If your arms and legs are swollen, watch out! Your lymph may be alarming…

Apart from the blood circulation in our body, there is the lymphatic circulation, which collects the fluids in the spaces between the tissues and renews these fluids continuously.

The lymphatic circulation collects the fluids found in our tissues throughout the body through channels that are too small and thin to be seen with the naked eye, and these collected fluids accumulate at certain points in our body, in areas called nodes. Later, these fluids are directed to the deep system through the nodes and reach the right part of the heart by combining with the dirty blood in the center. The lymphatic circulation has a wide variety of functions.

Adjusting and renewing the amount of fluid between tissues, absorption of food in the intestines, maturation of immune system cells, especially in the nodes (nodes), can be given as examples of these tasks.

Lymph channels at the skin level, especially in the arms and legs, can be blocked due to different reasons. Cardiovascular Surgery Specialist Assoc. Dr. Deniz Dönleme, “As a result, as a result of damage to both the channels and lymph nodes, the fluid absorption process in the tissues cannot be performed at a sufficient level and begins to accumulate.” says.

After this stage, fluids begin to accumulate, especially in the arms and legs, that is, edema occurs.

Due to the different causes of the disease, lymphedema can be seen in all age groups and genders. Since primary causes occur due to congenital anatomical disorders, they are noticed more frequently at birth or in the young age group.

WHAT HAPPENS IN THE BODY AS A RESULT OF LYMPHOEDEM?

• The edema that occurs over time triggers some changes in the body, especially in our skin.
• As a result of lymphedema, the skin begins to enlarge and thicken.
• Over time, lymphatic fluids disrupt the nutrition of the skin, and leaks and wounds begin to form on the skin.
• Arms and legs become wider and heavier; In the advanced stage, the result is difficulty in movement and scarred arms and legs. 

Cardiovascular Surgery Specialist Assoc. Dr. Deniz Dönleme states that the treatment and early diagnosis of lymphedema is very important. First of all, well-planned skin care and edema-reducing drainage therapies can be applied mechanically. In addition, edema-reducing clothes and socks can be used in the treatment of lymphedema.

Stating that lymphedema is an important health problem today, Assoc. Dr. Dönme states that lymphedema can also depress patients psychosocially as well as loss of workforce. Therefore, treatments need to be well planned. In this way, patients can return to their daily activities more easily.

TREATMENT OF SHOPPING ON ARM AND LEGS

With swellings in the arms and legs; There are also surgical treatment options in lymphedema, which manifests itself with benefits in the advanced stage. Assoc. Dr. “Alternatives to surgical treatment are possible,” says Dilemma, describing these treatment alternatives as follows:

“The veins that are too small to be seen with the naked eye are detected by means of a high-tech surgical microscope with supermicrosurgical technique, and the clogged vascular segments can be transferred to the vein circulation at the microlevel, which is also present in the tissues. This treatment method, called lymphovenous anastomosis , aims to reorganize the clogged lymphatic channels with alternating current routes. Treatment. It is promising and gives satisfactory results when done at an early stage.

Again, transplanting healthy lymph nodes taken from different parts of the body to damaged areas is an alternative solution. Since the growth of adipose tissue and subcutaneous tissues accompanies the disease in very advanced edema, supermicrosurgery may not work alone. Therefore, more aggressive treatments such as liposuction and mass removal may be needed.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIPOEDEM AND LYMPHOEDEM

Lipoedema is different from lymphedema. Lymphedema should not be confused with lipoedema seen in women, symmetrically involving the arms and legs, and accumulation of adipose tissue.

Although hormonal and genetic factors are mentioned, the main problem in lipoedema, the cause of which is not fully elucidated, is the uncontrolled growth of subcutaneous fat tissues. These patients are accompanied by lipoedema as well as obesity. Fat accumulation occurs around the face, back and waist of the patients.

The treatment of lipoedema shows some differences from the treatment of lymphedema. There are treatment methods for lipoedema such as diet practices, bariatric surgery, mass removal and liposuction.