What is Lymphedema?

The following information is provided to better help you understand the condition of Lymphedema.

1 What is Lymphedema?

Lymphedema is a swelling of an arm or leg, (or any other part of the body) resulting from an accumulation of fluids. Lymphedema occurs when the lymph vessel system has been damaged and is not able to remove extra fluid from the tissues. The lymph system can be damaged by trauma or impaired through surgery, radiation and! or chemotherapeutic agents. This form of Lymphedema is known as “Secondary Lymphedema”. Primary Lymphedema is when the lymph vessel system is underdeveloped with too few or too many vessels or obstructed. Lymphedema can be present at birth, begin during puberty or have its’ onset as late as the age of 35.

2. What is the lymph system?

The lymph system is a mesh-like system of small vessels which takes fluid and wastes products from the tissues and organs. The lymphatic system is our defense system. It is the system that keeps us healthy.

3. How does Lymphedema occur?

When the lymph vessel system is damaged as through surgery, cancer, radiation etc, the system cannot efficiently remove the fluids from the tissues. (Like a puddle that forms after a heavy rainstorm because the drain system could not remove all the water. The system is overwhelmed)

After a time the lymph vessel system fails and fluid stays in the tissues and the arm begins to swell and not go down. As the fluids do not circulate as well, the chance for infection increases. Therefore it is of utmost importance to keep the skin intact, avoid any injuries, scraps, burns etc. that can allow bacteria to enter through the pores.

Lymphedema is a chronic and left untreated, progressive condition. It can be brought under control by appropriate treatment and care.

4. What is the treatment of Lymphedema?

Once Lymphedema has been diagnosed, treatment should begin as soon as possible. The earlier therapy is started, the better the results.

The goal of therapy is to reduce the swelling, increase the lymph flow to other areas of the body that are not affected. The gold standard of medical care is complex decongestive therapy, a four-step process usually completed in 3-4 weeks.

Bandages Plus Newsletter

(February, 2008)

The New LTU-904 Low level laser

Finally a new FDA approved Laser for Lymphedema which can assist in breaking down fibrosis in the limb! The LTU-904 Laser Therapy Unit is a hand-held battery powered treatment device, is non-thermal and delivers a controlled series of 200ns bursts of pulses of 904nm laser beam, which is in the near infrared spectrum that is invisible to the human eye. This invisible wavelength penetrates up to 2cm or ¾" into the tissue.

Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is reported to have beneficial effects on cells and tissues.  LLLT has been trialed for the treatment of fibrous scar tissue (Thelander and Piller, 2000) and has been shown to affect fibroblasts (Boulton and Marshall, 1986). These effects are important both in treating surgical scars associated with post-mastectomy lymphedema (PML) and in treating the brawny edema that often develops in lymphedematous limbs. There is also a suggestion that LLLT encourages lymphogenesis and stimulates lymphatic motoricity (Leivens, 1985; Lievens, 1991). Finally, LLLT appears to affect macrophage cells (Young et al, 1989) and to stimulate the immune system (Tadakuma, 1993). All of these actions indicate that LLLT could be an appropriate treatment for post-mastectomy lymphedema.  (the clinical trial report is available at http://www.riancorp.com/. )

During surgery for breast cancer, some of the lymph nodes in the axilla (armpit) are removed or radiated at a future time.  After surgery or radiation there can be scarring of the tissues which can inhibit lymph flow.   In addition, radiation may cause fibrotic buildup in the tissues, which also reduces the lymph flow. The swelling that eventually may occur in the arm or chest wall is known as secondary Lymphedema.  Lymphedema should always be diagnosed by a Physician and treated by a professional trained in CDP or complete decongestive therapy.

Click here to view our February newsletter on BandagesPlus.com.