Lymphedema in the legs
How to tell if you have lymphedema: Squeeze your thumb just above your knuckles for about 10 seconds. If the dent doesn't go away right away, you have lymphedema in your legs.
What you need:
- Compression stockings
- Lymphatic drainage
- gymnastics
What you should know about lymphedema
- Lymphedema is swelling of the legs that slowly increases. The back of the foot can also be swollen.
- Often lymphedema is only present on one leg.
- Lymph is the fluid in the intercellular spaces. It contains waste products, proteins and cell debris.
- The lymph fluid is transported out of the tissue in the lymph vessels and enters the venous system of the blood circulation.
- Lymphedema occurs when the lymphatic fluid is removed too slowly or too weakly.
Water retention in the legs is most often a sign of lymphatic system diseases. …
Take action against lymph congestion in the legs
- It is very important to wear compression stockings against lymphedema in the legs. In the lymphatic system - unlike in the bloodstream - there is no pump that could transport the fluid away. Compression stockings press the lymph fluid out of the tissue in the direction of the venous circulation. Wearing compression stockings is a long-term therapy.
- Get lymphatic drainage. These are special massages to stimulate the lymphatic system.
- Raise your legs at night. Put your legs up more often during the day, too.
- Let your physiotherapist show you special physiotherapy exercises for lymphedema in the legs that you regularly do at home.
- Avoid kinking or crossing your legs for long periods of time.
- Do not wear tight belts or incisive underwear and socks.
- Do not go to the sauna, not to the solarium, do not take any hot ones Baths or sunbathing and do not undergo infrared treatments.
- Water drains can help with lymphedema in the legs, but you should only use water drains for a short period of time.
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