Lymphostasis is ... Lymphostasis: causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

Lymphedema (also lymphostasis) is an edema or swelling of one limb (arms or legs). In rare cases, the disease affects both the upper or lower limbs.

Most often, lymphedema occurs due to the removal or trauma of the lymph nodes during the treatment of cancer. The immediate cause is the formation of a blockage in the lymphatic system, which is part of the immune system. Occlusion leads to accumulation of lymph, and consequently - to swelling.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to defeat lymphostasis. Treatment medication, like other methods of dealing with lymphedema, is aimed only at reducing edema and pain syndrome. The success of therapy depends on the timely diagnosis and good care of the affected limb.

Symptoms

Symptoms and signs of lymphostasis appear in the arm or leg and include the following conditions:

• Full or partial swelling of the arm or leg, including the fingers.
• Feeling of heaviness or stiffness.
• Limited range of movements.
• Pain sensations or feelings of discomfort.
• Recurrent infections.
• Thickening and hardening of the skin (fibrosis).

Edema caused by lymphedema may be almost imperceptible, or, on the contrary, so severe that it is very difficult to use your hand or your foot. If the cause of the disease was the treatment of cancer, lymphostasis of the limbs may appear after several months and even years after the end of therapy.

If you notice that the swelling of your legs or hands does not go away, be sure to make an appointment with a doctor.

Causes

The lymphatic system is invaluable in maintaining the health of the entire body. It is responsible for the circulation of protein-rich lymph along the body, for the collection of bacteria, viruses and toxins. The system spends lymph with these harmful substances on the vessels leading to the lymph nodes. Bacteria and slags are then filtered using lymphocytes - cells that live in the lymph nodes and are called to fight infections, and eventually are eliminated from the body.

Lymphostasis of the hand or foot occurs when the vessels are unable to remove lymph. This condition is primary and secondary, that is, develop independently (primary lymphedema) or due to another disease (secondary lymphedema). The latter type is much more common.

Causes of secondary lymphedema

Any disease or procedure that damages the lymph nodes or blood vessels can cause lymphostasis. The reasons include the following:

• Surgery. Removal or damage of lymph nodes and vessels (for example, when checking the extent of the spread of breast cancer or in an operation affecting the system of blood vessels) most often leads to the appearance of lymphedema.
• Radiotherapy of cancer. Exposure to radiation can cause scarring and inflammation of the lymph nodes or vessels.
• Cancer. A common cause of lymphedema is the clogging of lymphatic vessels with cancer cells. For example, a tumor growing in the immediate vicinity of the lymph node can increase so much that the lymph flow is blocked.
• Infection. Infection of the lymph nodes prevents normal outflow of lymph. Lymphedema caused by an infectious disease is most common in the tropics and subtropics, as well as in developing countries.

Causes of primary lymphedema

Primary lymphostasis is a very rare hereditary disease that occurs as a result of disorders in the development of lymphatic vessels. Specific reasons include:

• Milroy's disease (primary congenital elephantiasis) develops during the first months of life and causes abnormal development of lymphatic vessels.
• Mei Боa disease (primary juvenile elephantiasis) - occurs during puberty or during pregnancy.
• Primary late lymphedema is a rare case of the disease. It appears in patients older than 35 years.

Risk factors

Circumstances that may increase the risk of developing the disease after cancer treatment and other secondary causes include:

• Elderly age.
• Overweight or obesity.
• Rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis.

Complications

Lymphostasis is a serious disease that can lead to the following complications:

• Infections. Owing to lymphedema, severe bacterial infection of the skin (inflammation of the subcutaneous tissue) or lymphatic vascular infection (lymphangitis) often occurs. The slightest damage to the arm or leg can turn into a place of penetration into the body of bacteria or viruses.
• Lymphangiosarcoma. This rare form of soft tissue cancer develops in cases of strongly developed lymphostasis. Possible symptoms of cancer are blue-red and purple spots on the skin.

What should I discuss with my doctor?

