Presentation
This tumefactive presentation of lipedema has not been previously described. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
"Lipoedema: From clinical presentation to therapy. A review of the literature". British Journal of Dermatology. 161 (5): 980–6. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2133.2009.09413.x. PMID 19785610. [en.wikipedia.org]
Entire Body System
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Pain
Pain was evaluated with a 10-item questionnaire, a pain rating scale (PRS), and the Wong-Baker Faces scale. Treatment resulted in a significant reduction of pain with a decrease in mean scores of all three measures. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Pain in affected areas likely Pain in affected areas No pain initially No pain Pain is likely Affected population: Best estimate is 11% adult women (study done in Germany) Unknown; best estimate is a few percent of adult women Low 30% of US adults 30% [en.wikipedia.org]
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Weight Gain
After years of weight gain, pain, and swelling, you're finally diagnosed with lipedema – a common but "enigmatic" disease of the peripheral fat. [news-medical.net]
Although weight loss may not help, prevention of additional weight gain is important, as any weight gain to the affected body areas becomes difficult to treat. Emotional support is often overlooked. [journals.sagepub.com]
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Leg Swelling
In each group, the results were dismal as leg swelling worsened or was unchanged in greater than 90% whereas symptoms such as heaviness, fatigue, cramps (termed varicogenic symptomatology) were improved in less than 10%. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Keywords: lipedema, leg swelling, lipodystrophy, localized adiposity, lower extremity liposuction This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. [dx.doi.org]
Symptoms include painful legs and symmetrical leg swelling ending abruptly just above the ankles, known as the ‘cut-off sign’, as seen in Figure 1. [journals.sagepub.com]
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Leg Edema
Brautigam, P., Foldi, E., Schaiper, I., Krause, T., Vanscheidt, W., and Moser, E. (1998) Analysis of lymphatic drainage in various forms of leg edema using two compartment lymphoscinctigraphy. Lymphology 31, 43-55 20. [lipomadoc.org]
Clinical use of indirect lymphography in different forms of leg edema. Lymphology 1988;21:152160. 16. Tiedjen KU, Schultz-Ehrenburg U. Holzmann H, Altmeyer P, Hör G. Isotopenlymphographische Befunde beim Lipödem. [journals.lww.com]
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Hypothermia
Abstract Lipedema is a chronic vascular disease almost exclusively of female sex, characterized by the deposit of fat on the legs, with an "Egyptian column" shape, orthostatic edema, hypothermia of the skin, alteration of the plantar support, and negativity [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Areas affected: Buttocks, legs, thighs, arms Areas not affected: Hands, feet, upper torso Pain: Present with pressure Pitting edema: No Stemmer’s sign: No Orthostatic edema: Present, particularly in warmer months Other signs: Fat pad at medial ankle, hypothermia [consultqd.clevelandclinic.org]
Karen Herbst, an international expert in lipedema and other fat disorders has also added the following criteria: Hypothermia of the involved skin Involvement of the upper extremities/arms in 30% of patients Worsened swelling with orthostasis in the summer [prsinstitute.wustl.edu]
[…] issues that can accompany Lipedema and I have listed some of them here: pain and tenderness on pressure, uncontrollable weight gain, venous insufficiency, lymphedema, hypermobility, cellulitis, digestive issues, numbness, joint pain, painful lipomas, hypothermia [gofundme.com]
Skin
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Petechiae
Decongestive therapy resulted in a significant reduction of the number of petechiae while no change was detected within the control group. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Upon examination, petechiae were noted in both lower extremities and a lipoma was observed under the right knee joint ( Fig. 1, 2 ). [dx.doi.org]
Side effects can include pain, bruising, and petechiae (broken blood vessels). [lymphaticnetwork.org]
According to studies, decongestive treatments significantly reduce capillary fragility and the number of petechiae, as well as the mean limb volume in patients with lipedema[33]. [parjournal.net]
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Alopecia
Microscopically, there are dermal and septal edema, adipocyte degeneration, and numerous mast cells, features held in common with lipedematous alopecia. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Musculoskeletal
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Leg Pain
This is usually bilateral (affects both sides) and symmetrical (occurs evenly) The feeling of fatty ‘nodules’ underneath the skin Bruising occurs easily and is often unexplained Legs are sensitive to touch Deep throbbing pain in legs, pain in knee joints [allthingsholistic.net]
*Horse chestnut capsules relieve leg pain and swelling. *Bio-rutin improves circulation and keeps capillaries open. It also stops the bruising and bleeding so common with lipedema. *Cayenne Pepper will also stop the bleeding caused by lipedema. [alignlife.com]
Lipedema Other names Lipoedema, lipödem, lipalgia, adiposalgia, adipoalgesia, adiposis dolorosa, lipomatosis dolorosa of the legs, lipohypertrophy dolorosa, painful column leg, painful lipedema syndrome A very advanced case of lipedema of the right leg [en.wikipedia.org]
Symptoms: Symptoms vary significantly by person, not all people have all symptoms : - Symmetrical presentation, involving both legs - Pain in soft tissues at rest, and upon walking or when touched; hypersensitivity to touch - Accumulation of lipedemic [tawfiksefriouimd.com]
