Lymphostasis - What Is It? Stages, Causes, Symptoms And Treatment Of Lymphostasis

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 17:49

Lymphostasis of the lower extremities: treatment, symptoms, causes

What is lymphostasis?

Lymphostasis is a pathology of lymph outflow of varying degrees, ranging from lymphatic capillaries and peripheral lymphatic vessels of the limbs and other organs to the main lymphatic collectors and the thoracic duct. A large number of people have faced such a problem as limb edema. Any inflammatory process is accompanied by pain and swelling. However, this phenomenon is not permanent.

It is much worse when the edema is constant, when the disease progresses, ulcers appear, and the disease develops - lymphostasis. Edema of the lymphatic vessels occurs, which causes the development of acute or chronic lymphostasis. As a result, an increase in the volume of the limb, the skin becomes rough, dense, the subcutaneous tissue becomes denser, then hyperkeratosis and cracks. This disease is also called elephantiasis. Chronic lymphostasis, turning into elephantiasis, can develop due to many reasons. If elephantiasis is congenital, then it is combined with vascular spots, various forms of limb dysplasia.

Content:

• Lymphostasis stages
• Causes of lymphostasis
• Is lymphostasis dangerous?
• Lymphostasis treatment
• How to eat properly with lymphostasis?

Lymphostasis stages

There are 3 stages in the development of lymphostasis.

1. Spontaneous reversible edema lymphostasis. The edema is quite noticeable, you can press on it with your finger, this is lymphostasis in the stage of progression. The patient sees a significant increase in the volume of the limb, in the morning the edema subsides, but in the evening it becomes the same. At this stage of the development of the disease, a person very rarely goes to the doctor.
2. Spontaneous irreversible edema is the most advanced form of lymphostasis. The hardening of the skin occurs through the growth of connective tissue, for this reason, the edema is no longer so soft. The skin is very taut, and very sensitive, with more tension, pain is already felt.
3. Irreversible edema, lymphostasis, fibrosis, cysts. The diseased limb changes its contour due to damaged tissues. Lymphostasis takes the extreme stage of elephantiasis.

The limb becomes poorly mobile due to the development of an installation contracture, a large weighting of the limb, deforming osteoarthritis; all this violates the function of the limb.

Causes of lymphostasis

The causes of chronic lymphostasis are as follows: traumatic occlusions, ruptures, intersections of the lymphatic pathways due to injuries (bruises, fractures, dislocations, burns, operations), X-ray therapy, with compression by scars, tumors, metastatic block of lymphatic pathways and nodes.

Other causes of lymphostasis are:

• tumors of the lymphatic system - benign and malignant;
• infections - usually staphylococcal and parasitic (in hot countries);
• it happens that lymphostasis develops during operations, with special removal or irradiation of the lymph nodes during the elimination of a cancerous tumor;
• injuries in which lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes are damaged (burns, radiation exposure, mechanical damage).

Is lymphostasis dangerous?

Lymphostasis does not pose a particular danger to human life, although hand edema negatively affects the quality of life. Very often the patient feels pain in the swollen arm. Another disadvantage of this disease is that various infections rapidly develop against its background. Through any minor wound on the skin, the infection can penetrate the tissues very quickly.

Video: surgeon phlebologist-lymphologist Ekaterina Kadnikova, phlebology center, will tell you about lymphostasis:

Lymphostasis treatment

Lymphostasis of the lower extremities requires treatment. The sooner it is started, the better for the patient. The therapy is complex, in order to achieve an effect, an integrated approach is needed. The treatment regimen includes medication, diet, massage, etc. The main goal facing the doctor and patient is to improve the outflow of lymph from the lower extremities.

Conservative therapy helps to improve a person's well-being only at an early stage of the development of the disease, which corresponds to the phase of lymphedema. In this case, the patient should not have structural changes in the skin and connective tissues.

