The main symptom of lymphoedema is swelling in all or part of a limb or another part of the body, which can cause problems fitting into clothes, or jewellery and watches starting to feel tight. At first, the swelling may come and go. It may get worse during the day and then go down overnight.
In a small number of cases, lymphoedema can be caused by an accidental injury to the lymphatic system. For example, it can sometimes occur after a road traffic accident where there's extensive bruising or soft tissue loss.
Its main symptom is swelling of the arms or legs, but if left untreated, lymphedema can lead to severe discomfort and life-threatening infections. The swelling associated with the disease is caused by a failure of the lymphatic system, a lesser known part of the body's circulatory system.
Some foods can exacerbate lymphedema symptoms because of the way they are processed and the additives or high salt content they contain. These foods include added sugars — specifically fructose — refined grains, chemically modified fats and most animal and dairy products.
Early-stage lymphedema can be treated with nonsurgical interventions, including medication, a healthy diet and manual compression. For advanced-stage lymphedema, surgical intervention may be recommended.
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; ...
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.
Lymphedema often is confused with other causes of extremity edema and enlargement. Understanding the risk factors and physical examination signs of lymphedema can enable the health care practitioner to accurately diagnose patients ∼90% of the time.
Decreased physical function, dyspnea, and fatigue occurs frequently in patients with lower limb lymphedema.
Compression bandages or garments, such as sleeves, gloves, stockings or tights, fitted over affected limbs act as a counterforce to muscles. This stimulates more effective lymph drainage. The combination of exercise and compression encourages the fluid to move out of the affected limb.
The most common lymphatic disease is lymphedema. It is swelling of a body part caused by a lymphatic fluid buildup in the tissues. Lymphedema most often occurs in the arms and legs, but it can also affect the head, chest, breast, abdomen, and genitals.
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'.
Secondary lymphedema may happen if your lymphatic system is damaged from surgery, trauma or radiation therapy. Lymphedema is most common in people who've had breast cancer treatment. That said, not everyone who has breast cancer treatment develops lymphedema.
See a GP if you have symptoms of lymphoedema. If you're being treated for cancer and are at risk of developing lymphoedema, you'll be monitored for the condition afterwards. In many cases, it's possible to diagnose lymphoedema by: asking about your symptoms and medical history.
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. Before the scan, a small amount of harmless radioactive dye is injected into an arm.
MRI and CT also can display the size and the number of lymph nodes, which is helpful in defining the type of primary lymphedema. CT scans and MRIs are essential in the evaluation of the causes of limb swelling, presumptively due to secondary LED.
If these early symptoms aren't addressed, lymphedema could progress and cause an infection. If it does develop into an infection, symptoms may include: Flu-like symptoms, such as fevers and chills. Pain, swelling, or tenderness.
People with stage 2 lymphedema have visible swelling with pitting and a higher risk of infection. Elevating the affected area does not help. This means there is inflammation, hardening, or thickening of the tissue under the skin. As scarring of soft tissue under the skin worsens, pitting may disappear.
Physical activity encourages fluid to drain into the lymphatic system in the abdomen. Walking, swimming, yoga, pilates and Tai chi all might help to encourage the lymph to move. Pelvic floor exercises may also help.
The available data taken as a whole suggests that chronic use of ketoprofen might help reduce inflammation in the skin of lymphedema patients, and thereby reduce skin thickness and improve skin elasticity.
What Is the Life Expectancy of Someone With Lymphedema? Lymphedema is a life-long disease, but in most cases, it's not life-threatening as long as you take the right steps to treat it. Consult with your doctor to determine the best treatment options for you.