What is Lymphedema?

It is a disease that manifests itself with swelling in the arms or legs due to various reasons due to blockage of drainage in the lymph channels, which are the body’s waste network. This progressive chronic disease has serious effects on the quality of life of patients. In addition to aesthetic concerns, lymphedema can cause serious discomfort and significantly affect the quality of daily life of patients, as it can affect the ability to perform daily tasks.

Why Does It Happen?

Lymphedema is classified as primary or secondary. Primary lymphedema is caused by developmental lymphatic vascular anomalies. Secondary lymphedema is acquired later and occurs as a result of an underlying systemic disease, trauma or surgery.

The most common cause of secondary lymphedema is cancer surgery and lymph node removal followed by radiotherapy. The natural course of cancer-related lymphedema is characterized by increased limb circumference, thickening, inflammation, abnormal fat accumulation and, ultimately, significant skin disorders that increase the risk of recurrent skin infections.

How is it diagnosed?

A definitive diagnosis is made with a lymphoscintigraphy examination performed on patients with swelling in the arms and legs. Doppler ultrasonography is also helpful in distinguishing it from venous edema.

How is it treated?

The classical treatment is lymphedema drainage, a special type of massage, and bandaging the swollen limb. Other types of massage and vibration massages do more harm than good, increasing lymphedema as they increase blood circulation. Pneumatic compression overall-shaped devices also increase lymphedema.

In the regulation medicine approach, in addition to classical treatment, Neural Therapy is the main treatment for the purpose of regulating parasympathetic activity and increasing lymphatic drainage. In addition, it shows a therapeutic effect by reducing the biophysical stress loads created by the disruptive fields.

Since the cleaning of toxins accumulated in the connective tissue will significantly increase lymph drainage, a comprehensive detox program should be applied according to the patient’s toxic loads.

Regulation of fluid intake and nutrition is also important.

There is no pump in the lymphatic system as in the circulatory system. In other words, the heart does not provide circulation in the lymphatic system. Lymph circulation occurs mainly through muscle movements and the parasympathetic part of the autonomic nervous system.