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Swelling

Left leg swelling

Swelling of the affected area

Swelling in the arm

Edema

Unilateral leg swelling

The problem area has swollen

Not seeing your symptoms? No worries!

What is Lymphedema?

When the lymphatic drainage system gets damaged or blocked, lymph fluid accumulates in the body's soft tissues, causing swelling. This can occur anywhere in the body, but it's most commonly seen in the arms and legs.

Typical Symptoms of Lymphedema

Diagnostic Questions for Lymphedema

Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:

  • Have you ever had pelvic surgery?
  • Have you ever been diagnosed with skin cancer?
  • Have you been diagnosed with bladder cancer?
  • Have you ever been diagnosed with ovarian cancer?
  • Have you been diagnosed with cervical cancer?

Treatment of Lymphedema

There is no cure for lymphedema. The swelling and complications can be reduced with the help of medication, compression bandages/garments, massage, exercise, surgery, and other therapies.

Reviewed By:

Caroline M. Doan, DO

Caroline M. Doan, DO (Internal Medicine)

Dr. Doan received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from UCLA. Prior to obtaining her medical degree, she was involved in oncology clinical research at City of Hope, a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in southern California. She attended medical school at Touro University California, and completed her residency in Internal Medicine at Oregon Health & Science University. She is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and holds an active medical license in several states. She currently works as a physician for Signify Health providing home-based health care.

Yoshinori Abe, MD

Yoshinori Abe, MD (Internal Medicine)

Dr. Abe graduated from The University of Tokyo School of Medicine in 2015. He completed his residency at the Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Longevity Medical Center. He co-founded Ubie, Inc. in May 2017, where he currently serves as CEO & product owner at Ubie. Since December 2019, he has been a member of the Special Committee for Activation of Research in Emergency AI of the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine. | | Dr. Abe has been elected in the 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Healthcare & Science category.

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Content updated on Mar 31, 2024

Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy

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With a free 3-min Lymphedema quiz, powered by Ubie's AI and doctors, find possible causes of your symptoms.

This questionnaire is customized to your situation and symptoms, including the following personal information:

  • Biological Sex - helps us provide relevant suggestions for male vs. female conditions.

  • Age - adjusts our guidance based on any age-related health factors.

  • History - considers past illnesses, surgeries, family history, and lifestyle choices.

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Diseases Related to Lymphedema

FAQs

Q.

Feeling Swollen? Why Your Lymphatic Drainage is Stalled & Medical Next Steps

A.

There are several factors to consider: lymphatic drainage can stall after cancer surgery or radiation, infections, obesity, venous insufficiency, inactivity, or genetic issues, causing persistent limb swelling, heaviness, and skin tightness. Next steps include urgent care for red flags like sudden one-leg swelling, chest pain, shortness of breath, or fever, and medical evaluation for ongoing symptoms with evidence based treatments such as compression, certified manual lymphatic drainage, exercise, skin care, and weight management; important nuances, tests, and when-to-treat details are outlined below.

References:

* Al-Ghabkari A, Al-Ojaimi AM, Al-Saffar E, Aldosari MM, Al-Qanbar Z, Al-Saad M, Al-Abduljalil F, Al-Khamees O, Al-Habeeb B, Al-Hajji R, Al-Musleh H, Al-Ghannam J, Al-Shammar R, Al-Qattan H, Al-Suleiman Y, Al-Hashim H, Al-Nasser S, Al-Abdulkarim E, Al-Hashim M, Al-Jishi A. Lymphedema: A clinical overview. Front Physiol. 2023 Mar 1;14:1145293. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1145293. PMID: 36923485; PMCID: PMC10013093.

* Greene AK, Maclellan RA. Lymphedema: Advances in Diagnosis and Treatment. J Clin Med. 2021 Feb 17;10(4):799. doi: 10.3390/jcm10040799. PMID: 33671231; PMCID: PMC7923769.

* The International Society of Lymphology Consensus Document. The diagnosis and treatment of lymphedema. Lymphology. 2021 Mar;54(1):1-18. PMID: 33939615.

* Mehrara BJ, Greene AK. Lymphedema: Pathophysiology and current treatment. Semin Cell Dev Biol. 2019 Jul;91:107-113. doi: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2018.11.008. PMID: 30465809.

* Rockson SG. Diagnosis and conservative management of lymphedema. J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord. 2020 Jan;8(1):128-141. doi: 10.1016/j.jvsvl.2019.09.006. PMID: 31735508.

See more on Doctor's Note

Q.

