Do you or someone you know have chronic swelling in the arm, leg or head and neck? Does the area feel hard, weep fluid or cause pain? Do you have difficulty getting a shoe to fit or getting your rings on the fingers? If so, you may have lymphedema.
Lymphedema is a high-protein edema, or accumulation of fluid, in the tissue spaces beneath the skin. It is seen most often in the arms or legs, but may also occur in the face, neck, chest or genital area.
The condition can be painful, said Lynne Daley, physical therapist and certified lymphedema therapist for St. Elizabeth Healthcare. If you see something that doesn’t hurt but also doesn’t look right, you might want to get it checked out.
“Just because you don’t have pain doesn’t mean you don’t have this,” Daley said.
What causes lymphedema?
Lymphedema occurs when there has been a disruption to the lymphatic system, which can be the result of a variety of causes. It may develop in cancer patients who have had lymph nodes removed, or as a result of fibrosis from radiation. It may also arise from chronic venous insufficiency, infection, trauma, or immobility, and in some cases, it may even be present from birth due to malformation of the lymphatic system.
There is no specific time frame for when lymphedema may occur. In cancer patients it may arise immediately following surgery or radiation, or it can occur up to 30 years after the fact. Warning signs may be as simple as your watchband suddenly leaving a mark on your wrist, rings being difficult to take off or put on, or wearing one shoe looser than the other.
“If you have swelling and it doesn’t go down overnight, or if it fills back up over the course of a few weeks, and you haven’t had an injury in that area, it might be time to have it looked at,” Daley said.
Lymphedema is a disease that often goes undiagnosed and untreated because it is often confused with other forms of edema. While there is no “cure” for lymphedema, it can be managed. The sooner the patient gets treatment, the better the outcome.
Treatment for the disease should be provided by a certified lymphedema therapist (CLT). CLTs go through extensive training on the disease and are the best option for patients.
St. Elizabeth Rehabilitation Services has 4 CLTs (licensed Physical or Occupational Therapist) on its team. Treatment is available at the Edgewood, Wilder and Ft. Thomas locations. To schedule an appointment or to get more information on this specialized program, please call 859-301-2168.
