Lipedema: Shedding Light on a Misunderstood Disease

 

In our latest issue of Vein Health News, we explore a condition called lipedema. Though it’s not venous in nature, there is often a co-occurrence with venous issues and sometimes lymphedema.

Lipedema is a loose connective tissue disorder that results in an abnormal buildup of adipose (fat) cells in the limbs. These cells settle into certain areas of the body, most often in the hips and legs—disproportionately more significantly than in the upper body (although lipedema sometimes affects the arms and lower trunk). 

 

Someone with lipedema may experience pain, tenderness, swelling, or easy bruising of the affected areas. The intensity and frequency of pain can vary. The condition may be accompanied by an unusual lumpy or fibrous texture within the fat tissue that can feel like peas or walnuts beneath the surface of the skin.

 

Lipedema is estimated to affect 10 to 17 million people in the United States, primarily women. The true prevalence is likely higher due to widespread underdiagnosis. The good news is that in 2021, a group of experts in the U.S. released a “consensus guideline” to standardize care for this diagnosis. Evolving scientific research is helping to increase knowledge of and about the condition.

 

There is currently no cure for lipedema. Current treatment means management, which includes dietary changes (to reduce inflammation), exercise, compression, weight loss (for management of comorbid metabolic disease), Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD), pain management, physical therapy, and in some cases, surgery.

 

Treatment for comorbidities can sometimes help. For example,
treating underlying venous insufficiency is appropriate if it is contributing to lower leg symptoms that impair functioning.

 

At the Vein Healthcare Center, we see a number of patients who have lipedema, and we do everything we can to provide knowledge to understand the condition. Having lipedema can be physically painful, not to mention difficult to cope with emotionally. That’s why psychological and social support are just as important as physical treatment.

Click here to read the Lipedema issue of Vein Health News!

Compression: How To Put It On & Take It Off

At the Vein Healthcare Center, we've said it before and we'll keep on saying it: we love compression!

To help patients better understand how to put on and take off their compression stockings -- what they refer to in vein care as "donning and doffing" -- we've adapted this downloadable guide from our friends at medi-usa.

If you have any questions about compression, please contact us at 27-221-7799 or email info@veinhealthcare.com. If you're interested in taking the next step in vein care, click here to learn more.

Dos and don'ts for holiday healthy legs

Venous disease -- including spider veins, varicose veins, and leg ulcers -- does not stop for the holidays. But don't worry! We at the Vein Healthcare Center in Maine, have some tips to help you alleviate the symptoms of vein disease and prevent them from getting worse.

As you're out and about this holiday season, DO wear loose-fitting clothing. Santa’s red suit, for example, is roomy and comfortable and wouldn’t impede circulation in his lower body.

DO walk for at least thirty minutes a day-- like in a mall or large department store! The calf muscle contractions caused by walking can go a long way toward venous disease prevention and help keep the muscles of the lower legs healthy. And when you're out and on your feet, DO take a break every hour or so.

Now for a few DON'Ts. DON'T wear high-heeled shoes (or boots), as they shorten the muscles in your calf and prevent deep veins from working at their full capacity.

If you're taking any holiday trips long distances -- by plane, train, or automobile -- DON'T forget to wear compression stockings to keep the blood in your lower limbs moving in the right direction.

This last DON'T shouldn't surprise you: DON'T smoke. Smoking (even a corncob pipe) and exposure to second-hand smoke constricts veins and affects overall circulation.

Tips like these can help alleviate (or prevent) the symptoms of vein disease, but if you are experiencing symptoms, consider being screened by a Board-certified phlebologist like Dr. Cindy Asbjornsen. Contact us to schedule an evaluation appointment, or to find out more about vein health and treatment.

Are graduated compression stockings the same as TED hose?

In a word: no. TED hose are not the same as graduated compression stockings. There are many people who do not realize there is a difference.

T.E.D. is an acronym for Thrombo Embolic Deterrent, so T.E.D. hose are "anti-embolic" stockings. They are often worn after surgery to help prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis -- also known as DVT. They work well for this purpose, but they are only 8-15mmHg of compression. As soon as someone is out of bed post surgery and is able to stand, there is more pressure on the veins and the TED hose become much less effective. 

TED hose do not help with the symptoms of venous disease, nor do they halt the progression of venous disease.   

A graduated compression stocking prescribed for chronic superficial venous insufficiency is generally 20-30 mmHg, which means there is approximately 30mmHg of pressure at the ankle, 25 mmHg in the mid-calf, 20 around the knee, 15mmHg in the lower thigh, 10 mmHg in the mid thigh, and 5 mmHg in the upper thigh. This graduation encourages good venous return. Another difference is that, in general, compression stockings are much more tolerable to wear on a daily basis. 

Though compression stockings are much easier to put on than TED hose, they can still be difficult to put on. So if you are prescribed to wear either compression stockings or TED hose, ask your provider for tips -- or even coaching -- for how to put them on and take them off. (That's called "donning" and "doffing" in the compression business.) There are lots of online resources to guide you.

If you have any questions about compression therapy or T.E.D. hose, contact us at the Vein Healthcare Center. We're here to help!