Recognizing Early Signs of Lymphedema & How to Treat It

About Lymphedema

Swelling in your legs after your lymph nodes have been removed or damaged may be called lymphedema. Small bean shaped structures that are made up of lymphocytes that help you fight disease are called lymph nodes. They assist in fluid movement out of several regions of your body. If this fluid cannot be drained out, the tissue swells.

The cancer is removed from your pelvis by removing your lymph nodes near your pelvis, putting you at risk for lymphedema in the legs. Also, if you had radiation therapy or if you had lymph nodes removed around your groin, your risk is greater. However, you have a smaller risk of getting lymphedema in your legs if only your pelvic lymph nodes are removed.

Lymphedema can occur at any postoperative time or many years later.

Risk Factors for Developing Lymphedema in Your Legs

Factors that increase the risk of developing lymphedema in your legs include:

• Gaining weight or being overweight.
• Infection in the affected leg.
• Getting radiation therapy to the pelvis.
• Having cancer that comes back.
• Being inactive.
• Long exposure to traveling in an airplane.
• Constricting your leg. This is when one area of your leg has a tight ring of pressure on it and can commonly be seen from closed with certain clothing (like a sock with a tight elastic).
• Exposure to extreme temperatures.

Reducing Your Risk of Lymphedema

There’s no way to know who will develop lymphedema, but there are things you can do that may lower your risk.

Protect your skin:

One of the ways to protect yourself from getting lymphedema is to make sure that your skin is not hurt or infected as much as possible. The reason is that the cells that fight infection go to where you injure yourself and cause swelling. This added fluid may not be drained by your legs.

Care for cuts and scratches:

• Soak the area with soap and water.
• Cover the area with a first aid ointment.
• Place a clean, dry gauze or bandage (Band-Aid®) over it.

Care for burns

• Place a cold pack in a towel and apply it to the burn for 15 minutes. You can also run the burn under cold water.
• Soap and water can be used to wash the area.
• Put first aid ointment on the area.
• Spread a clean, dry gauze or bandage.

Watch for infections

Symptoms of infection of the affected leg(s) to look out for include:

• Redness
• Swelling
• Increased heat
• Tenderness
• If you have any of the listed symptoms, call your healthcare provider.

Don’t wear tight clothing:

This does not include tight clothing that will leave deep marks on the legs (socks or jogging pants with an elastic cuff). Choose clothes that you can wear loosely without leaving any mark on your legs.

Compression garments that are made in order to reduce swelling work differently. They give even pressure and help push the fluid up the leg.

Avoid extreme temperatures:

Excess fluid can build up in your leg and cause swelling that can occur due to extreme heat or extreme cold. Stay or avoid time in hot tubs and saunas.

Other ways to reduce your risk

• Never use sharp objects for your pedicures. Instead of cutting, use a cuticle removing cream and file.
• Keep your skin moisturized to prevent chapping and chaffing.
• Clean and keep the space between your toes free from infections.
• Don’t walk barefoot.
• Your footwear should fit you well to avoid blisters.
• Any toe rings or ankle bracelets should fit loosely.
• Make an effort (and this is very important) to try and not cross your legs.
• Apply sunscreen containing SPF 30 or higher to protect your skin from sunburn.
• Otherwise, try to keep your ideal weight.
• Minimize your salt intake. Salt can cause swelling that can overwhelm your lymphatic system.

Air Travel and Lymphedema

Some other factors that may cause leg swelling while traveling with an airplane are listed below.

• Cabin pressure: Like most planes, planes have cabin pressure just below ground pressure. This can extend your skin and cause fluid to build up in your legs.
• Sitting still for long periods: If you do not move for some time, fluid may begin to accumulate in your legs.
• Dehydration: When the water in your blood is too low.

Here are some travel tips that may help decrease your risk of developing lymphedema:

• First, point your toes towards the ceiling and then towards the floor.
• Rotate your feet in circles and against in reverse.
• Wear loose clothing.
• You should make sure you drink enough water to remain well hydrated.
• Avoid salty foods.

Recognizing Early Signs of Lymphedema

• After surgery, normal swelling occurs in the region of the incision (surgical cut) and should resolve in a few weeks.
• Usually, swelling due to lymphedema starts in your lower leg(s). It can even move up your leg towards your torso if it’s untreated. In the beginning, this may come and go. However, things may improve when you raise your leg above your chest.
• Other early symptoms could include feeling that your clothing, socks, or shoes fit too tightly or having a feeling of heaviness in your leg.

Treating Lymphedema

The treatment for lymphedema that progresses is if you can work with a lymphedema therapist. 

The treatment includes:

• Bandaging
• Manual lymphatic drainage
• Compression stockings
• Skin care
• Exercise

Bandaging:

• Covering your legs with a special tight bandage is called bandaging. However, not every person will have to do this. Bandaging can be done in many ways if you need it. This will be talked about with your therapist, and you will decide what is best to do.

Manual lymphatic drainage:

• Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) is a gentle type of massage that circulates fluid from your legs through your body and reabsorbs it. Depending on which lymph nodes were removed, MLD is performed in a certain order, which your therapist determines is best.

