Lymphedema

Lymphedema – What is it?

If you’ve ever seen a person with an abnormally swollen arm or leg, you’ve most likely just witnessed somebody who has lymphedema.

This out-of-the-ordinary swelling, which can affect more than one body region simultaneously, (there’s arm lymphedema, leg lymphedema, or truncal lymphedema, for instance) stems from dysfunction in the lymphatic vessels or nodes: either they were damaged or they formed incorrectly at inception.

Causes of Lymphedema:

Commonly, lymphedema is a side effect of cancer treatment. Lymph node excision and/or radiation often, unfortunately, damage the patient’s lymphatic system.

As a result, fluid backs up and limbs or other parts of the body uncomfortably swell. It’s not unlike a clog in drain pipe. That’s not surprising: the lymphatic system is the body’s waste removal plumbing implement.

If these swellings, bulging tumescences filled with waste, water and protein, aren’t treated, they might grow worse … causing their areas’ innate tissues to scar and harden.

Also, the waste products might back up into the tissue – increasing dangerous risk of bacterial infection.

If a patient gets a lymphedema diagnosis, then, it’s in his or her best interest, to constantly manage his or her lymphoedema. There is no actual cure, but at least the patient can treat the swelling and work to prevent future relapses.

Although nobody wants to be afflicted with lymphedema, it does foster an appreciation for how truly remarkable the lymphatic system is!

Lymphatic vessels absorb and transport away protein-filled fluids and waste products from body tissues. Lymph nodes, which then filter and clean the fluid, strain out any possible bacteria which might compromise the body’s immune system.

It’s fascinating to think that, while you’re reading a book or watching television, your body’s sophisticated lymphatic fluid (fat cells, water, proteins, white blood cells) constantly works to slush out bacteria, viruses (and any other waste) to keep you healthy.

What is lymphedema? Lymphedema (or lymphoedema, if you’re British, Australian or Canadian – bit of strong tea with some cheddar cheese, dear?) appears when something in this system goes wrong … but most of the time our inner network invisibly, beautifully goes right.


Types of Lymphedema:

Although many different lymphedema types exist (and may occur anywhere throughout the body) all types of lymphedema share a similar characteristic – a clog of protein-stuffed fluid.

Now let’s differentiate between primary lymphedema and secondary lymphedema. In lymphedema that’s primary, hereditary or congenital factors determine the shape of lymphatic vessels.

Some afflicted people are simply born with their lymphatic vessels already out of whack. Interestingly, though, primary lymphedema might not yet exist at birth….it could wait until puberty (or later) to show up.

The problematic elements in primary lymphedema include hypoplasia of lymphatic vessels (not enough lymphatics to go around); hyperplasia of lymphatic vessels (now those lymphatic vessels are just too darned large to work properly); or aplasia of lymphatics (the cupboards are bare – there isn’t one lymphatic vessel to be found!)

In secondary lymphedema, trauma or damage mangle a previously healthy lymphatic system.

For instance, a breast cancer patient might require radiation therapy and/or lymph node dissection. The resulting havoc wreaked on her body could then, unfortunately, create a lymphedema side effect. The scarred lymphatic vessels block fluid from flowing properly.

But, trauma causes are wide-ranging: let’s say Joe gets into a motorcycle crash; Bill falls from a ladder while painting the outside of his suburban house; Martha, (while looking for her favorite pink, vinyl paperclips) accidentally bashes her arm into her desk, and Sylvia, during a friendly game of parent-teacher soccer, mistakenly rams into Mr. Henderson, her son’s Algebra II teacher.

All of these physical accidents can scar or damage the lymphatics. The possible result? Lymphedema.

If wounds from any of these tumbles get infected, the infection, melting into its area’s soft tissue and skin, could result in lymphedema cellulitis.

The bacteria-teemed area, swollen and painful, makes the lymphedema cellulitis sufferer feel terrible in general: a sweltering fever, shiver-inducing chills and throbbing headaches will besiege the poor dear.

In leg lymphedema, (or lower extremity lymphedema) fluid pools into the limb, creating swelling and a feeling of heaviness or tightness, sharp, shooting pains, tenderness, aches, stiffness, heat – or any or all of the above.

The body’s weight, bearing down on the leg, can, possibly, exacerbate the pain and symptoms.

Ruth moved slowly from her plaid couch to her television, her left leg hugely heavy from lymphedema. Although her left leg is the only limb that looks lymphedemic, her right leg is equally at risk. Poor drainage is the problem here, and it’s quite capable of spreading to other nearby body regions.

Arm lymphedema, common in breast cancer survivors who’ve just had surgery, exhibits many of the same qualities – pain, swelling, stiffness, weakness, aches and heaviness…with the possible added difficulty of elbow or wrist stasis. The swelling can come and go, blow-up the entire limb or just affect tiny regions of it.

With both leg and arm lymphedema, it’s helpful to exercise the limb to keep it mobile. Try short kicks, leg stretches and standing on your toes. For arms, stretch them in different directions and attempt grasp and release motions.

It’s a good idea to elevate your lymphedemic leg to keep weight off it and to stimulate blood flow to the heart. With both leg and arm lymphedema, compression therapy is immensely beneficial.

If your lymphedema becomes chronic, it will feel as if it’s always coming back, no matter how many times you treat it. The affected area’s skin, once chronic lymphedema is a problem, no longer “pits” – as it did in the early stages, and may even blow-up into full-fledged elephantitis.

In addition, the inflamed, swollen areas’ over-stretched skin gets extremely itchy: the impulse to constantly scratch often grows maddening, and the actual scratching only provides temporary (if any) relief to the symptom.

Lymphedema Symptoms:

If you have primary lymphedema (if you’re a woman and if anyone in your family has it, you have a 50% inheritance rate), it’s crucial to watch out for any signs that the disease might be encroaching.

Your legs or arms might intermittently swell. This will be especially noticeable when you have to stand for long stretches of time, when it’s the week before your menstrual cycle launches – or when it’s unpleasantly hot and muggy outside.

If the symptoms of lymphedema are in their early stages, the swelling might flare up, ebb, and disappear for a while…then come back in short bursts.

The repeated swelling instances, though, (as lovely as they are when they vanish) gradually create their own form of damage: they’re slowly congesting the body tissues’ protein – even if there’s lymphedema drainage.

More lymphedema symptoms and conditions include a lymphedema infection that erupts shortly after a surgical incision or operation.

Watch out if fluid pockets around the post-operative incision site – this could be an early warning sign.

The more lymph nodes you may have had removed, the more weight you’ve gained, and increases in radiation therapy – are also all risk factors for looming lymphedema outbreaks.

Any change in body tissue, including swelling that’s noticeable or not, is important to keep track of. In addition to a limb feeling heavy or achy, it might tingle. These are all symptoms to report to a lymphedema specialist.

Lymphedema Page 3