Recognizing early signs of lymphedema

The Importance Of Early Diagnosis: Recognizing Early Signs of Lymphedema

What is lymphedema?

Lymphedema is a chronic, swelling condition caused by fluid buildup due to a blockage or malfunction in the lymphatic system. Early signs are visible for that reason is key to recognize and treat them soon.

What causes lymphedema?

Lymphedema can occur when the lymphatic system is damaged, which doesn´t allow the lymph fluid to move through the body.

Patients develop lymphedema when the lymphatic system is damaged by:

Trauma that affects the lymphatic system
Cancer treatment that needs the lymph nodes to be removed
Cancer Radiotherapy. Radiation can affect lymphatic nodes or vessels.
Infections that damage tissue or cause scarring.
Heart or vascular disease, arthritis, and eczema can also cause lymphedema.
Lymphatic system mutations.

Patients with these types of cancer are more prone to develop lymphedema:

Breast cancer
Prostate cancer
Head cancer
Neck cancer
Cancer located in pelvic areas (e.g. bladder, penile, testicular, endometrial, vulvar, or cervical cancer)
Lymphoma (cancer that affects cells of the lymphatic system)
Melanoma (skin cancer due to mutations in melanocytes)

What are the early signs of lymphedema?

Common signs and symptoms of lymphedema can include:

Swelling, tightness, or heaviness.
Skin changes (dryness, discoloration, thickening, or dimpling).
Aching, tingling, numbness, pain, or discomfort.
Restricted movement or less flexibility in your joints.
Skin discomfort while wearing clothes.
Swollen hands.

What body parts are more prone to develop lymphedema?

It is more common to see lymphedema in legs or arms. However, it can develop in any body part. In fact, it will appear in the nearest area to the affected part of the lymphatic system. For example:

Surgery or radiation near your pelvis or belly can cause lymphedema in the abdomen, genitals, or legs.
Surgery or radiation in the head and neck area can cause lymphedema in the face and neck.

Why is the early diagnosis of lymphedema key?

Early diagnosis of lymphedema is key because it allows for timely intervention, preventing the condition from worsening. This helps reduce swelling, discomfort, and the risk of complications, improving long-term quality of life and making management easier.

Early signs of lymphedema: What are the Stages of Lymphedema?

Stages of lymphedema go from 0 to 3 according to the severity of symptoms.

Stage 0

No visible swelling
You might feel the area is heavy, full, or tight.
It is reversible

First Stage/ stage1 (mild)

The swelling is visible.
You might feel the area heavy, full, or tight.
If there is lymphedema in arms or legs, the swelling improves when the arm or leg is raised.
In most cases it is reversible.

Second stage/Stage 2 (moderate)

Swelling increases (you will notice the area is bigger than in stage 1).
If your limbs are involved, swelling doesn’t improve when the affected limb is raised.
Symptoms are worse than stage 1.
It might be reversible if treated early.

Third stage/Stage 3 (severe)

Severe swelling.
You may notice limitations in self-care or everyday activities.
Pitting edema is present. Pitting edema is swelling that leaves a dent when you press on it.
Very dry, thickened, or discolored skin.
You might have ulceration, fluid leaking or blisters.
Fibrosis could be present in non pitting tissue and persistent swelling
In many cases the condition at this stage is not reversible.

A final world

Early signs and diagnosis of lymphedema are pivotal for several reasons:

Allows for timely intervention, which can significantly reduce the severity of symptoms and improve the quality of life
Enables healthcare providers to implement effective management strategies, such as Lymphatic drainage massage, compression therapy and exercise, which can prevent the progression of the condition.
Minimize the risk of complications, such as infections and skin changes, which are more likely to occur in advanced stages.

We hope this information is useful for you. If you need advice or have any questions about our treatments, please contact us. You can find us in Mill Hill Broadway and Islington. We are always happy to help. If you like this blog, please share!