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.
If left untreated, lymphedema can worsen and cause severe swelling and permanent changes to the tissues under the skin, such as thickening and scarring.
Severe cases of lymphedema can affect the ability to move the affected limb, increase the risks of skin infections and sepsis, and can lead to skin changes and breakdown.
If left untreated, lymphedema gets progressively worse with time. What that usually means is that the affected area becomes more swollen. Over time, you may notice changes in the skin itself. Skin in the affected area may thicken and grow bumps and sores.
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.
Stage 3: Permanent swelling that does not resolve with elevation. Pressing on the area no longer leaves a dent. Changes in the skin with scarring and thickening. Stage 4: Elephantiasis (large deformed limb), skin thickening with “wart-like” growth and extensive scarring.
The final stage of lymphedema is sometimes called lymphostatic elephantiasis, which refers to the engorged swelling of a limb due to persistent lymph fluid buildup. The skin stretches, thickens, becomes hard and tight, and changes color.
STAGE II ( spontaneously irreversible stage)
There is increased swelling, which is not reduced by elevating the affected limb. The tissue is hardened and thickened; fibrosis and sclerosis have developed.
COMPLICATIONS OF LYMPHEDEMA
Cellulitis (sudden reddening, increased local temperature, worsening of edema, inflammation, pain, and high fever) is an emergency condition requiring antibiotherapy.
See a GP if you experience the typical symptoms of lymphoedema, such as swelling in your arms and legs. They may refer you to a specialist lymphoedema treatment centre for further assessment.
The swelling of lymphedema can develop quickly or progress over several months. Mild lymphedema might go unnoticed, and lymphedema caused by cancer treatment may not occur until months or years later.
Lymphoedema may not prevent you from continuing with your usual lifestyle and activities. However, you may need to modify some aspect of your life if these involve a lot of activity, or inactivity, of a swollen limb. Try to continue with your life as normally as possible but listen to your body.
Avoid skin infections, burns, and injuries
Your body responds to infection, burn, or injury to the skin by sending extra fluid and white blood cells to the area. If lymph nodes and vessels are missing or damaged, it's harder for your body to move this extra fluid, which can trigger or worsen lymphedema.
On the contrary, foods such as salt, caffeine, omega 6 or 9, alcohol, and sweets exert the opposite effect [32, 49]. Thus, they should be avoided by patients with lymphedema.
What Health Problems Can Lymphedema Cause? Lymphedema raises your risk of getting an infection in the swollen area. This happens because the cells that prevent infection can't reach that part of your body. Wounds may heal more slowly on the part of your body that has lymphedema.
Decreased physical function, dyspnea, and fatigue occurs frequently in patients with lower limb lymphedema. Nearly a third of patients with lower limb lymphedema experienced three of more physical symptoms,17 and these symptoms are exacerbated by prolonged standing, heat, and walking.
Stage 3: Severe stage
The skin becomes susceptible to deep, poorly healing wounds and is in danger of infection. Early treatment can support the management of your symptoms. It may prevent your lymphoedema from progressing, improve the limb shape and skin condition and reduces the risk of infection.
Exercises. Gentle contraction of the muscles in the arm or leg can help move the excess fluid out of the swollen limb. Manual lymph drainage. Therapists trained in this massage-like technique use very light pressure to move the trapped fluid in the swollen limb toward an area with working lymph vessels.
Stage 1 is early edema, which improves with limb elevation. Stage 2 represents pitting edema that does not resolve with elevation. Stage 3 describes fibroadipose deposition and skin changes. The severity of lymphedema is categorized as mild (<20% increase in extremity volume), moderate (20–40%), or severe (>40%).
Lymphoma is a class of blood cancers with two main types, Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It is not at all the same as lymphedema, although the two can be linked. The swelling can be a complication caused by the cancer, although in rare cases—mostly in women—it also may be a symptom of the cancer.
Lymphedema is a build-up of lymph fluid in the fatty tissues just under your skin. This build-up might cause swelling and discomfort. It often happens in the arms or legs, but can also happen in the face, neck, trunk, abdomen (belly), or genitals.
Lymphedema is a chronic, progressive disease without a cure. However, non-surgical and surgical treatments are able to slow the progression of your child's condition, prevent complications, and improve symptoms.
Exercise can reduce the risk of lymphedema. Exercise can lessen the pain and swelling from lymphedema. And exercise can sometimes even put lymphedema into remission.
Most often, lymphedema affects an arm or leg. But it can also happen in the neck, face, mouth, abdomen, groin, or other parts of the body. Treating and relieving side effects is an important part of cancer care and treatment.