Lymphoedema is a chronic long term condition that causes swelling in the body’s tissues due to a buildup of fluid. It can affect any part of your body, but usually develops in the the arms and legs.
What causes lymphoedema?
Lymphoedema is caused due to problems within the lymphatic system, which is a network of vessels and glands distributed throughout the body. They work by helping fight infections and remove any excess fluid in the body. When the lymphatic system is damaged or experiences an abnormal development, fluid builds up and causes a plethora of symptoms.
Symptoms
One of the most noticeable and common symptoms is swelling in all or parts of a limb such as an arm or leg. This can further spread into fingers and toes too, affecting movement and also causing clothes, jewellery or watches to no longer fit. The swelling may come and go and be more worse during the day and go down at night. Some other symptoms you may deal with are:
- Leakage of fluid through the skin
- Repeated skin infections
- Skin changes e.g. becoming hard and tight
- Wart-like growths developing on the skin
Without treatment, your symptoms will become more severe and frequent. The type of treatment you receive ultimately depends on the cause of lymphoedema and what type it is.
There are two types of lymphoedema:
Primary lymphoedema
Primary lymphoedema is caused by faulty or alterations in the genes that are responsible for the development of the lymphatic system. Having faulty genes means that parts of your lymphatic system that usually drains fluids no longer functions how it is supposed to. Most of the time, primary lymphoedema runs in families and can develop at any age but regularly appears during early adulthood.
Secondary lymphoedema
Secondary lymphoedema is caused by damage to the lymphatic system and develops in people who have previously had a normal and regular lymphatic system.
Some causes of secondary lymphoedema are:
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Surgical treatments for cancer
When cancer cells spread through the body, they travel through the lymphatic system. Some treatments involve removing sections of the lymphatic system as they contain dangerous cancerous cells and your surgeon will always try and unsure there is limited damage when this procedure is done, but it isn’t guaranteed.
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Infections
Cellulitis is a type of infection that can be caused by lymphoedema, and this damages tissue around the lymphatic system, resulting in scarring.
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Inflammation
This is a condition that causes tissue to become red and swollen and can cause permanent damage to the lymphatic system. It can occur if you have conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis which causes swelling and pain in joints as well as eczema which causes skin to become itchy, cracked & dry.
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Venous diseases
This affects the flow of blood through the veins. Any abnormal or damaged veins can result in excessive fluid leaking from the blood into tissue spaces, which overwhelms parts of the lymphatic system that is responsible for draining the fluid. Venous diseases include varicose veins, where you have swollen and enlarged veins and poor drainage of blood, resulting in higher vein pressure and more fluid entering into the surrounding tissues.
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Obesity
People who are obese, and especially those who are critically obese, have an increased risk of dealing with lymphoedema. Although there isn’t an exact, clear reason as to why, it is suggested that the extra fatty tissue in obese people affects the lymphatic system from functioning. It reduces the flow of fluid through them. In this circumstance, weight loss is a huge role in treatment, as even just starting to lose a small of amount of weight can make a large difference. View our weight management support here.
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Trauma & injury
In some circumstances, accidental injury or trauma to the lymphatic system as this can cause extensive soft tissue loss or bleeding.
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Immobility
Muscle activity surrounding the lymphatic vessels, massage fluid into and along them. When movement is restricted, however, this fluid in the lymphatic system doesn’t get moved and causes fluid build up and swelling, resulting in lymphoedema. People who have recently had surgery or have an illness/condition that causes them to be immobile for long periods of time are vulnerable to getting lymphoedema. It’s important to regularly exercise when possible to prevent this fluid build up from occurring.
Treatments
There is no direct cure for lymphoedema, but there are treatments and lifestyle changes that you can make to reduce the effects of your symptoms.
Compression garments
One of the best care methods for lymphoedema is compression. This can be done either at home or by a healthcare professional using compression garments. Compression garments stimulate the flow of fluid through the lymphatic system and encourage fluids to move towards your torso area, and then out of your arms, like regular patterns of circulation.
Compression garments are made to have a tight, snug fit and are available as socks, stockings or sleeves that you pull over any swollen areas. There are various grades of compression garments that vary depending on how much pressure you need applied and also the severity of the swollen area.
Exercise & movement
Alongside compression garments, exercising is vital in treating lymphoedema. It increases the movement of fluid and promotes drainage, which results in reduced swelling. It additionally has other benefits that are:
- Help you lose weight if you are overweight or obese
- Improve mood
- Build strength
Skin care
Looking after your skin whilst dealing with lymphoedema is important as it helps to prevent any form of infection that can escalate with symptoms such as dry and cracked skin like cellulitis. You should aim to moisturise daily and use a moisturiser that is best for your skin type, e.g. if you have sensitive skin use a moisturiser with no fragrance.
Lymphoedema also delays wound healing, which means you should be protecting your skin in other ways on top of having a regimented skin care routine. Avoid or limit activities that cause cuts or grazes in the affected areas, or protect your skin, like using gardening gloves when gardening.
Massages
There are two types of massages that can be performed in swollen areas to stimulate fluid movement, drainage and control swelling. These two types are; manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) and simple lymphatic drainage (SLD).
Manual lymphatic drainage uses several different massage techniques that are performed by a healthcare professional/qualified professional. It is usually used alongside using compression garments.
Simple lymphatic drainage can be performed by yourself and is based off MLD techniques. It can be performed daily, preferably at the same time everyday so that your lymphatic system becomes more accustomed to it. It can be done whilst wearing compression garments and many people liken to perform it before they go to bed as it is a relaxing and soothing process.