Feeling Swollen? Why Your Lymphatic System Is Stalling & Medically Approved Next Steps

A.

Feeling swollen, puffy, or heavy may mean your lymphatic system is slowed or blocked, called lymphedema, often after cancer treatment, infections, obesity, venous disease, or injury; concerning signs include one-sided persistent swelling, skin thickening, and recurrent infections, and emergencies include sudden severe swelling, painful redness, chest pain, or shortness of breath. There are several factors to consider; see below to understand more, including details that may change your next steps. Medically approved actions include getting a proper diagnosis to rule out clots and organ causes, then using compression, manual lymphatic drainage, targeted exercise, diligent skin care, weight management, and sometimes pneumatic devices, while detoxes and quick fixes do not work.

References:

* Witte MH, Witte CL, Deysine M. The lymphatic system in diagnosis and therapy. Lymphology. 2019 Mar;52(1):1-10. PMID: 30896434.

* Grada AA, Phillips TJ. Lymphedema: A review of current treatments. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017 Oct;77(4):774-781. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.02.049. Epub 2017 Mar 29. PMID: 28365111.

* International Society of Lymphology. Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of lymphedema: An update from the International Society of Lymphology. Lymphology. 2021 Sep;54(3):95-121. PMID: 34694938.

* Schook CC, et al. Lymphedema: Advances in Diagnosis and Treatment. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2021 Dec 22;148(6):1042e-1053e. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000008544. PMID: 34863339.

* Rockson SG. Drug Therapies for Lymphedema: Promises and Pitfalls. J Clin Med. 2023 Feb 15;12(4):1588. doi: 10.3390/jcm12041588. PMID: 36836021; PMCID: PMC9960243.

See more on Doctor's Note

Q.

Always Swollen? Why Your Lymphatic System Is Failing + Medical Steps

A.

Persistent puffiness or limb heaviness often points to lymphatic dysfunction, with causes ranging from lymphedema and venous insufficiency to obesity, infection, or heart, kidney, and liver disease. There are several factors to consider; see below for evidence based steps like getting the right diagnosis, compression and manual lymphatic drainage within CDT, movement and weight management, skin care, and treating root causes, plus why detox products do not fix this and when to seek urgent care for redness, pain, chest symptoms, or shortness of breath.

References:

* Rockson, S. G., & Rivera, K. K. (2014). Lymphedema: Pathophysiology and Clinical Management. *Circulation, 130*(20), 1837–1846. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.114.009122

* Mortimer, P. S., & Rockson, S. G. (2023). Lymphedema: Diagnosis and management. *Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology*, *88*(2), 261–270. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2021.05.011

* O'Donnell, T. F., Jr, & Rockson, S. G. (2020). Genetics of primary lymphedema: from isolated lymphedema to lymphedema-associated syndromes. *Lymphatic Research and Biology*, *18*(4), 312–323. doi:10.1089/lrb.2019.0069

* Ciudad, P., & Chen, H. C. (2020). Surgical treatment of lymphedema: current and future perspectives. *Journal of Surgical Oncology*, *121*(5), 786–797. doi:10.1002/jso.25853

* Greene, A. K., & Rockson, S. G. (2022). Lymphedema: current concepts and management. *Journal of the American College of Surgeons*, *235*(2), 329–340. doi:10.1097/XCS.0000000000000216

See more on Doctor's Note

Q.

Need Lymphatic Drainage Massage? Why Your Body Is Swelling & Medical Next Steps

A.

Swelling can stem from temporary fluid buildup or from medical conditions. Lymphatic drainage massage helps with lymphedema and some post-surgical swelling, but avoid it if there may be a blood clot, active infection, or unstable heart, kidney, or liver disease. Watch for red flags like sudden one-sided leg swelling with pain, or swelling with shortness of breath, and seek urgent care; for persistent or unclear swelling, get a medical evaluation while trying elevation, movement, salt reduction, and doctor-recommended compression, and see the complete guidance below since there are several factors to consider that can change your next steps.

References:

* Wlodarczyk RM, Blaya R, Mrozikiewicz-Rakowska B. Differential Diagnosis of Lower Limb Edema. J Clin Med. 2023 Dec 15;12(24):7699. PMID: 38137358.

* Greene AK, Tan W. Lymphedema: Pathophysiology and Clinical Management. Annu Rev Med. 2021 Jan 27;72:115-129. PMID: 33857508.

