Lymphedema refers to
swelling that occurs in your patient’ arms
or legs for no apparent reason. It may affect just one arm or leg, but
sometimes lymphedema can involve arms or both legs and all the limbs at once.

There are two types of lymph
edema – primary and secondary. Primary
is an inherited type of lymph edema and secondary means that the disorder may
have other causes such as Milroy’s disease. Secondary edema may have a known or
unknown cause, such as kidney disease.
Symptoms of Lmphedema
The swelling caused by
lymphedemea ranges from hardly noticeable changes in the size of a person’s
limb to extreme swelling that can make it impossible to use the affected limb.
Signs and symptoms Include –
- Swelling of part of your arm or your entire arm or leg, including your fingers or toes
- A feeling of heaviness or tightness in your arm or leg
- Restricted range of motion in your arm or leg
- Aching or discomfort in your arm or leg
- Recurring infections in your affected limb and or –
- Hardening and thickening of the skin on your arm or leg
Causes
The causes of the two types
of lymphedema differ from each other.
In primary lymphedema, which
is rarer, problems with the development of lymph vessels causes problems with
the legs. This type of lymphedema first makes it appearance in childhood or
around puberty. Lymph vessels develop without valves making it difficult for
the lymph nodes to drain. Usually the
symptoms of this disorder appear before a child reaches the age of ten. There
is also a late onset form that does not make itself known until after the age
of 35.
Damaged lymph nodes or lymph
vessels cause secondary lymphedema. Surgery for breast cancer that requires the
removal of a lymph node can be a trigger for the condition.
Radiation treatment for
cancer can cause scarring and inflammation of the lymph nodes or lymph vessels,
restricting flow of the lymph.
Cancer cells can cause
lymphedema if they block lymphatic vessels. For example, a tumor can grow large
enough to obstruct the flow of the lymph fluid.
Parasites can also block
lymph vessels. Infection-related lymph edema is most common in tropical and
subtropical regions of the globe and is more likely to occur in undeveloped
countries.
Care and Treatment
Lymph edema can't be cured.
Treatment focuses on minimizing the swelling and controlling the pain.
Alonng with mesotherapy
treatments, you might pescribe light exercises that require you to move your
affected arm or leg so lymph fluid is moved out of your limb.
You also suggest that your patient wrap you arm or
leg. Pressure from bandages can encourage the lymph fluid to flow back out of
your affected limb and towards the trunk of your body. This type of bandage is
wrapped tightest around fingers and toes and more loosely as you move up the
arm or leg.
Massage may be also
recommended. Manual lymph drainage involves special hand strokes on your
affected limb to gently move lymph fluid to healthy lymph nodes, where it can
drain. Lymphatic massage is one of the most in-demand massage techniques at the Pinewood Natural Health Centre in Toronto, which is also run by Dr. Michael Rahman and his team.
Pneumatic compression is
another therapy that may be prescribed. With this therapy receive pneumatic compression
you'll wear a sleeve over your affected arm or leg. The sleeve is connected to
a pump that intermittently inflates the sleeve, putting pressure on your limb.
The inflated sleeve gently moves lymph fluid away from your fingers or toes,
reducing the swelling in your arm or leg.
Prognosis
If not managed, lymph edema
in your arm or leg can lead to serious complications. Sufferers have to be particularly careful of
infections as the affected area is more prone to infections like lymphangitis
and cellulitis. Mesotherapy injections
can assist with drainage as well as help handle with the thickening of the skin that can occur after years of swelling.
For more information about The Pinewood Institute for the Advancement of
Natural Medicine courses including course outlines, detailed descriptions of
courses and information about upcoming training sessions, please go www.pinewoodinstitute.com. You can
also send us an email using our email form at
http://pinewoodinstitute.com/contact.aspx or call us at 416-656-8100. If you
prefer to fax the number is 416-656-8107.