Compression stockings:

Compression stockings help your lymphatic system work better. Some people also wear them to help prevent the formation of lymphedema. You should make sure that your compression stockings are properly fitting. If you find them acceptable, please discuss them with your physician.

• Check whether the stockings have any irritating effects or leave marks on your skin. A lymphedema therapist would be best to fit you in the stockings so that you know that they fit well.
• Not only does there exist a ‘compression level’, which ranges from thigh-highs (and their associates, like knee-highs and pantyhose), but there are also various levels of compression.

Skin care

Maintain your skin clean and moistened. It is important to decrease your risk of infection, which may also lower your risk of developing lymphedema.

Exercises

Walking is a gentle exercise that helps fluid in your body to move a little better. If you can, try to go for a walk every day.

Below are some exercises that will help you keep flexibility and strength. You should talk to your healthcare provider before you begin doing any exercises.

You can do these exercises once a day if your healthcare provider agrees. If you feel any pain, discomfort, or feel more tired or weak than usual, then stop.

1- Deep breathing:

To begin with, stimulate movement of the fluid with deep breathing. Do not take more than 3 deep breaths at a time to avoid becoming light-headed.

2- Marching in place

• Sit in a chair and place your foot flat on the floor.

• Raise your hands slowly while raising 1 knee without tilting or leaning backward.

• Lower your leg and your foot to the floor.

• Repeat 10 to 15 times.

• Repeat with your other leg.

3- Sitting kicks

• Sit in a chair. Weaves, you have to keep your feet flat on the floor.

• Start with Kick 1 foot up from the floor until your leg is straight out in front of you.

• Stay in that position and count to 5 out loud.

• Lower your foot to the floor.

• Repeat 10 to 15 times.

• Repeat with your other leg.

5- Ankle alphabets

You move your feet to spell the letters of the alphabet, according to. With each foot, go through the alphabet at least 2 times.

6- Stretches

In time, you will also be willing to do some stretching exercises. These will get the muscles in the legs and hips loosened. Depending on what type of surgery you had, you will be able to do these exercises when. However, start these stretching exercises only after your doctor recommends it.

7- Calf stretch

• Sit with your legs extended before you and your legs straight out in front of you.
• Tie a towel around the football, and let it loop around the ball of one foot,
• Bring the towel gently and straighten your knee.
• Hold this position for 30 seconds.
• Repeat 5 times. Then, switch legs and repeat.

8- Hamstring stretch

Lean with your legs straight out in front of you.

To reach for your toes, keep the knees and back straight.

Hold this position for 30 seconds.

Repeat 5 times.

7- Hip stretch

Bent your knees and lie on your back.

Bring one leg over the other, bringing that leg in close to your chest.

Hold this position for 30 seconds.

Repeat 5 times. Repeat the stretch, switching legs.

 

Other Treatments for Lymphedema

Beyond the earlier mentioned options, other treatment solutions exist for this medical condition. Ask your medical staff for guidance about suitable treatment choices.

Some other treatments include:

• Scar management:  Your operation marks leave tissue scars that slow down how well fluid travels through your lymphatic system. By treating the scarred area, your physician helps it get smoother and looser. Your body will better remove fluid from your legs through this therapy.
• The blood flow of lymph fluid changes for the better if you enhance your body position.
• Applying therapeutic sports tape.

When to Call Your Healthcare Provider

Contact your healthcare provider when you have these symptoms: fever, chills, new pain, skin break tenderness or redness, or swelling in your leg that keeps getting worse.

• A fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher
• Chills
• New or unexplained pain or tenderness in your leg(s) or foot
• You sense higher body warmth within the damaged skin area of your leg
• The discoloration on your legs or feet remains obvious
• Your legs have extra swelling even though you have not strained them
• When you experience leg weight discomfort that keeps you down for longer than seven days, it is best to contact your healthcare provider.

Book Your Appointment Now at Vein Center in Arizona:

The Vein Center in Arizona provides the best treatment for lymphedema. Its professional doctors help to begin your lymphedema therapy process. The doctor will tell you if receiving lymphedema therapy is best for you.

Resources:

National Lymphedema Network (NLN) – www.lymphnet.org

• Offers guidelines for risk reduction, treatment information, and support resources for individuals living with lymphedema.

Lymphatic Education & Research Network (LE&RN) – www.lymphaticnetwork.org

• Provides educational resources, research updates, and advocacy programs for those affected by lymphedema.

Mayo Clinic: Lymphedema Overview – www.mayoclinic.org

• Includes medical insights on lymphedema symptoms, causes, treatments, and risk factors.

American Cancer Society (ACS) – Lymphedema & Cancer Treatment – www.cancer.org

• Details how cancer treatments affect lymph nodes and provides tips for managing swelling and discomfort.

Breastcancer.org – Lymphedema After Cancer Treatment – www.breastcancer.org

• Explains how to recognize, prevent, and manage lymphedema, particularly for those who have undergone cancer-related surgeries.

The Lymphedema Treatment Act (LTA) – www.lymphedematreatmentact.org

• Focuses on legislative efforts to improve insurance coverage for lymphedema treatments, including compression garments.