Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPrognosisCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
Coping
Lymphedemais a painful type of swelling, most often affecting an arm or leg, due to a blockage that leads to a buildup of lymph fluid in the tissues. Lymph is the fluid that flows through and between most tissues in the body. It’s made up mostly of chyle, which is an intestinal fluid containing proteins and fats, and white blood cells called lymphocytes.
Lymph fluid collects from tissue spaces around the body, moving through at least one of your roughly 600lymph nodes. Thelymph nodes filter out potentially harmful or infectious particlesfrom the lymph fluid, moving about 4 liters of this fluid around your body every day.
The lymphatic system is generally pretty effective at moving fluid around the body and maintaining a balance. But sometimes the flow of this fluid is interrupted, causing it to build up. This article will explore why some people develop lymphedema and what can be done to treat it.
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Angkhan / Getty Images
Types of Lymphedema
Lymphedema is the term used to describe theswellingthat occurs when lymph fluid builds up in the tissues of your body. This usually happens because of damage or some type of blockage in the lymph system.There are two main types of lymphedema: primary and secondary.
Primary Lymphedema
Primary lymphedema develops as a rare,inheritedcondition. It typically appears at one of these stages:
What’s in a name?Primary lymphedema’s name might make it seem like this is the main form of this disease, but it is the rarest, affecting about 1 out of every 100,000 people in the United States. The name primary is given to this type of lymphedema because the condition develops on its own and not due to another medical condition or injury.
What’s in a name?
Primary lymphedema’s name might make it seem like this is the main form of this disease, but it is the rarest, affecting about 1 out of every 100,000 people in the United States. The name primary is given to this type of lymphedema because the condition develops on its own and not due to another medical condition or injury.
Secondary Lymphedema
Secondary lymphedema is the most common form of the disease, affecting about 1 in 1,000 Americans. It develops when there is trauma, injury, or another type of damage to the drainage of the lymphatic system. Secondary lymphedema is a common complication from cancer treatments.
Lymphedema Symptoms
Swelling is the main symptom associated with lymphedema, but you may also experience other feelings or sensations because of the strain this swelling can place on your body.
Common symptoms of lymphedema include:
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Any condition, injury, or treatment that affects your immune or lymphatic system can lead to a disruption in the flow of your lymph fluid. Some of the common causes linked to the development of secondary lymphedema are:
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A diagnosis of lymphedema is usually made from a review of your medical history and a physical examination. For the physical examination, your doctor may take measurements and inspect the skin on the affected limb or body area.
Your healthcare provider may also look for something called the Stemmer sign. If they attempt to pinch a bit of tissue on the back of your hand or the top of your foot and cannot, this is a positive Stemmer sign. A positive Stemmer sign is usually consistent with a lymphedema diagnosis.
Your medical history and details about any recent injuries or infections is also an important part of the diagnosis. If you’ve had an injury, cancer, or other events that put you at a higher risk of developing lymphedema, a diagnosis may be easier to make.
If there is doubt as to what is causing your swelling, your doctor may perform additional tests.
The primary test for lymphedema is called perometry. This is a computer-based test that helps to measure fluid volumes and displacement inside your body. Other tests that can help narrow the cause of swelling include tonometry to measure pressure or imaging studies likecomputed tomography (CT).
There are also a number of more detailed studies that are generally reserved for chronic, severe, or late stage lymphedema. These include:
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There are both surgical and nonsurgical options for treating lymphedema.
Complete decongestive therapy (CDT) is a primary nonsurgical option, and it combines a number of therapies including:
Good self-care is important to managing lymphedema without surgery, and weight loss or weight management may also be a part of your treatment plan.
Lymphedema is not usually life-threatening, but untreated or severe cases of lymphedema can lead to complications likelymphangiosarcoma, a type of soft tissue cancer.
Living with any chronic disease can be difficult. Living with lymphedema means practicing good self-care and making lifestyle changes to help you avoid complications.
Things you can do to help you maintain control over your lymphedema include:
Summary
Lymphedema is a chronic disease that can cause swelling that makes your skin painfully tight and may even restrict your movement. Some surgeries can be used for advanced or severe cases, but most treatments for this condition focus on meticulous skincare, avoiding infections, and a healthy diet and exercise regimen.
A Word From Verywell
Living with lymphedema can be frustrating because it can limit your activities and cause discomfort. There is no cure for lymphedema, and this chronic condition requires some significant lifestyle changes and self-care. Talk to your doctor about a management strategy that works for you. With the proper care, lymphedema isn’t usually fatal and can be controlled to avoid serious complications.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Lymph system.Moore JE Jr, Bertram CD.Lymphatic system flows.Annu Rev Fluid Mech. 2018;50:459-482. doi:10.1146/annurev-fluid-122316-045259MedlinePlus.Lymphedema.Cleveland Clinic.Lymphedema.American Cancer Society.What is lymphedema?Kayıran O, De La Cruz C, Tane K, Soran A.Lymphedema: from diagnosis to treatment.Turk J Surg. 2017;33(2):51-57. doi:10.5152/turkjsurg.2017.3870
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Lymph system.Moore JE Jr, Bertram CD.Lymphatic system flows.Annu Rev Fluid Mech. 2018;50:459-482. doi:10.1146/annurev-fluid-122316-045259MedlinePlus.Lymphedema.Cleveland Clinic.Lymphedema.American Cancer Society.What is lymphedema?Kayıran O, De La Cruz C, Tane K, Soran A.Lymphedema: from diagnosis to treatment.Turk J Surg. 2017;33(2):51-57. doi:10.5152/turkjsurg.2017.3870
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Lymph system.Moore JE Jr, Bertram CD.Lymphatic system flows.Annu Rev Fluid Mech. 2018;50:459-482. doi:10.1146/annurev-fluid-122316-045259MedlinePlus.Lymphedema.Cleveland Clinic.Lymphedema.American Cancer Society.What is lymphedema?Kayıran O, De La Cruz C, Tane K, Soran A.Lymphedema: from diagnosis to treatment.Turk J Surg. 2017;33(2):51-57. doi:10.5152/turkjsurg.2017.3870
MedlinePlus.Lymph system.
Moore JE Jr, Bertram CD.Lymphatic system flows.Annu Rev Fluid Mech. 2018;50:459-482. doi:10.1146/annurev-fluid-122316-045259
MedlinePlus.Lymphedema.
Cleveland Clinic.Lymphedema.
American Cancer Society.What is lymphedema?
Kayıran O, De La Cruz C, Tane K, Soran A.Lymphedema: from diagnosis to treatment.Turk J Surg. 2017;33(2):51-57. doi:10.5152/turkjsurg.2017.3870
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