evening!

Sorry for any inconvenience this causes.