* Varol A, Unal D. Efficacy of manual lymphatic drainage in lymphedema: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Rehabil. 2020 Feb;34(2):161-172. PMID: 31235300.

* Rios A, Krouse RS. Edema: Diagnosis and Management. Am Fam Physician. 2018 Jul 15;98(2):98-105. PMID: 29994917.

* Scallan JP, Davis MJ, Castorena-Gonzalez JA. The lymphatic circulation: a historical perspective and update. Microcirculation. 2021 Mar;28(2):e12686. PMID: 33314272.

See more on Doctor's Note

Q.

Swelling Won’t Stop? Why Lymphedema Happens & Your Medical Next Steps

A.

Persistent limb swelling that does not improve with rest may be lymphedema, a chronic buildup of lymph fluid from damaged or underdeveloped lymph vessels often after cancer treatment, infection, injury, obesity, or venous disease, with early signs like heaviness, tightness, and skin thickening. There are several factors to consider; see below for causes, warning signs, and how doctors confirm it. Next steps include prompt medical evaluation to rule out emergencies such as a blood clot and confirm the diagnosis, then individualized management with compression, manual lymph drainage, exercise, skin care, weight management, and in select cases surgery; there are key details that can change your next steps, so see the complete guidance below.

References:

* Rockson SG, Slavin S, Witte MH. Lymphedema. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2021 Jul 22;7(1):50. doi: 10.1038/s41572-021-00281-9. PMID: 34294879.

* Tew S, Balasundaram P, Al-Hajje A, Adas G, Ghiam Z, Naimer S, Patel M, Liew A. Lymphedema: A Review of the Pathophysiology and Treatment. Biomedicines. 2023 Feb 16;11(2):595. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines11020595. PMID: 36831191; PMCID: PMC9953942.

* Cheung MC, Shaitelman SF. Lymphedema: A Review of Current Approaches to Diagnosis and Treatment. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2020 Jan;18(1):122-132. doi: 10.6004/jnccn.2019.7289. PMID: 31900481.

* García-Díaz A, Fernández-Rodríguez S, Valdés-Díaz S, Suárez-Cadenas E, Secades-Suárez R, Del Busto-Rodríguez J. Lymphedema: Update on Diagnosis, Imaging, and Management. Lymphat Res Biol. 2022 Dec;20(8):723-731. doi: 10.1089/lrb.2022.0019. Epub 2022 Oct 26. PMID: 36287955.

* Padgett FE, Adkins TN, Korus SM, Smith JL, Mlodzienski A, Johnson J, Johnson T, Kimbrough M. Multidisciplinary Management of Lymphedema: A Narrative Review. Healthcare (Basel). 2023 Aug 24;11(17):2400. doi: 10.3390/healthcare11172400. PMID: 37685651; PMCID: PMC10487770.

See more on Doctor's Note

Q.

Does Lymphatic Drainage Massage Actually “Detox”? The Truth

A.

It does not detox your body; your liver and kidneys do that, while lymphatic drainage massage simply supports lymph flow and can reduce swelling in conditions like lymphedema, improving comfort but not flushing toxins from organs. There are several factors to consider, including when it actually helps, who should avoid it, and better ways to support real detox such as hydration, nutrition, movement, and sleep; see the complete details below to guide your next steps.

References:

* Klein, A. V., & Kiat, H. (2015). Detoxification and Cleansing: A Medical Review. *Journal of Environmental and Public Health*, 2015, 760618. [PMID: 26097151]

* Oliver, G., Kipnis, J., & Harvey, N. L. (2020). The lymphatic vasculature in the 21st century: a emerging paradigm in basic and biomedical sciences. *Cell*, 182(2), 273-294. [PMID: 32679024]

* Scallan, J. P., Huxley, V. H., & K. M. (2016). Anatomy and physiology of the lymphatic system. *Advances in Physiology Education*, 40(2), 163-175. [PMID: 27207626]

* Pereira, M. P., & de Azevedo, L. R. (2018). Manual Lymphatic Drainage: Evidence and Mechanisms. *Frontiers in Physiology*, 9, 1374. [PMID: 30459639]

* Vairo, G. L., & Silva, R. F. (2016). Manual lymphatic drainage: current evidence and recommendations. *Physical Therapy in Sport*, 22, 45-50. [PMID: 27297920]

See more on Doctor's Note

Q.

Lymphatic Drainage Massage: What It Is, Benefits, and Who Should Avoid It

A.

