What is Lymphedema?

A health condition that causes swelling when something negatively affects the lymphatic system is called lymphedema. While it usually affects arms and legs, it may also appear in other parts of the body. This health condition cannot be cured. That’s why the treatment goal is to relieve the symptoms, prevent serious complications, and improve your quality of life.

In normal circumstances, the lymphatic system collects excess fluid, proteins, and toxins from tissues and returns them to the bloodstream. However, in people with lymphedema, it does not work properly, which leads to excessive body fluid and swelling. Furthermore, people with lymphedema are at increased risk for infections. While some people develop this condition after surgery or certain health conditions, others may develop it spontaneously (randomly) without a known cause.

Types of Lymphedema

Healthcare professionals have divided this disorder into 2 types. These include:

Primary Lymphedema

This type of lymphedema occurs rarely and is caused by inherited disorders that negatively affect the development of the lymphatic system. Typically, primary lymphedema affects about 1 in 100,000 people in the United States. Check below some health conditions that often cause lymphedema in infancy, puberty, and adulthood:

Infancy – Sometimes, babies are born with Milroy’s disease, which is an inherited form of lymphedema.
Puberty – Meige disease (also known as lymphedema praecox) negatively affects people who are going through puberty or pregnancy until 35 years old.
Adulthood (over 35 years old) – This is also a rare form of lymphedema (lymphedema tarda) that often affects the legs.

Secondary Lymphedema

This type of lymphedema occurs when the lymphatic system is damaged from trauma, radiation therapy, or surgery. Moreover, this type is more common in people who have had breast cancer treatment. However, not everyone who has breast cancer treatment develops this disorder.

How Does Lymphedema Affect My Body?

People who suffer from this condition may have swollen arms, legs, feet, and other areas of the body. In more severe cases, this condition is painful and may negatively affect your ability to perform daily tasks.

What Are The Symptoms of Lymphedema?

While the primary symptom of lymphedema is swelling, it may also cause other symptoms. Sometimes, swelling is mild, so people may not know they have it. Check for other symptoms of lymphedema below:

Inability to see veins or tendons in the hands and feet
The skin seems puffy or red
Swelling in other parts of the body that can make you feel uncomfortably heavy or full
A feeling of burning or itching
Thick skin
The legs and arms can have small differences in size

Do not hesitate to visit a doctor if any of the previous symptoms occur. Leaving this disorder untreated may lead to unpleasant outcomes.

Causes

This disorder may occur due to multiple causes. Check some possible causes of lymphedema below:

Breast cancer surgery – In some cases, people who get treatment for breast cancer may have their lymph nodes removed under the arms, and lymph vessels may be damaged.
Pelvic surgery – During this procedure, surgeons will remove pelvic lymph nodes, which may also lead to lymphedema.
Radiation therapy – This is another cancer treatment that may cause scarring and damage to the lymphatic system. As a result, the skin becomes inflamed, which puts pressure on the lymphatic circulation system.
Trauma – Anything that damages the lymphatic system (a rich network of vessels that are located under the skin).
Infections – There are some infections that may cause damage to the lymphatic system if they are not treated.
Obesity (excessive body weight) – People who are overweight have an increased risk for lymphedema because excess fat puts extra pressure on the lymph nodes and vessels.
Lack of physical exercise – Those who are not physically active are also at increased risk for lymphedema. For instance, people who are not active may have swelling in their legs.
Tumors – If you develop a benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous) tumor, it may put pressure on the lymphatic drainage system, causing lymphedema.
Heart diseases – People with heart diseases (especially congestive heart failure) are at higher risk for lymphedema.
Blood vessel problems – Typically, blood vessels carry about 85% of fluid throughout the body. When there is something that negatively affects blood vessels (vascular system), it may lead to lymphedema.
Kidney disease – In normal circumstances, the kidneys work to remove excess fluid and waste from the body. When they do not work properly, the fluid begins to build up in the body. Not everyone who has kidney disease will develop lymphedema.

Risk Factors

While anyone can develop this condition, the following factors can increase your risk even more. Check some examples below:

Lymph node removal – In some cases, doctors remove the lymph nodes during surgery (usually during breast cancer surgeries). Thus, it may lead to lymphedema.
Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) – Those who have problems with veins (blood vessels that send oxygen-poor blood back to the heart muscle) may have excess fluid volume in the lymphatic system.
Inflammatory arthritis – If you already have rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis, the risk of developing lymphedema increases.

What Are The Potential Complications of Lymphedema?

People who leave this condition untreated may also experience some complications. Check some examples below:

Skin infections (such as cellulitis, lymphangitis, and fungal infections)
Systemic dangers (for example, sepsis, deep vein thrombosis, and others)
Permanent skin changes (including small breaks in the skin, papillomatosis, fibrosis, and others)
Lymphangiosarcoma – This is a rare and aggressive type of cancer that is also known as Stewart-Treves syndrome.
Mobility problems
Mental disorders (including anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and others)

The previous list does not contain a full list of complications. However, your doctor may help reduce the risk or even prevent them.

Is There a Way to Prevent Lymphedema?

