Good news, these conditions are not life-threatening on their own. However, if undiagnosed or untreated, they will worsen over time and may contribute to several other secondary ailments and complications. If you have signs of swelling, and pain in your body, especially in your legs and arms, seek treatment starting with your primary care physician. Ongoing care of lipedema and lymphedema with a vascular expert lessens the risk of other serious problems.
Hearing the terms lipedema and lymphedema sound strange and Googling them can be downright scary.
For instance:
- These conditions over time can limit movement such as walking, climbing stairs, and even dressing without assistance
- Cause a lot of wear and tear on weight-bearing joints, like your back, which can lead to degenerative joint disease, chronic joint pain, and a need for joint replacements
- Increase your risk for accidents, lightheadedness, or fainting when you stand up (POTS) due to hypermobility, or difficulty walking/moving
- Mental health issues are often experienced such as eating disorders, body dysmorphia, social anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, self-harm, and more
Remember, you are in control of how you manage your health and well-being. Educate yourself and do not hesitate tol ask for help. A great resource for emotional support from the comfort of your home is https://www.mind-diagnostics.org. A study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley found online counseling can be just as effective as face-to-face therapy while being more convenient, affordable, and accessible.
Sources:
https://www.healthgrades.com/right-care/symptoms-and-conditions/lymphedema
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8353-lymphedema
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/postural-tachycardia-
syndrome/#:~:text=Postural%20tachycardia%20syndrome%20(PoTS)%20is,as%20postural%20orthostati
c%20tachycardia%20syndrome
https://www.aapmr.org/about-physiatry/conditions-treatments/pain-neuromuscular-medicine-
rehabilitation/degenerative-joint-disease
https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/body-
dysmorphia/#:~:text=Body%20dysmorphic%20disorder%20(BDD)%2C,affects%20both%20men%20and%
20women.
https://www.betterhelp.com/study/Study_of_BetterHelp_eCounseling.pdf
