What is lymphoedema

What is lymphoedema?

Your guide to defining, diagnosing and explaining lymphoedema.

A description of lymphoedema symptoms of the arms and legs.

Lymphoedema is a swelling of the body that in most cases has a slow onset. It may start as a persistent ache or shooting pain in an affected limb. Sometimes it may start as a pain in the shoulders before swelling becomes visibly apparent.

In the first instance lymphoedema swelling may resolve or disappear overnight with rest. Over time the oedema becomes a more permanent fixture and disruptive to your lifestyle.

Not all oedema is caused by lymphoedema. It is best that your doctor performs tests to eliminate all other possible causes of fluid retention before making a diagnosis.

Lymphoedema indications

An explanation of indications to help diagnosis – a list of lymphoedema symptoms.

You may experience some or all of these conditions.

Lymphoedema can occur in any person when their lymphatic system is compromised. For some people this will be after a surgical procedure or trauma after an accident. With others it may be their lymphatic system is not developed sufficiently to be effective for their body size.

INDICATIONS - Hints to diagnosis of leg and lower body lymphoedema
Feet & Ankles	Lower Leg and Knees	Thighs and Hips	Shoulders and Neck
Swollen toes Fibrotic toes Puffy feet Smelly feet Fat ankles red swollen ankles Ulceration and/or weeping skin Increased swelling later in the day Painful toes, feet or ankles	Swollen calves Hard fibrotic calves Painful knees swollen knees Discoloured skin Fragile skin Easily bruised skin Hot legs Restless legs Shooting pains Ulceration and/or weeping skin	Swollen thighs Flabby thighs easily bruised thighs hard fibrotic thighs Aching or pain at top of legs in groin Swelling or Hot and/or tender to touch in the groin Restless legs Shooting pain	Swollen neck Sore aching Shoulders Swelling below collar bone Increased swelling later in the day Dull ache and/or shooting pain Feeling of fluid inside chest area when breathing

INDICATIONS - Hints to diagnosis of arm and upper body lymphoedema
Hands & Wrists	Forearms & Elbows	Upper arms and Chest	Shoulders and Neck
Swollen toes Fibrotic toes Puffy feet Smelly feet Fat ankles red swollen ankles Ulceration and/or weeping skin Increased swelling later in the day Painful toes, feet or ankles	Swollen calves Hard fibrotic calves Painful knees swollen knees Discoloured skin Fragile skin Easily bruised skin Hot legs Restless legs Shooting pains Ulceration and/or weeping skin	Swollen thighs Flabby thighs easily bruised thighs hard fibrotic thighs Aching or pain at top of legs in groin Swelling or Hot and/or tender to touch in the groin Restless legs Shooting pain	Swollen neck Sore aching Shoulders Swelling below collar bone Increased swelling later in the day Dull ache and/or shooting pain Feeling of fluid inside chest area when breathing

A review of family history can help lymphoedema diagnosis:

When looking for signs of primary lymphoedema examine your family history. In many cases a grandparent or aunt may exhibit signs of lymphoedema swelling, yet your direct parent may not. This observation can provide insight and guidance by association when making a valued judgment and lymphoedema diagnosis.

Medical tests for lymphoedema.

The tests used for lymphoedema diagnosis;

There are four tests used with lymphoedema diagnosis

Lymphoscintigraphy; – a radio active substance is injected at the most distal part of an affected limb, its progress is traced with a gamma camera to see if progress is normal, slow or blocked.

Computed tomography; - (CT Scan) shows cross section images of tissues or a MRI Scan is used where malignancy may be suspected.

Duplex imaging study; - Ultrasound to identify/rule out chronic venous insufficiency which may cause similar symptoms to lymphoedema.

Bioimpedence analysis (BIA); - an extremely small electrical current measures the amount of resistance in body tissues. This can ascertain the possibility of lymphoedema before any visible signs of onset.

Diagnosis of lymphoedema in the arms or legs following cancer treatment.

Lymphoedema after cancer.

After cancer treatment in many cases the lymphatic system is disrupted and will not perform its full function for removing protein from the body tissue fluids. This lymphatic dysfunction, if severe enough, may cause the condition of lymphoedema.

Lymphoedema of the arms. The diagnosis of lymphoedema after the initial swelling from breast cancer surgery has subsided, in many cases is first indicated by a feeling of heaviness of the arm on the affected side and/or pain in the neck and/or shoulders. Swelling and oedema may never happen, or it may take many months or even years before any symptoms are encountered to become apparent in a limb at risk after your surgery.

Lymphoedema of the legs is affected by surgical and radiotherapy intervention to the area of the groin and in the pelvic region, and sometimes by surgical intervention of the lymphatic system in the region of the neck.

A heaviness of leg or legs is often a sign of possibility to lymphoedema onset after cancer surgery. As with lymphoedema of the arms, swelling may never happen or take months or years to become apparent. Tests for the legs, are as for the arm in the early and later stages.

Bio-impedance testing for lymphoedema is a good indicator of the possibility for lymphoedema activity after cancer surgical intervention. Early diagnosis is beneficial where your surgical intervention had a probability of affecting lymph nodes or the lymphatic drainage system. Ask at your cancer clinic, they often have bio-impedance testing equipment available.

Radiation therapy and lymphoedema. Results of trials monitoring cancer survivors indicate a greater chance and incidence of lymphoedema occurrence when radiation therapy is administered additional to surgical intervention.

Who is at risk after cancer therapy? After surgical intervention and a combination radiation therapy after surgery you have an increased risk of developing lymphoedema. This knowledge can be to your advantage if you take pro-active and preventative action by incorporation of lymphoedema risk minimization strategies into your daily routines.

Medical reviews and statistics prove lymphoedema after cancer is by no means a certainty. Not everyone develops lymphedema after cancer intervention. By taking a little care and implementing action at the slightest positive indication, you can minimize your risks of developing lymphoedema exponentially.

Lymphoedema symptoms occurring after cancer treatment can be controlled, managed and reversed. Knowledge and action are your keys to success.