Unfortunately, not all risk factors can be managed, but doctors may recommend some tips to reduce the risk. Check some examples below:

Specific exercises – You may need to visit a physical therapist for specific exercises that will help reduce swelling in people who undergo breast cancer surgery or other cancer treatments.
Monitor your body – If you notice a part of your body is swollen and it does not go away within a few days, do not hesitate to visit your doctor.
Raise the affected areas – For example, if your legs are swollen, it is recommended to keep them lifted above the heart.
Be active – You should aim for 30 minutes of physical exercise per day, at least 5 days a week, to keep fluids moving and maintain a healthy weight.
Avoid extreme temperatures because they can increase the risk of lymphedema.

Diagnosis

When doctors suspect lymphedema after a physical examination, they will perform the following tests to confirm or rule out this disorder. Check some examples below:

Doppler ultrasound – This test is used to examine blood flow by bouncing high-frequency sound waves. In some cases, it may help identify obstructions and rule out other health conditions that may cause swelling.
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan – This is an imaging test used to get detailed images of different tissues and organs in the body.
CT (computerized tomography) scan – This test uses X-rays to produce cross-sectional images of different structures in the body.

Once you are diagnosed with lymphedema, doctors will perform additional tests to determine the extent (stage) of the disease.

Treatment

Healthcare professionals usually prescribe different treatments (including physical treatments and surgical treatments) for people with lymphedema. It often depends on the severity, cause, and stage of the disease, overall health, age, sex, and preferences. In some cases, doctors may recommend antibiotics to treat a bacterial infection or pain medicines.

Physical Treatments

Most of the time, doctors recommend a combination of physical therapy and garments or bandages that move fluid from body parts that are affected by lymphedema. Check some options below:

Compression garments – They often include socks, sleeves, or wraps that help reduce swelling and risk of complications.
Physical therapy – During this therapy, doctors will do a gentle massage to stimulate circulation. It is called MLD (manual lymphatic drainage). They may also teach you some physical exercises that will help with fluid movement.
Multilayer compression bandaging – Physicians often recommend compression bandages to people with lymphedema after MLD.
Compression devices – There are some pneumatic compression pumps that help fluid move through lymph vessels and veins. Furthermore, these compression pumps may also reduce the risk of lymphedema complications.

Surgical Treatments

Commonly, surgical options are used when the previous treatments do not work. Any of the following surgeries is performed at specialized centers. Check some examples below:

Lymphatic bypass procedure – During this surgery, doctors will connect and reroute lymphatic vessels and veins to avoid obstructions, which allows lymph to drain into the venous system.
Lymph node transfer – In this case, surgeons will replace damaged lymph nodes with healthy ones from other parts of the body.
Debulking – This treatment option is recommended for people with severe lymphedema. It involves the removal of all skin, fat, and tissue in the affected area.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I expect if I have lymphedema?

This is a chronic (long-term) health condition that cannot be cured. That’s why the treatment goal is to reduce the symptoms, prevent serious complications, and improve your quality of life.

Is lymphedema a serious medical condition?

While most of the time it is not serious, if it is left untreated, it may significantly increase the risk of skin infections (sometimes life-threatening).

Is lymphedema a form of cancer?

No, this is not a form of cancer, but lymphedema can increase your risk of an aggressive and rare form of skin cancer called lymphangiosarcoma.

What is the difference between lymphedema and normal swelling?

Normal swelling (edema) is usually temporary and caused by things like injury, standing for long periods, or salt retention. Lymphedema is a chronic condition caused by damage or dysfunction in the lymphatic system, and it tends to persist or worsen without long-term management.

Can lymphedema spread to other parts of the body?

Lymphedema does not “spread” like an infection or cancer. However, it can develop in multiple areas of the body, especially if more than one group of lymph nodes or lymphatic pathways is damaged.

How is lymphedema staged or classified?

Lymphedema is typically classified into stages based on severity:

Stage 0 (latent): No visible swelling but lymphatic damage is present
Stage 1: Mild swelling that may improve with elevation
Stage 2: Persistent swelling with thicker tissues
Stage 3 (elephantiasis): Severe swelling with skin thickening and fibrosis

Can air travel worsen lymphedema?

Yes, air travel may temporarily worsen symptoms in some people due to changes in cabin pressure and reduced movement. Wearing compression garments and moving regularly during flights can help reduce this risk.

Is exercise safe for people with lymphedema?

Yes, regular, gentle exercise is actually recommended. Activities such as walking, swimming, and light resistance training can help improve lymph flow and reduce swelling when done properly and consistently.

Can diet affect lymphedema symptoms?

While there is no specific “lymphedema diet,” maintaining a healthy weight and reducing excess salt intake may help manage swelling. A balanced diet can also support overall lymphatic and vascular health.

When should someone with lymphedema seek urgent medical care?

Immediate medical attention is needed if symptoms of infection appear, such as increased redness, warmth, fever, sudden worsening swelling, or pain. These may indicate cellulitis or another serious complication requiring prompt treatment. If you have any other questions, ask your healthcare provider.