Lipedema: Causes And Treatment Options
Initially, this disease can be confused with cellulite, but it is a chronic disease that can lead to uncomfortable pain and other ailments.
Lipedema is a chronic disease that particularly affects women. The subcutaneous fatty tissue on the legs increases slowly but steadily.
As the disease progresses, the proportions of the upper and lower body change and no longer match.
In contrast to cellulite, lipedema can also affect the calves and ankles and lead to intense pain.
Lipedema: a challenge in everyday life
Sara is 29 years old and led a completely normal life until she became a mother. After giving birth, she started a strict diet to help lose the weight she gained during pregnancy.
But after a few months, her body changed in unusual ways:
- She lost weight at the hips, arms and upper body and was able to regain her original figure. But more and more fat accumulated on the hips and legs.
- After a year and a half she could barely walk and was suddenly confined to a wheelchair.
The doctors diagnosed lipedema . Sara had never heard of this illness that radically changed her life.
Possible causes of lipedema
There are very few objective and conclusive studies of the causes of this disease and the accumulation of fat in the legs, arms or face (in the case of men).
It is assumed that genetic factors lead to this, which are influenced by a changed metabolism, inflammation or a disturbed hormonal balance.
What symptoms are caused by lipedema?
The abnormal storage of fat can begin as early as puberty. It often happens after pregnancy or during menopause.
The first symptoms to become noticeable in this chronic disease are:
- Pain or tenderness in the affected tissue areas when walking, making contact or when resting.
- Fat deposits in the legs from the hips to the knees or ankles.
- The feet are not affected.
- The accumulation of fat leads to lumps that put pressure on the joints and, as the disease progresses, restrict movement.
- The skin loses its elasticity.
- There is increased edema and bruising.
After these initial symptoms, the following symptoms can also occur after a few months:
- Constant feeling of cold
- fatigue
- Altered skin texture (tender, fine, or rubbery skin)
- Chronic pain and gradual loss of mobility
These complaints and the changed appearance lead to exhaustion, anger and sadness. It can also develop into depression over time.
Lipedema: treatment options
As mentioned earlier, this disease has nothing to do with poor diet or unhealthy lifestyle habits.
For those affected, the chronic complaints are very limiting and exhausting. Treatment must be tailored specifically to the individual needs of each patient. Psychological therapy is also very important.
Weight loss diets or fasting cures are not the solution for this disease. There is also no specific pharmacological treatment that can stop fat storage.
Mostly, patients with lipedema are treated with the following therapies:
- Compression bandages used daily to help reduce fat. These are special bandages or compression stockings.
- Manual lymph drainage
- Pressotherapy
- Shock wave therapy
- Mesotherapy
- Radiofrequency therapy
As we mentioned earlier, liposuction (liposuction) isn’t always helpful. In many cases this can have negative effects, because the fat is deposited again after a short time.
Many patients get good results with regular swimming. But everyone has to find the best strategy for themselves.
Patients have to learn to accept the changes in the body and to approach therapies with optimism, because unfortunately there is no definitive solution for lipedema as yet.