Therapy for lymphostasis depends on the cause that led to the development of the pathology. For example, if a tumor grows in a person's pelvic area, then until it is removed, the treatment will not bring the desired effect. As it grows, the pressure on the lymphatic vessels will become stronger.

Recommendations for the treatment of patients with general lymphostasis:

• It is forbidden to visit the sauna and bathhouse, as well as to be under the sun for a long time. Heat promotes vasodilation, which leads to a deterioration in the outflow of lymph.
• It is forbidden to wear high-heeled shoes, as this increases the load on the lower limbs. Shoes should not be laced too tightly, as this results in compression of tissues and blood vessels, which aggravates the course of the disease.
• Long-term static loads on the lower extremities are contraindicated in patients with lymphostasis. You should not stand or sit for a long time.
• You need to give up lifting weights.
• Underwear and clothing should not be too tight. The person should feel comfortable. In addition to the fact that things that restrict movement disrupt the lymph flow, they also rub the skin. This is a prerequisite for the development of trophic disorders.
• You will need to forget about the position in which one leg is on the other.
• You should not walk without shoes. Any damage to the foot will take a long time to heal.
• When taking a bath, you need to use special oils, for example, Balneum Plus. Then it is recommended to rub creams into the skin of the legs, which help to increase its natural strength.
• If the lower limbs sweat a lot, then you need to use powders. For this purpose, talc or starch can be used. This procedure is an excellent prevention of trophic disorders.
• Toenails should be neatly trimmed.
• During the massage of the legs, kneading should be abandoned.

Compression treatment and kinesiotherapy

Compression therapy involves applying pressure to the skin and tissues of the affected limb. It should increase in the direction from the foot to the lower leg and reach the thigh. A woman during the day should keep her leg on the dais at least from time to time. During sleep, the limb is placed on a pillow so that it is at an angle of 45 ° C.

To implement compression therapy, a patient with lymphostasis will need elastic stockings and bandages. They are worn in the morning while still in bed. All fingers are systematically pulled, and then they move to the lower leg and thigh of the leg. They spend the whole day with bandages. They are removed only before going to bed.

Pneumatic compression is another type of compression therapy. The treatment is carried out using a special apparatus. With its help, the leg is squeezed, working through each section. The procedure begins by putting a special boot on the patient's limb. Air is injected into it by the apparatus, which will massage the leg in the direction from the foot to the thigh. A full course consists of 10-14 procedures. Each session should end with some simple exercises.

Kinesiotherapy is a combination of massage and exercise therapy. Massage allows you to remove excess fluid from the tissues, stimulates metabolic processes, enhances microcirculation in the lower extremities. It is no secret that in patients with lymphostasis, large molecular substances are formed in the cells, which do not allow lymph to circulate normally. Massage helps to partially cope with this problem.

It must be remembered that trophic skin lesions are a contraindication to massage. It is also forbidden to perform the procedure for venous thrombosis of the lower extremities, for diseases of internal organs and for tumor neoplasms. It is good if the massage is performed by a specialist. Although in the early stages of the development of the disease, self-massage is acceptable. To prepare your feet for the procedure, it is recommended to take a bath and apply a special cream to the limbs.

You need to start the massage with stroking movements. They should follow the lymph flow, that is, from the bottom up. The first phase of the massage lasts about 5 minutes. Then the tissues of the limb begin to rub and press. Self-massage is completed with pats. The total duration of the procedure should be 15 minutes. The course lasts 2 weeks, after which they take a break of 14 days. To consolidate the effect of the massage, you need to jump on your toes, or pull-ups on your toes. They are performed 10-15 times.

Exercise therapy is an essential component of the treatment of lymphostasis. Exercises are performed for 5-10 minutes and at least 2 times a day. You need to study on the floor.

Simple exercises such as:

• Exercise "bike". Do it with both feet.
• Lifting the limb up and rolling the foot in this position.
• Flexion of the toes.
• Rotation of the limb in the area of the knee and hip joint.
• Drawing the number 8 with your feet in the air.

