Lymphedema - Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

What is lymphedema??

Lymphedema is a condition that can result from an impaired lymphatic system. In the process, tissue fluid collects in the cell interstices, which can no longer drain off adequately. As a result, the affected body part increasingly swells. In the worst case, real deformities occur that severely restrict the freedom of movement and the quality of life of those affected and increase the risk of secondary diseases. The chances of recovery or the chances of relief are high through appropriate therapies. The healing process can be supported by naturopathy.

contents

• What is lymphedema??
• Lymphedema - a quick overview
• Lymphedema symptoms
• First warning sign
• late effects
• disease stages
• Causes of lymphedema
• Primary form
• Secondary form
• Lymphedema treatment
• Own measures for reduction
• Naturopathic treatment
• swell

Lymphedema - a quick overview

First of all, the most important thing in brief:

• definition: Lymphedema is a fluid accumulation in the intercellular spaces due to a malfunction of the lymphatic system.
• Occurrence: Often the legs are affected. It can also occur on the face, arms, neck, trunk or genitals.
• symptoms: The accumulation of fluid leads to progressive swelling of the affected body part. Untreated threatens an elephantiasis in which the body part swells to the point of complete shapelessness and the skin tends to blisters, fistulas, eczema and poorly healing wounds.
• diagnosis: The so-called Stemmer's sign, in which certain skin folds can no longer be raised, is an indication of lymphedema. On the basis of ultrasound examinations or a lymphography, a more accurate assessment can be made.
• stadiums: Depending on the severity, the disease is divided into different stages from zero to three. From the second stage, the disease is considered irreversible. Stage three is called Elephantiasis.
• therapy: The most common therapies include manual and machine lymphatic drainage, special skin care and compression treatments that use bandages or stockings as well as targeted exercise exercises.

Lymphedema symptoms

Typically, lymphedema first becomes noticeable by a one-sided swelling of an arm or leg. Lymphedema can also occur in other parts of the body. In the early stages, these swellings are barely noticeable and not painful, but they steadily increase over time. Often, those affected only become aware when garments such as trousers and shoes or jewelry suddenly no longer fit or sit tight.

The one-sided swelling of an arm or leg is a typical symptom of lymphedema. (Image: vchalup / fotolia.com)

First warning sign

Pressing on the swelling and forming a dent that persists for a period of time after releasing the pressure is a potential first sign of lymphedema.

Firm skin and fast fatigue

In the further course, the skin on the affected area feels increasingly firm, plump and tense. Frequently a limb (arm or leg) is affected, which quickly fatigues under physical stress.

Advanced symptoms

In the advanced stage it can lead to widened skin folds and furrows. The skin can no longer lift and the affected body part can take bulky proportions. The skin can also be affected. Discoloration, hardening, inflammation, eczema and poorly healing or open wounds can occur.

late effects

Lymphedema should definitely be treated by a doctor. If this does not happen, late effects like:

• skin infections,
• open wounds,
• movement restrictions,
• crooked posture,
• Vesicular and fistula formation.

disease stages

Lymphedema is divided into four stages depending on severity:

• Stage 0: At this stage, the edema is subliminal. The disease mechanisms are already set in motion, but there are still no symptoms.
• Stage 1: First swelling occurs, which has a pasty and soft consistency. The skin can be impressed with a finger and there is at times a dent at the pressure point.
• Stage 2: The swelling is pronounced and feels hard. The skin is not or only very difficult to press.
• Stage 3: The swelling has deformed the affected part of the body and the skin is prone to inflammation, eczema, discoloration, fistulas, blisters and open wounds.

Deformation of the affected part of the body can be a late consequence of untreated lymphedema. (Image: vpardi / fotolia.com)

Causes of lymphedema

Our lymphatic system consists of the lymphatic vessels, lymph nodes, lymph, spleen and thymus. Limited function of one or more of these components may result in lymphatic stasis (lymphostasis)that can be seen and felt from the outside. At this point the lymphedema should be distinguished from lymph node swelling.

Stagnation of lymphatic fluid

Due to the limited function, there is a fluid congestion in the lymphatics, which increases the pressure on the damaged area. This leads to leakage or decreased uptake of lymphatic fluid, which then results in increased swelling.

