Lymphedema and Other Conditions

Information to help the reader understand the relationship between lymphedema and other medical conditions that may be present at the same time.

Lipedema

Lipedema is an inherited (genetic) circulatory disorder that affects mostly women and it rarely affects men.

Lipedema is characterized by abnormal fatty deposits located just below the skin.
This excess fat extends starting at the waist, down the hips, and along the legs to the ankles.

Lipedema is also known as painful fat syndrome, because patients with it so often complain of pain when the shin bone is touched.

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Lymphedema and Diabetes

When a patient has both diabetes and lymphedema, this creates a double threat to the affected tissues and approperate treatment for each conditions is essential. <more...>

Lymphedema Compared with Chronic Venous Insufficiency

The abbreviation C.V.I. stands for chronic venous insuffiency Bookmark & Shareand this is a condition in which the veins have difficulty returning blood from the legs to the heart.

• C.V.I. and lymphedema are similar in that both conditions involve swelling of the lower legs.
• Printer-friendly versionBeyond this similarity their symptoms, and treatment, are quite different.
• Recognizing these differences is essential to understanding how and why each condition must be treated appropriately.

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Lymphedema Compared with Congestive Heart Failure

C.H.F. is the abbreviation for Congestive Heart Failure which is a disorder in which the heart can not  pump enough blood to adequately meet the needs throughout the body.

• Lymphedema does not cause congestive Heart Failure; however, it can make CHF worse. 
• Right-sided heart failure can cause lymphedema to develop in the feet and legs. Should this occur, lymphedema treatment must be modified to accommodate the CHF condition.

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Shingles -- Are you at Risk?

Shingles is a painful skin rash caused by the varicella zoster virus (VZV). This is the same virus that causes chickenpox that unpleasant disease so many of us had as children.

Usually the virus does not cause any further problems; however for about 25 percent of all healthy adults this virus can reappear years later (usually after age 40) causing the painful, tingling, itching skin rash known as shingles.

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Swollen Lymph Glands

The term “swollen glands” should properly known as "swollen lymph nodes" because it refers to an abnormal enlargement of one or more lymph nodes. Swollen glands alone are not a symptom of lymphedema instead they are most commonly caused by an infection. <more...>