Any exercise should be done in elastic stockings.

Scandinavian walking and swimming are equally beneficial to your health.

Taking medicines

The drugs that are used to treat lymphostasis should have a complex effect.

Therefore, the patient is prescribed drugs from different groups:

• Venotropic: Detralex, Troxevasin gel, Troxerutin gel. Their use improves blood and lymph circulation, improves vascular tone and restores lymph flow.
• Enzymes: Wobenzym, Phlogenzym. They boost the immune system, eliminate tissue swelling, relieve inflammation and prevent blood clots from forming.
• Benzopyrones: Coumarin. It is prescribed for severe edema, to thin the blood, to activate macrophages and stimulate proteolytic enzymes. Calcium Dobezilate has a similar effect as Coumarin.
• Homeopathic remedies: Lymphomyosot. It enhances metabolic processes, helps to normalize lymph flow and allows you to quickly remove harmful substances from the body.
• Angioprotectors. For lymphostasis, horse chestnut extract is used: Venitan, Eskuzan, Aescin. Preparations based on it help to normalize the tone of the veins, reduce their permeability. Thanks to this effect, the liquid does not go beyond the vascular bed and edema does not develop.
• Diuretics Diuretics are taken only under medical supervision.
• Antiplatelet agents: Trental, Curantil. These drugs make the blood less viscous.
• Antibacterials and remedies for inflammation. They are used when pronounced tissue trophic disorders develop. This is manifested by ulcerative defects, eczema, erysipelas.
• Immunomodulators: Amber acid, Likopid, Eleutherococcus tincture. They are taken to increase the body's defenses, as well as to strengthen the vascular wall.
• Solcoseryl. This drug allows you to cope with edema, accelerates tissue regeneration, increases vascular tone.
• Vitamins: C, E, PP, R. They are aimed at strengthening blood vessels, making their walls more durable, and act as antioxidants.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy methods enhance the effect of other procedures.

With lymphostasis, treatment can be prescribed such as:

• Vascular electrical stimulation.
• Laser treatment.
• Treatment with magnetic fields.
• Amplipulse therapy.
• UFO autologous blood. The procedure is reduced to a transfusion of your own blood after it has been treated with ultraviolet light.

How to eat properly with lymphostasis?

It will not be possible to cope with lymphostasis without correction of nutrition. This issue is of particular relevance for patients diagnosed with obesity. It is important to reduce your salt intake, as excess salt in the body leads to fluid retention. Also, doctors recommend giving up spicy foods. They cause thirst, a person begins to drink a lot of water, which contributes to increased edema.

The daily water intake for patients with lymphostasis is 2 liters. It is recommended to replace coffee and black tea with herbal infusions. You can drink compote without sugar, as well as fruit drink. Soda water is excluded.

The less often foods appear on the menu - sources of simple carbohydrates, the better. Buns, sweets, pastries and other sweets should be replaced with useful counterparts. If you want baked goods, then it should be made from wholemeal flour. Bran should be present on the menu. Porridge must be boiled in water, or diluted in half with milk. Useful for people with lymphostasis such cereals as: corn, millet, yak.

Vegetables and fruits should be included in the diet daily. They are stewed and baked. It is good to eat a variety of fresh salads. Vegetable oil is chosen as a dressing. Animal fats are reduced to 10 g per day. The more they enter the body, the worse the outflow of lymph becomes. While vegetable fats in the menu increase up to 20 g. Animal fats not only aggravate the course of lymphostasis, but also contribute to the development of atherosclerosis.

Proteins are needed by the body to build new cells and to boost immunity. The best sources of animal protein are dairy products, organ meats and seafood. Vegetable proteins can be obtained from buckwheat, beans, nuts.

Article author: Mochalov Pavel Alexandrovich | d. m. n. therapist

Education: Moscow Medical Institute. IM Sechenov, specialty - "General Medicine" in 1991, in 1993 "Occupational Diseases", in 1996 "Therapy".