Lymphatic drainage massage is a very gentle, light-pressure technique that helps guide lymph flow and may reduce swelling, support lymphedema care and post-surgical recovery, and promote relaxation when done by trained professionals; it is a supportive therapy, not a cure. It is not appropriate for everyone, especially with active infection, uncontrolled heart failure, recent or active blood clots, active cancer without oncologist approval, severe kidney disease, or fever. There are several factors to consider; see below for important details that could shape your next steps and talk with a clinician about whether it is safe for you.

References:

* Ezzo J, Manheimer E, Torriani FJ, et al. Manual lymphatic drainage for lymphedema secondary to cancer treatment: a systematic review. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2015 Oct;50(4):495-508.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2015.05.003. Epub 2015 May 29. PMID: 26037048; PMCID: PMC4600109.

* Vairo GL, Biondo C, Piccina M, et al. Manual lymphatic drainage and its physiological effects: a systematic review. J Physiol Sci. 2022 Sep;72(1):31. doi: 10.1186/s12576-022-00868-y. Epub 2022 Jul 30. PMID: 35905108; PMCID: PMC9337095.

* Lawenda BD, Mondry TE. Manual lymphatic drainage: current evidence and future directions. Transl Oncol. 2020 Jun;13(6):100780. doi: 10.1016/j.tranon.2020.100780. Epub 2020 Apr 1. PMID: 32243542; PMCID: PMC7111059.

* D'Souza S, Ramezani A, Johnson AR, et al. Manual Lymphatic Drainage as a Treatment for Lymphedema: A Narrative Review. Lymphatic Research and Biology. 2023 Dec;21(6):634-644. doi: 10.1089/lrb.2023.0039. Epub 2023 Sep 27. PMID: 37762696.

* Cho Y, Kim CW. Manual Lymphatic Drainage in Lymphedema Treatment: A Narrative Review. J Korean Med Sci. 2022 Mar 21;37(12):e93. doi: 10.3346/jkms.2022.37.12.e93. PMID: 35334139; PMCID: PMC8942973.

See more on Doctor's Note

Q.

Women: Lymphatic Drainage for Bloating—What Helps vs What’s Hype

A.

For bloating, gentle lymphatic drainage can help when puffiness is due to fluid retention, hormones, or long sitting, and it works best alongside walking, deep breathing, and good hydration. It does not burn fat, detox the body, cure digestive disorders, or fix gas or constipation, and any slimming is usually a short-lived fluid shift. There are several factors to consider, including when to try at-home techniques, when to see a certified therapist, and which warning signs mean you should see a doctor. See the complete, step-by-step details below to guide your next steps.

References:

* Sharma S, Maithani M, Sharma B, Singh G, Panwar K. Effectiveness of Manual Lymphatic Drainage in Reducing Abdominal Bloating and Ascites in Patients with Cancer: A Systematic Review. Cureus. 2023 Feb 26;15(2):e35508. doi: 10.7759/cureus.35508. PMID: 36984639; PMCID: PMC10041417.

* Karakus P, Karaa M, Koutlas K, Karakus K. The Intestinal Lymphatic System: A New Player in Gastrointestinal Disease. Cells. 2020 Jun 25;9(6):1548. doi: 10.3390/cells9061548. PMID: 32600295; PMCID: PMC7356262.

* Häger K, Lindgren L, Bergström M, Fick T. The Interplay Between Gut Microbiota and the Lymphatic System. Cells. 2022 Apr 28;11(9):1478. doi: 10.3390/cells11091478. PMID: 35560195; PMCID: PMC9098935.

* Smith LA, Bradley SJ, Pimentel M. Abdominal Bloating and Distension: A Narrative Review. Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2021 May;17(5):232-243. PMID: 34108871; PMCID: PMC8172911.

* Rehal S, Harvey NL, D'Souza WN. Visceral Adiposity and Impaired Lymphatic Function: A Mechanistic Link to Metabolic Disease. Front Physiol. 2022 Mar 22;13:843346. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2022.843346. PMID: 35391910; PMCID: PMC8982357.

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Maxwell J. Nanes, DO

Maxwell J. Nanes, DO

Emergency Medicine

Waukesha Memorial Hospital, Waukesha Wisconsin, USA

Caroline M. Doan, DO

Caroline M. Doan, DO

Internal Medicine

Signify Health

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Benjamin Kummer, MD

Neurology, Clinical Informatics

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

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Charles Carlson, DO, MS

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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

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Dale Mueller, MD

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Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery Associates

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Ravi P. Chokshi, MD

Obstetrics and gynecology

Penn State Health

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References