Primary form

Basically, the lymphedema is classified into the primary and the secondary form. The primary form is a rare form in which the lymphatic vessels or lymph nodes are not properly formed or malformed from birth. Whole extremities or even body regions can be affected. This form of edema includes conditions such as Milroy's disease, Meige's disease, Parkes-Weber syndrome and Klippel-Trénaunay syndrome.

Secondary form

This much more common form is not genetic, but can arise in the course of life. The causes of this form include:

• breast cancer surgery: Many edemas are produced in a timely and comprehensible way after breast cancer surgery or after lymph nodes belonging to the axillae have been removed.
• Uterine or cervical cancer: Surgeries in which many lymph nodes in the abdomen must be removed can lead to lymphedema in the legs.
• overweight: Obesity can increase the incidence associated with surgery.
• radiation treatment: Radiation therapy for certain types of cancer can lead to subsequent malfunction of the lymphatic system, which can lead to lymphedema.
• Malignant diseases: Certain malignant lymph node diseases such as Hodgkin's disease or leukemia can also cause edema.
• lymphangitis: Inflammation of the lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes can cause the edema.
• Other causes: Other possible triggers include injuries, scarring and parasite infestation.

Manual lymphatic drainage is one of the most common therapies for lymphedema. (Image: vpardi / fotolia.com)

Lymphedema treatment

The therapy offers a variety of good treatment options, which on the one hand alleviate the pain and on the other hand increase mobility and quality of life. Often the so-called complex physical decongestion therapy (KPE) is used. This takes place in two phases, the decongestion phase and the maintenance phase.

In the decongestion phase, the focus is on the drainage of the accumulated fluid. The manual lymphatic drainage and compression bandages are used for this purpose. In the maintenance phase, the therapeutic successes from the first phase are to be supported by specific movement exercises and the wearing of compression stockings. In severe cases, the therapy can also be done in a clinic. If the applications fail, an operation may be required.

Own measures for reduction

In addition to the therapies, the symptoms of lymphedema can be reduced by several behaviors in everyday life, or the treatment success can be maintained longer. These include:

• Wear comfortable and loose-fitting clothing,
• Skin care with ph-neutral agents,
• Avoid overweight or reduce weight,
• adequate exercise (eg gymnastics),
• take no unnecessary risks of injury,
• Avoid stress and reduce stress (eg breathing exercises, yoga),
• Lymph drainage helps, but avoid kneading massage,
• wear compression stockings during sports.

These measures can be used to control lymphedema in addition to therapy. (Image: heilpraxis.de)

Naturopathic treatment

In the naturopathic treatment two different approaches come into question. Some of the possible treatments are for the alleviation of symptoms, another part focuses on the cause.

Symptom-oriented and alleviating procedures

Naturopathic treatments without a malignant background pursue the goal of stimulating and draining the lymphatic flow in order to alleviate the symptoms. Edema, especially after surgery, responds well to the treatment with leeches, as well as to the use of high-dose enzymes, if they are used on time. Often a diet is recommended in which animal protein is largely dispensed with. In addition, a lot of exercise, breathing exercises and light brush massages are prescribed. Phytotherapeutisch plants are prescribed with lymphableitender and blood purifying effect - as tea, tincture or in homeopathic preparation. Especially the lymphatic drainage, osteopathy, foot reflexology and compression treatments are used manually.

Profound causative therapy

Through a profound therapy, the natural regulatory capacity of the body should be restored by recognizing and treating causal disorders. Naturopathic diagnosticians use constitution-oriented procedures such as iris diagnosis, use darkfield microscopy to visualize the (microbial) environmental burden, or detect energy-related blockages (eg EAV, bioresonance, vegatics) that can adversely affect a variety of functional processes in the body - although from a conventional perspective, there is no direct causal connection. Then follows the individual therapy, which may be depending on the therapist's method of medication, manual, classic ausleitend, physically, nutritionally and orderly therapeutic or subtle-energy oriented. (tf, jvs, vb; updated April 9, 2018)
Specialist supervision: Barbara Schindewolf-Lensch (doctor)

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• Internet presence of Lymphzentrum Nordwest with further information
• German Cancer Research Center (dkfz)
• Guideline Diagnosis and Treatment of Lymphedema
• University of Düsseldorf: Lymphedema - causes, diagnostics, therapy
• As well as in the text linked articles.