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Symptoms of Lymphedema



The symptoms of lymphedema include:

• Swelling in the extremities, shoulders or the chest. The swelling may occur for the first time after some form of trauma to that area or after an infection or a long airplane trip.
• A redness or pain in the arm or leg.
• A heavy sensation in the arms or legs.
• A decrease in the flexibility of the moveable joints.
• Difficulty fitting into clothes.
• Watches, rings or bracelets that suddenly do not fit or are very tight.
• Tightness in the skin.
• Recurring infections in that limb.
• A hardening and thickening of the skin on the arms or legs.

The swelling caused by lymphedema can vary from a mild and barely noticeable swelling to a swelling that makes it impossible to use the limb. If caused by surgery, the symptoms may appear at any time after, even a few years.