Doctors – your GP, oncologist or surgeon may diagnose the condition, coordinate your medical treatment and refer you to a trained lymphoedema practitioner.
A physician is responsible for diagnosing lymphedema and creating a management program for the patient to control the swelling and discomfort common for this condition.
When you first notice any signs or symptoms of lymphedema, your general practitioner (GP) or a nurse is usually the one you refer to. The basic diagnostics for lymphedema focus on your medical history and the physical examination of your body.
Levels of a set of proteins circulating in the blood may accurately flag the presence of lymphedema, which currently is difficult to diagnose before the onset of physical symptoms.
When to see a doctor. Make an appointment with your doctor if you notice persistent swelling in your arm or leg. If you've already been diagnosed with lymphedema, see your doctor if there is a sudden dramatic increase in the size of the involved limb.
Lymphoscintigraphy. Lymphoscintigraphy is sometimes used to diagnose primary lymphedema. By identifying the location of fluid buildup, it helps your doctor create a map of how lymph flows and drains—and where it's blocked—in the lymphatic system.
Stage 1: Mild Stage
In stage 1, fluid starts to collect in the affected area and causes swelling. You may notice that the affected area looks puffy. Elevating your limb will help the swelling to go away. The edema is soft and may leave an impression when you push on the skin, called 'pitting edema'.
Many conditions are confused with lymphedema: capillary malformation, lymphatic malformation, venous malformation, infantile hemangioma, kaposiform hemangioendothelioma, CLOVES syndrome, Klippel–Trénaunay syndrome, Parkes Weber syndrome, hemihypertrophy, lipedema, lipofibromatosis, obesity, post-traumatic swelling, ...
What Are the Symptoms of Lymphedema? Your arm, leg, or other part of your body has a little swelling at first, but gets bigger over time. The skin in that area feels tight, and sometimes has a tingling sensation. The arm or leg with lymphedema feels heavy.
About lymphoedema
Other symptoms of lymphoedema can include an aching, heavy feeling in affected body parts and difficulty moving them. Lymphoedema can get worse if it's not treated, so you should speak to a doctor if you think you may have the condition.
Lymphedema occurs as a result of a blockage in the lymphatic system. This is most often caused by a traumatic event, such as sports injuries or deep cuts and bruises, as an aftereffect of surgery or cancer treatment. More rarely, lymphedema can occur as birth defect or symptom of infection.
Your medical history and a complete physical exam are the main elements in the diagnosis of lymphedema. There is no specific test or tool to diagnose lymphedema. This makes the diagnosis difficult and a lot of patients struggle without a correct diagnosis for a long time.
Lymphedema praecox: This is the most common type of primary lymphedema, accounting for 80% of people who have lymphedema. It generally develops in females between ages 9 and 25. Lymphedema tarda: This hereditary lymphedema occurs in adulthood, typically after age 35.
Avoid Alcohol, Caffeine and Diuretics
Of course, lymphedema patients should be careful not to drink too much water, which can overwhelm the body and make swelling worse. Those with lymphedema should be wary of beverages that contain alcohol and caffeine, both of which can contribute to dehydration.
To diagnose lymphedema in the subclinical phase, a sensitive imaging modality is required. Radioisotope-based lymphoscintigraphy (LSG) has been the “gold standard” for a century. Indocyanine green lymphography (ICGL) is being used at our institute for diagnosing and grading all lymphedema patients.
Signs and symptoms of lymphedema include distal swelling in the extremities, including the arms, hands, legs, feet; swelling proximally in the breast, chest, shoulder, pelvis, groin, genitals, face/intraoral tissues; restricted range of motion in the joints because of swelling and tissue changes; skin discoloration; ...
Decreased physical function, dyspnea, and fatigue occurs frequently in patients with lower limb lymphedema.
Fat is painful with pressure.
Fat deposits caused by lipedema will often feel painful if pressure is applied, unlike for healthy women with fatter legs or women with lymphedema, neither of whom would typically find a similar pressure to be painful.
Lymphedema symptoms may be mild, causing minor swelling and discomfort. Sometimes, however, lymphedema may cause significant swelling that can be painful and cause skin issues such as infections and wounds.
Lymphedema occurs when the lymph system is damaged or blocked. Fluid builds up in soft body tissues and causes swelling. It is a common problem that may be caused by cancer and cancer treatment. Lymphedema usually affects an arm or leg, but it can also affect other parts of the body.
A simple pinch test can often tell you whether you have lipedema. To do this, pinch the skin lightly in the areas of the body that may be affected. If you experience disproportionate pain, you may suspect lipedema. In this case, the next step is to get a medical diagnosis.
There's no cure for lymphedema. Treatment focuses on reducing the swelling and preventing complications.
Obesity and lymphoedema are very much interlinked. If you are overweight, losing some weight will be beneficial for preventing and reducing all forms of lymphoedema. A significant gain in weight will make existing lymphoedema worse and any care more difficult.
Lymphedema can also occur about 4 to 6 weeks after surgery or radiation and then go away over time. The most common type of lymphedema is painless and may slowly develop 18 to 24 months or more after surgery. It does not get better without treatment.