Before a visit to a specialist, make several lists. You will need the following information:

• Your symptoms, including those that seem unrelated to the reason for visiting a doctor.
• Key personal data, including severe illnesses, cancer treatment or important changes in life, as well as facts directly related to the illness: whether you were cleaning lymph folk remedies, whether the effect was noticeable.
• Used medicines, vitamins and food additives.
• Questions to ask a specialist.

In this case, the list of basic questions to the doctor can be made by template:

• What is the most likely cause of swelling?
• Can not other circumstances cause swelling?
• What research needs to be done? Do I need to prepare for them?
• Perhaps the swelling will soon fall off? If not, can we make a prediction?
• How is lymphedema treated in the lower extremities?
• Are there any alternatives to the methods you proposed?
• Are there medications that can reduce swelling?
• I have other diseases. Can I treat them in conjunction with lymphedema?
• Do I need to follow a certain diet or restrict physical activity? How will this affect the lymphostasis of the arm or leg?
• Do you have brochures or printed materials that you can take with you? What websites do you recommend?

Do not hesitate to ask other questions.

What will the doctor say?

The specialist will most likely be interested in the following:

• When did the swelling begin?
• Are there any other signs or symptoms?
• Swelling for a long time does not come off or appears periodically?
• Does anything affect the nature of the swelling and symptomatology? Positive or negative?

While you are waiting for the appointed date of consultation or diagnosis, you can take some self-improvement measures on your own. As often as possible, keep the swollen arm or leg raised, protect the skin on it from damage. Lymphedema of the lower limbs can reduce pain when wounded or burned, so you should not put warmers on the swollen area of the body. Remember that you need to moisturize your skin every day.

Diagnostics

If you are at risk (for example, because of a recent surgical procedure involving manipulation of the lymph nodes), the doctor will be able to diagnose lymphedema based on signs and symptoms.

If the cause of the disease is not so obvious, the specialist will assign visualization studies to assess the condition of your lymphatic system. Diagnosis can include such methods of determining the ailment as:

• Magnetic resonance imaging. Using a magnetic field and radio waves, MRI produces 3D images in high resolution.
• CT scan. This radiographic technique allows you to create detailed images of various structures of the human body in a section. On the basis of CT, it is possible to identify the fact of clogging of the vessels and the violation of the main function of the lymphatic system.
• Doppler sonography. This variation of traditional ultrasound focuses on blood flow and pressure by applying high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) to red blood cells. Ultrasound helps to detect problems with the outflow of lymph.
• Scintigraphy of the lymphatic system. During this study, the patient is injected with a radioactive dye and then traces the movement of the substance through the body using special equipment. The resulting images show the movement of the dye across the vessels, highlighting the places of clogging.

Treatment

Lymphostasis is an incurable disease. The medical effect is aimed only at reducing edema and reducing the intensity of the pain syndrome. To this end, appoint:

• Physical exercises. Easy charging, including for the affected limb, can slightly improve the outflow of fluid and allow the patient to perform simple daily tasks, for example, to carry purchases from the store. Exercises should not strain or lead to fatigue - on the contrary, one should focus on careful muscle contraction in the arm or leg. Such activities are a natural cleansing of lymph and a way to cheer yourself up.
• Wear dressings on the affected limb. A bandage along the entire length of the arm or leg makes it easier to drain the lymph toward the center of the trunk. The tightest layers of medical bandage are put on the fingers, and then gradually weaken the tension of the matter as it moves up the limb.
• Massage. Special massage techniques can facilitate the outflow of fluid from the hand or foot, but it is necessary to contact a truly competent and responsible specialist. This method of treating the disease is not suitable for everyone. You are contraindicated in a massage if you have a skin infection, a growing cancer, thrombosis or chronic heart failure.
• Compression underwear. Long sleeves or stockings with therapeutic effect allow the fluid to leave the affected limb. Such underwear is especially useful to wear during exercise. Perhaps it will need to be made to order.

In severe form of lymphostasis, a doctor can prescribe a surgical operation to remove excess tissue in the arm or leg in order to reduce swelling.