Every person has experienced swelling of the legs and arms at least once in their life. Excessive loads, uncomfortable or new shoes - all this can lead to temporary "swelling" of the limbs. Typically, these symptoms do not last longer than 12 hours. Another thing is if the legs are constantly in a swollen state. In this case, we are talking about pathological lymphatic edema - lymphostasis.
What is the disease
Lymphostasis is called an excess of fluid that accumulates in the tissues of the subcutaneous tissue and is not excreted in the normal mode (there is no outflow). Edema can appear on both the lower and upper limbs, but it is the legs that most often suffer.
Lymphostasis belongs to the category of progressive sluggish diseases. However, this does not mean that when edema appears, it should be ignored. If the lymphatic vessels are affected, then this will cause minimal harm to the body, but in the event of problems in the large ducts, the tissues will begin to deform. In advanced cases, doctors diagnose developing lymphedema in patients (this ailment requires more complex treatment).
Lymphedema of the arm is extremely rare and usually fromit affects the fair sex at the age of 35.
Reasons
Most often, lymphostasis develops against the background of varicose veins, thrombophlebitis, thrombosis and trophic ulcers. Also, pathology is diagnosed in the elderly and in those who lead a sedentary, sedentary lifestyle. Lymphatic edema of the legs often occurs in disabled people. Also, this disease can lead to long bed rest and impaired circulation.
In addition, at risk are people suffering from:
- congenital insufficiency of lymphatic vessels;
- cancerous tumors;
- heart failure;
- injuries and burns of the upper and lower extremities;
- venous insufficiency of chronic type;
- arterial and venous fistulas;
- streptococcal lesions;
- inflammation of the skin of the hands and feet;
- serious kidney pathologies;
- failures in the endocrine system.
In addition, lymphedema of the extremities may develop due to radiation therapy sessions.
Lymphostasis of the hands is most often manifested after surgery. This ailment occurs predominantly in women who have undergone surgery to remove part of the pectoral muscles.
Symptoms and stages of development
There are 3 degrees of manifestation of lymphstasis:
- Reversible spontaneous edema (limfedema). This is the easiest stage of the disease, which manifests itself in the form of regular swelling of the legs in the evening. Generally, all symptomspass after a night's rest. Edema of this type is clearly visible and usually appears after heavy physical exertion on the limbs. The swollen area is easily palpated. At the initial stage of development, the disease is treated with conservative methods and does not have a devastating effect on the body.
- Irreversible spontaneous edema (fibriderma). The middle stage of lymphostasis is characterized by hardening of the skin. This is due to the growth of connective tissue. Such edema is clearly visible to the naked eye. They are very hard, when you press on the inflamed area, the patient feels severe pain due to the stretched skin. Edema of this type is considered running. It does not disappear after rest. Due to the bodices frozen in the vessels, new symptoms begin to develop - convulsions and fatigue of the affected limb.
- Irreversible swelling (elephantiasis). This stage of lymphostasis is the most severe. Due to severe tissue damage, the limb is deformed, becomes heavier and becomes almost immobile. The outflow of lymph is completely disturbed. In diseased tissues, foci of fibrocystic lesions appear. Elephantiasis is not curable and in some cases fatal.
Is lymphostasis dangerous
The initial stages of the disease do not pose a high danger. However, it must be taken into account that lymphoedema affects the quality of life of the patient. The affected limbs hurt quite a lot, in addition to this, infectious diseases develop against the background of the disease. If the skin on a swollen leg bursts, then dangerous bacteria can enter the body through the wound, which will lead toto a whole "bouquet" of new ailments.
When prolonged swelling occurs, you need to visit a doctor as soon as possible.
Diagnosis
First of all, the doctor examines the limb with lymphedema and determines the stage of development of the pathology. After that, a number of diagnostic measures are prescribed, which allow you to more accurately determine the degree of tissue damage, foci of inflammation and possible complications:
- urine and blood tests;
- vein scan;
- ultrasound;
- lymphography.
In some cases, a CT or MRI is done. Based on the data received, the doctor prescribes a course of medications and procedures.
Lymphedema Treatment
In order to cure the disease, it is necessary to restore the outflow of lymph from the limbs. Most often, swelling is removed by a non-surgical method, through compression therapy, massage and medication. At more advanced stages, surgical intervention is required - reconstruction of the lymphatic drainage pathways.
Regardless of the degree of the disease, the patient should regularly visit an angiosurgeon and treat diseases of the kidneys, heart and venous vessels in time.
Drugs
From lymphatic swelling of the legs, there are many different medications that can be both aggressive and more conservative. To restore normal lymph circulation, reduce vascular permeability and increase their elasticity, it is recommended to take the following pills:
"Troxevasin" and "Detralex" are phlebotropic drugs that stimulate the outflow of excess fluid from the blood and tissues
- "Wobenzym" and "Flobenzym" - belong to the category of enzyme preparations that increase immunity and reduce swelling.
- "Coumarin" is a benzopyrone that reduces puffiness and thins the blood.
- "Lymphomiazot" - a homeopathic remedy that restores the outflow of fluid. Also, when it is taken, the removal of toxins from human blood is accelerated. This drug is considered the most harmless. It can be safely taken to treat lymphatic swelling of the legs in the elderly and pregnant women.
In addition to these drugs, doctors prescribe diuretics, antiplatelet agents and immunomodulators. It will not be superfluous to start taking vitamin complexes (P, PP and E), which reduce vascular permeability.
Doctors are not against folk remedies for edema if they are taken in conjunction with the prescribed course of treatment.
Traditional medicine
In order to relieve lymphatic edema at home, you can prepare simple decoctions and apply compresses. Here are some actionable recipes:
- Compress of honey and onion. To prepare it, you need to chop one onion and add 1 tablespoon of tar to the resulting mass. After that, a little honey is poured into the mixture. Such a compress should be applied at night.
- Honey-garlic tincture. To prepare it, you need to chop 250 g of garlic. After that, the resulting mass is mixed with 300 mlliquid honey and infused in a dark cool place for 7 days. Take the infusion once a day before meals, 1 tablespoon. The course of treatment is 2 months.
- Decoction of plantain. To prepare it, you need to brew 1 teaspoon of herbs with a glass of boiling water. The course of treatment is 2 months. A decoction of 70 ml is taken daily before meals.
- Royal jelly. From this natural product, you can make compresses or drink it in its pure form. If you mix royal jelly and honey in equal proportions, this will enhance the effectiveness of the product.
If the legs are constantly swollen in the evenings, then it is recommended to take baths with a succession. 6 tablespoons of dry grass are added to 2-3 liters of boiling water. After that, you need to wait until the liquid cools down a bit, and the string swells. When the temperature of the water drops a little, it is necessary to lower the swollen leg into the bath for 20 minutes. You can perform such procedures 3 times a day, but not more than 3 weeks.
Physiotherapy
In addition to medications and traditional medicine, physiotherapy is good for lymphedema, which includes:
- massages;
- compression bandages;
- physiotherapy exercises.
Massage procedures are one of the most effective methods that will get rid of discomfort. To perform this procedure, it is not necessary to visit cosmetic or medical centers. You can remove a small swelling at home. To do this, you need to rhythmically massageskin of the swollen area. Movements should be smooth, no more than 12 clicks per minute. Massage is often not recommended. Limbs should be massaged no more than 1 hour a day.
However, do not get carried away with self-medication, as any unpleasant symptoms can be signs of more dangerous diseases. Therefore, it is worth consulting with a doctor and clarifying whether this pathology is dangerous.
