Lymphatic fluid that remains in the skin of the arms or legs causes a type of swelling known as lymphedema. Lymphedema can also occur in the face, neck, groin, breasts and abdomen. Knowing the swelling symptoms of lymphedema is pertinent to accurately diagnosing and treating the disease. Chronic lymphedema is a disease with no cure but efficient treatment options are available, such as manual lymph drainage performed by a certified lymphedema therapist. In the United States, lymphedema mainly affects patients who have had lymph nodes removed or their lymphatic system damaged. For instance, a woman with breast cancer who has lymph nodes in her right armpit removed for biopsies may develop lymphedema in the right arm.
Common Complaints
In the early stages of lymphedema, a patient usually complains of soreness and heaviness in the affected limb. Another common complaint is a sudden tightness of usually well-fitting clothes or jewelry in the swollen body part. The patient usually does not have any pain. She may notice the distal areas are swollen before the proximal areas, meaning her hand may swell up before her forearm and upper arm. She may also notice the swelling is a gradual process that can fluctuate from day to day.
Pitting Edema
In stage one of lymphedema, the spontaneously reversible phase, pitting edema occurs in the skin. If a patient presses down on his skin with his fingertip, and an indentation remains in the pressed area, then this is pitting edema.
Non-Pitting Edema
When lymphedema progresses to stage two and stage three, the irreversible stages of the disease, the swelling becomes non-pitting. The affected skin will not pit, or form indentations, when pressed. The skin also hardens as swelling increases. The skin may thicken, resembling the exterior of an orange, called peau d'orange. The skin becomes scaly, warty, dry, cracked and prone to developing infections called cellulitis.