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Buttock Pain
Yet there are many telltale symptoms, including: Fat deposits on the legs, thighs and buttocks. Painful legs. Swelling that doesn’t indent if you apply pressure to it (called non-pitting edema). [health.clevelandclinic.org]
Neurologic
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Dysesthesia
The pre/post-treatment VAS mean score changes were: heaviness from 4.57 3.46 to 2.43 2.57 (-47%), dysesthesias from 1.71 2.63 to 0.71 1.50 (-58%), pain from 1.57 2.57 to 0.57 0.79 (-64%). [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Key signs and symptoms include: • feeling of heaviness in the legs (aching dysesthesia) • easy bruising • sensitivity to touch (called “painful fat syndrome”) • orthostatic edema • oatmeal-like changes to skin texture. [woundcareadvisor.com]
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Radiculopathy
The patient was a 45-year-old woman with chronic back pain, worsening bilateral L5 radiculopathy, and degenerative disc disease. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Workup
Further diagnostic tests are usually reserved for special cases that require additional workup. Lipedema is a chronic, progressive disorder marked by the individual variability and unpredictability of its clinical course. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
We can assess your circulation in our non-invasive cutting edge vascular lab as part of your workup to ensure that any issues with blood flow can be addressed, and it is part of your workup at our centers. [nycsurgical.net]
Consideration for the following differential diagnosis for lipedema can be helpful when embarking upon further workup to determine proper clinical management. Figure 3 Algorithm for workup in patients presenting with lower extremity enlargement. [dovepress.com]
Treatment
The treatment continued for a month. [dx.doi.org]
We therefore aimed to measure pain intensity prior and subsequent to treatment. 38 women with lipedema were enrolled in the study with 19 patients undergoing treatment and 19 serving as the control group using exclusively moisturizers. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Tell patients with lipedema and their caregivers about treatment of this condition. Construct assessments, treatment plans, and management options for patients with lipedema. [doi.org]
Prognosis
Obesity is an important risk factor for the severity and prognosis of lipedema. Further studies for a better understanding of the pathogenesis of lipedema and in the end possible curative treatments are urgently needed. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Active treatment for lipedema is required because early diagnosis and treatment can determine the patient's long-term prognosis. [dx.doi.org]
Etiology
Lipedema is an underdiagnosed syndrome of unclear etiology, characterized by symmetric painful enlargement of the buttocks and lower extremities, which spares the feet. This enlargement is caused by the deposition of adipose tissue. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Epidemiology
In this review, we sought to review and identify information in the existing literature with respect to the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, and management strategies for lipedema. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
As a result, the true number of women with lipedema, or its epidemiology, is unknown. [lipedema.org]
This review aims to outline current evidence regarding lipedema epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, and management. [onlinelibrary.wiley.com]
Epidemiology Although there is no epidemiological data on the prevalence of lipedema, Földi described a prevalence of 11% in women, is extremely rare in men. Herpertz reports that lipedema accounted for 15% of patients in a lymphedema clinic. [diseasesdic.com]
As a result, the true number of women with lipedema, or its epidemiology, is unknown. Braving these challenges is an active, numerous, and engaged patient community eager to participate in lipedema research. [philanthropy.milkeninstitute.org]
Pathophysiology
Abstract PURPOSE: To enhance the learner's competence in caring for patients with lipedema through understanding the differential diagnoses, pathophysiology, and treatment/management options. [doi.org]
To enhance the learner's competence in caring for patients with lipedema through understanding the differential diagnoses, pathophysiology, and treatment/management options. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Furthermore, consistent information on lipedema pathophysiology is still lacking, and an etiological treatment is not yet available. [onlinelibrary.wiley.com]
Pathophysiology of Lipedema (Strossenreuther, 1999) There are many histological and physiological changes that occur in lipedema. There is a decrease in the elasticity of the skin and underlying connective tissue. [eurolymphology.org]
Prevention
Compression CAN help prevent disease progression. Since compression can help maintain smaller limb volume, and increased limb volume exacerbates the condition, it can be helpful in preventing lipedema progression. [torontophysiotherapy.ca]
Prevention There is no known way to prevent lipedema. Some treatments, both conservative and surgical, may help some people postpone or prevent symptom worsening sometimes. [diseasesdic.com]
Tumescent liposuction is the most effective treatment for Lipedema, and it can prevent recurrence for an average of five years. [stanfordhealthcare.org]
From these findings it is concluded, that a release of lipid peroxidation (LPO) products from edematous dermis is an important sclerosis-preventing effect of SWT and/or CPDT in lipedema and cellulite. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
This blockage prevents the proper drainage of lymph fluid, leading to a buildup of fluid called lymphedema. [saludaldiamagazine.net]