Lymphedema is a condition where excess fluid collects in various parts of your body, resulting in abnormal swelling. However, in situations where a person has lymphedema, the swelling is because something is wrong with their lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is tasked with taking excess fluid and toxins and recycling them into the blood system.
Therefore, when the lymphatic system is not working properly, these fluids and toxins will collect elsewhere, resulting in swelling. The legs and arms are the most common areas affected by lymphedema, but swelling can occur anywhere.
Unfortunately, there is no permanent cure for lymphedema. There are, however, treatments that can reduce the swelling it causes and keep the lymphedema from impeding your way of life. Lymphedema can be very debilitating, painful, and dangerous if you leave it untreated, so seeing a doctor is extremely important if you believe you have it.
Compression garments are special socks, gloves, and other forms of clothing that have built-in compression. The garment forces built-up fluid in the swollen part of the body to move to an area with working lymph nodes, where it is then dispersed into the body. Compression garments and bandages are often the first course of treatment for lymphedema and are the least invasive.
Another option is to work with a physical therapist who specializes in lymphedema. They will have special exercises and manipulations that help force the built-up fluid to a working part of the body.
In addition to socks, gloves, and bandages, there are additional compression devices that can help people with lymphedema. These devices, known as pneumatic compression pumps, are attached to sleeves that wrap around the swollen part of the body. When the pump is turned on, it provides fluctuating pressure that pushes fluid to areas with working lymph nodes. The process is very similar to compression garments and manual manipulation but more powerful.
When physical therapy and compression are unable to reduce swelling, you may need manual fluid drainage. This is done to prevent permanent damage to the limb, which will result if the swelling is not dealt with.
Manual drainage is not a surgical procedure. Instead, it is where a physical therapist manipulates the swollen part of your body to push the fluid to a part of the body where your lymph nodes work. Once it reaches this area, the fluid is removed from the body through normal functions.
In cases of lymphedema where compression devices, manual drainage, and physical therapy are not doing the trick, you may require surgery.
Lymphatic bypass surgery used to be a late-stage procedure, but it is now becoming increasingly popular as an early-stage lymphedema treatment. With lymphatic bypass surgery, lymphatic vessels are rerouted to avoid blockages that could be causing the buildup of fluid.
In some cases of lymphedema, your condition is caused by damaged lymph nodes. Therefore, a lymph node transfer where the damaged nodes are replaced by healthy ones can sometimes prevent future fluid buildup.
In more serious cases, you may have to undergo a debulking or removal of fibrous tissue procedure. Debulking is necessary when someone has had lymphedema for a long time, which has caused permanent limb damage. During debulking, all damaged parts of the limb, including the skin, soft tissue, and fat, are removed and replaced with a skin graft.
While there is no permanent cure for lymphedema, there are plenty of treatments that can eliminate the swelling it causes and keep it from returning too often. The key is to recognize lymphedema early on before it has time to cause serious damage. The swelling is also easier to deal with when it is minimal, as opposed to when it is out of control.