Your Symptom: Painful Swollen Legs

If you have swollen legs that are painful you may have lipoedema

What is lipoedema?

Lipoedema is abnormal depositing of fat under the skin in certain parts of the body.

It occurs almost exclusively in women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB). Typically,  it affects the area between the waist and the ankles (buttocks, thighs,  and lower legs) and sometimes the arms. It may cause considerable tissue enlargement, swelling and pain, though this is not always the case.

Exercise and restrictive diets have very little effect on Lipoedemic fat.

How Fiveways Physiotherapy can help you:

Fiveways Physiotherapy provides professional treatment and advice to assist you in managing your Lipoedema. When you see a physiotherapist at Fiveways Physiotherapy the first priority will be to assess your limb(s) to determine whether you have this condition.

What causes lipoedema?

  • Genetic factors
    Some associated with known syndromes, some not yet identified

What triggers lipoedema?

  • Occurrence is commonly associated with periods of large hormonal changes in a woman's or  person AFAB's life, such as puberty and pregnancy

How do I know if I am developing or have developed lipoedema?

Diagnosis involves a clinical assessment. Expensive diagnostic tools like MRI, may be helpful.

Symptoms vary, and may present as a combination of some of the symptoms listed below, together with increasing severity as and if the disease progresses.
  • Symmetrical accumulation of fatty tissue in legs usually from waist to ankles.
  • Feet are not affected, with distinctive fat rings around ankles and knees (if symptoms of both lymphoedema and lipoedema (Lipolymphoedema) is present this may differ). 
  • Lipoedemic fat accumulation can occur in upper arms, with fat rings around wrists
  • Legs can be hypersensitive to touch and pressure
  • Lipoedemic fat pads accumulate on upper outer thighs, inner thighs and above, below and inside the knee –  often causing abnormal gait and joint pain
  • Hypermobility
  • Loss of the concave spaces either side of the Achilles tendon
  • Non-pitting edema and negative Stemmer’s sign on feet and hands
  • Altered skin temperature, texture and appearance
  • Bruising easily
If I have lipoedema, how should it be managed?
Each element needs to be tailored according to
  • the severity of symptoms
  • degree and complexity of tissue enlargement
  • whether there has been progression to lipolymphoedema
  • how the condition is affecting your social well-being and your mental health

Management strategies can include

  • Psychosocial support, management of expectations, and education, including family planning, pregnancy advice, and genetic counseling
  • Healthy eating and weight management
  • Physical activity and improving mobility
  • Skin care and protection
  • Compression therapy
  • Management of pain

What should I do if I notice symptoms of lymphoedema?
Seek professional advice and an informed diagnosis.
Unfortunately

  • Many medical professionals are unaware of Lipoedema
  • Lipoedema is often mistaken for obesity
  • There are there currently no known blood or urine biomarkers
  • There are currently no specific diagnostic tests for Lipoedema,

However through organisations such as Lipoedema Australia this is gradually changing.  

Lipoedema Australia has a paper especially to take to your medical professional as a referenced guide to Lipoedema. Feel free to print this out for your use.

Two other Lipoedema Australia publications many also be of use: