Lymphedema, which most frequently affects the arms or legs but can also occur in the chest wall, abdomen, neck, and genitals, is a term for tissue swelling brought on by an accumulation of protein-rich fluid that is typically drained through the lymphatic system of the body.

Lymphedema can be brought on by cancer treatments that destroy or remove lymph nodes, by any issue that prevents lymph fluid from draining, by problems with your lymphatic system’s lymph nodes, or by any other condition.

Treatment options for severe cases of lymphedema may include compression bandages, massage, compression stockings, sequential pneumatic pumping, careful skin care, and, rarely, surgery to remove swollen tissue or to create new drainage routes. Severe cases of lymphedema can affect the ability to move the affected limb, increase the risks of skin infections and sepsis, and can lead to skin changes and breakdown.

Symptoms

Some indications and symptoms of lymphedema are:

• finger or toe swelling, as well as swelling of the entire arm or leg
• a sensation of weight or constriction
• Restricted range of motion
• Recurring infections
• Skin that has become thicker and harder (fibrosis)

Causes

A network of vessels known as the lymphatic system, which is a component of the immune system, transports protein-rich lymph fluid throughout the body. Lymph nodes serve as filters and are home to cells that fight cancer and infections.

Lymphedema develops when the lymph vessels are unable to adequately drain lymph fluid, typically from an arm or leg. The lymph fluid is pushed through the lymph vessels by muscle contractions as you move through the activities of your day and small pumps in the wall of the lymph vessels.

Lymphedema’s most frequent causes include:

• Cancer.Lymphedema may result from the obstruction of lymph vessels by cancer cells, such as when a tumor grows close to a lymph node or a lymph vessel and becomes large enough to obstruct the flow of lymph fluid.
• Radiation treatment for cancer.Lymph nodes or lymph vessels may become inflamed or scarred as a result of radiation.
• Surgery.However, lymphedema is not always the result of lymph node removal during cancer surgery, which is done to determine whether the disease has spread.
• Parasites.Infection with worms that clog lymph nodes is the most frequent cause of lymphedema in tropical developing nations.

Less frequently, inherited illnesses that prevent the lymphatic system from developing normally cause lymphedema.

Risk factors

Lymphedema risk factors could be caused by a number of things, such as:

• Older age
• Excess weight or obesity
• Rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis

Complications

Lymphedema complications may include:

• Skin infections (cellulitis).Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to keep on hand so that you can begin taking them right away. Affected skin appears swollen and red and is usually painful and warm to the touch. The trapped fluid provides fertile ground for germs, and the smallest injury to the arm or leg can be an entry point for infection.
• Sepsis.Sepsis, a potentially fatal condition that develops when the body’s response to an infection damages its own tissues, can be brought on by untreated cellulitis and necessitates immediate medical attention.
• Leakage through the skin.In cases of extreme edema, the lymph fluid may blister or drain through microscopic skin tears.
• Skin changes.The skin of the affected limb can thicken and harden in some people with extremely severe lymphedema until it resembles elephant skin.
• Cancer.The most severe lymphedema cases that go untreated can lead to a rare type of soft tissue cancer.

Diagnosis

Your doctor may make a lymphedema diagnosis based on your signs and symptoms if you have lymphedema risk factors, such as if you recently underwent lymph node-related cancer surgery.

Your doctor may prescribe imaging tests to examine your lymph system if the cause of your lymphedema isn’t immediately apparent.

• MRI scan.An MRI creates high-definition, three-dimensional images of the affected tissue using a magnetic field and radio waves.
• CT scan.CT scans can identify lymphatic system blockages by producing fine-grained, cross-sectional images of the body’s structures.
• Ultrasound.This examination can assist in identifying obstructions in the lymphatic and vascular systems by using sound waves to create images of internal structures.
• Lymphoscintigraphy.In this test, a radioactive dye is injected into the patient, who is then imaged by a machine.

HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT

CALCAREA IODIDE 30The strange symptom of hardness in the glands is treated well by calcea iodide, which is also a great preventative measure.

CALCAREA FLOUR 6x–Another effective treatment for glandular swelling is calerea flour. Enlargement of the bronchial and mesenteric glands is also common, and it is worse in wet weather and improves with hot fomentations and rubbing.

CALCREA CARB 30Another odd sign for choosing Calcarea carb is sweat on the head that is sour and offensive.

SCROPHULARIA NODOSA Q– Scrophularia is a powerful treatment for nodules in the breasts and is a great way to treat glandular inflammation and suppuration.

GRAPHITES 30The abdomen is large and hard, and the axilla, groin, and neck glands are enlarged. Graphites is very effective for these symptoms.

BELLADONNA 30-For heavy, red, sensitive mammae swellings or axillary swellings that threaten suppuration, as well as those with red streaks radiating from the inflamed gland with great heat and stitching pains, belladonna is a very effective remedy.

LAPIS ALBUS 30Lapis albus treats a variety of growths, including mesenteric gland enlargement.

IODUM 200Iodum is one of the best treatments for enlargement of glands, including tonsils, with wilting of the entire body, muscles contracting, and all skin wrinkling, with the exception of dwindling mammary glands.

CARBO ANIMALIS 30Another effective treatment for glandular swellings is carbo animalis. These hard, non-suppurating glands do not swell much or enlarge at all.

ACONITUM LYCOTONUM 30-Aconitum lycotonum is effective for swollen mammary, axillary, and cervical glands as well as in cases where Hodgkin’s disease has been suspected.

It works well in conjunction with belladonna to treat painful, hard, and red glands that are inflamed. **MERC IODIDE 30-**

AETHUSA 30-Aethusa is also helpful for glandular swelling, which is characterized by the growth of glands that encircle the neck like a string of beads.

PHYTOLACCA DEC. 30-For breast tumors with enlarged axillary glands and glandular swelling accompanied by heat and inflammation, phytolacca dec. is very effective.

**GELSEMIUM 200-**Gelsemium is also helpful for enlargement and inflammation of the lymphatic gland, which manifests as a fever without thirst that begins between ten and eleven in the morning and disappears entirely by eight in the evening.

BROMIUM 30One of the best treatments for glandular swelling is bromium, which is also helpful for testicular swelling due to the hardness of the glands without a tendency to suppurate.