When a part of the body is injured, there will be a certain amount of leakage of blood from broken capillaries, as well as an infiltration of repair materials to mend the rift. This is seen as bruising and swelling. When this occurs, the lymphatic system will then increase the rate of drainage to clear out the leaked blood and damaged tissue. Once this has gone the swelling will subside. If the lymphatic system is damaged by the injury or excessive damaged tissue, some of the waste may congeal before the lymphatic system can remove it. In this case, there may be persistent swelling.

Heart failure, kidney failure, varicose veins, and arthritis are also associated with swelling. These occur for various reasons, but it is still the lymphatic system that is usually responsible for returning the fluid from the swelling back into the circulation.

What are the symptoms of lymphedema?

I have not had cancer treatment, but I have arm or leg swelling. Is this lymphoedema?

Chronic swelling that is not a result of lymph node damage can also be lymphoedema. What is Lymphoedema? Lymphoedema is simply edema (fluid retention) that results from an impairment of the lymphatic system. Various genetic (inherited) conditions result in poor development of the lymphatic system, These may become apparent at birth, at puberty, or later in life when we start slowing down or sustain an injury. The edema can range from a swollen ankle following a plane flight which persists for a couple of hours once you become active again, to grossly swollen limbs which limit movement and hygiene, and make buying clothing and footwear extremely difficult.

Chronic swelling which is caused by heart disease, liver disease, or kidney disease is not lymphoedema and should be managed by your medical specialist.

What is lymphoedema?

Lymphoedema is a swelling that results from a dysfunction of the lymphatic system. The dysfunction can be a result of:

some inadequacy in the growth or development of the lymphatic system

injury such as severe burns, lacerations, crush injuries, severe infections

medical intervention for cancer which may either result in the surgical removal of lymph nodes or radiation to lymph nodes

a particular parasitic infection

Treatment for cancer is probably the most widely recognised cause of lymphoedema in Western society

What happens when the lymphatic system is damaged?

If the lymphatic vessels are damaged, or the lymph nodes are removed, there is a backlog of protein trying to exit from the tissues, resulting in waste protein not being cleared. If this protein cannot find another pathway to an intact part of the lymphatic system, more fluid is drawn into the tissues in that area, and it appears waterlogged. That is lymphoedema.

What can “at risk” people do to limit the risk of developing lymphoedema?

“At risk” people are those people who have had some damage to the lymph nodes but have no swelling (yet). Many of these people are eager to learn ways that they can minimise the risk of developing lymphoedema.

The following methods are not foolproof, but will help some people to avoid lymphoedema:

skincare: the skin is an excellent barrier to the bugs and germs which are present around us. Healthy, supple skin will withstand a certain amount of trauma before being torn, so we advise people to moisturise the limb after showering, and more often if the skin is dry. Additionally, care should be taken to limit skin cuts and tears in the garden, the kitchen, the workshop, and around pets, avoid insect bites, and avoid sunburn. Suppose a patient has had armpit lymph nodes removed. In that case, we will normally advise against having blood taken from that arm, having vaccinations in that arm, or having intravenous drips put in that arm as occasionally these have resulted in inflammation of the vein. If it is a life-or-death situation, the lymphoedema does not become a priority.

stay cool: a hot environment will result in dilation of skin capillaries and leakage of blood fluid into the surrounding tissue resulting in some swelling in all of us. This is normally rectified at night when the temperature reduces, and the lymphatic system returns the fluid to the circulation. If the function of the lymphatic system is diminished, the swelling may not resolve in a short time. Therefore in the hot, and especially humid weather, it is better to stay in air conditioning, or somewhere cool. Also, remember to stay hydrated in hot weather.

avoid tight clothing: there is a fine network of lymphatic vessels lying between the skin and the muscle underneath. Tight clothing, rings, or watchbands (those that leave a red ring) may compress the lymph vessels and impair their drainage, especially if the assault is repeated.

maintain a healthy body weight: increased body fat will not only squeeze the lymph vessels in the skin but due to the extra blood vessels and burden on the heart, will result in more fluid leaving the blood system to be recycled by the lymphatic system. Unfortunately, some of the hormone treatments for cancer increase the appetite, so a lot of breast cancer patients find it hard to maintain their ideal weight. Exercise is probably the best way to counter this, however, fitness needs to be increased gradually to allow the lymphatic system time to increase its clearing capacity. Low-impact exercise is preferred since it is associated with lower injury levels, and rhythmical exercise rather than static holding exercise is more gentle on the lymphatic system.

wear a light but well-fitting compression garment on the limb when flying in a plane, or at a high altitude: No one is sure of the mechanism that can trigger lymphoedema at lower air pressures, but a significant number of people can trace the onset of their lymphoedema to plane flights. Wearing a compression garment is cheap insurance.

be active, flexible, and strong: the body’s mechanism for aiding lymphatic drainage is movement. Muscles working around lymphatic vessels both contracting and relaxing move the lymphatic fluid into, and then up through the lymph vessels. Tight muscles which chronically contract, and scar tissue, can create areas where lymph flow is impeded. Gentle active stretching of these tight areas can have a huge effect on overall limb swelling. Likewise, deep breathing helps to drain lymph fluid back into the blood because of the pressure change in the chest.

Can lymphedema be prevented?

Occasionally patients are angry that healthy lymph nodes have been removed or destroyed when that person has ended up with lymphoedema. Unfortunately, lymph node sampling is the least invasive, early way to determine if there is a likelihood of the tumor already having spread. If the lymph nodes are simply left when they do have tumor cells present, the resulting tumor growth will result in lymphoedema which is very hard to control. Surgical methods are improving for minimizing lymph node damage, such as a sentinel node biopsy before clearance of lymph nodes. If the sentinel lymph node is clear of tumor cells at the time of surgery, then there is a good chance that the rest of the lymph nodes will also be clear. In this case, the surgeon may elect not to complete the lymph node clearance.

Can lymphedema be treated with lymphatic drainage massage?

Lymphatic massage can be quite helpful if you have lymphedema. But it shouldn’t be your only treatment. If you wear compression garments (like socks or sleeves) to reduce fluid retention, you should keep wearing them. Lymphatic massage may not work for everyone.

Is diet an issue?

Because lymphoedema is associated with retained protein in the connective tissue, many people ask whether or not they can control it with diet. The waste protein has been digested, reassembled, integrated into body tissue and is now obsolete. So, eating a low-protein diet will not assist with controlling lymphoedema. However, a sensible balanced diet, with lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, which helps to maintain a healthy weight is recommended. However, if you are aware of food that causes bloating or discomfort, it may be better to avoid these foods.

Who treats lymphedema in Perth ?

Sam Remedial Theraphy has 14 years of lymphatic drainage massage treatment in Perth Western Australia at his clinic in the suburb of Como near the suburb of South Perth, Western Australia?

How can I get lymphedema treatment in Perth?

Book lymphedema treatment in Perth by sending a text message to phone number: 0404 071 177 or completing our online contact form.

Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3595870/