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Lymphoedema

Lymphoedema · Lymfedém

What it is

Lymph drainage fails; protein-rich fluid swells the limb permanently.

Symptoms & signs

  • One-sided swelling
  • heaviness
  • skin thickening
  • positive Stemmer sign
  • repeated cellulitis

🚩 Get help if…

  • call 112 / 911 now Red, hot limb with high fever, shivering or confusion
  • see a doctor soon Spreading redness and warmth in the swollen limb
  • see a doctor soon Sudden increase in swelling or a new lump
  • see a doctor soon Swelling with leaking fluid or skin breaks

Where it strikes

Medical treatment

  • Complete decongestive therapy
  • compression garments
  • manual lymphatic drainage
  • lymphovenous bypass
  • node transfer

Natural & lifestyle

  • Skin care to prevent cellulitis
  • exercise in compression
  • weight loss
  • avoid injury to the limb

Emerging & experimental

  • Vascularised lymph node transfer
  • VEGF-C therapy
  • liposuction for the fat component

Alternative, off-label & anecdotal

Approaches used outside the guidelines, with what their supporters report and what testing has found so far.

  • Low-level laser therapy — small trials show less swelling early / small studies
  • Selenium — small trials, less swelling and fewer infections early / small studies
  • Deep breathing and yoga — may help drainage; trials small mixed evidence
  • Coumarin-type herbs (sweet clover) — traditional; liver toxicity reported anecdotal / traditional

ICD codes