Resource Hub

Our trusted team at Tactile Medical wants to provide patients with the best lymphedema resources and education. Explore our resource hub to learn about lymphedema, lipedema, cellulitis edema, and more.

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stages of lymphedema; stage 0, stage 1, stage 2, stage 3 Source John Hopkins Medicine

What is Lymphedema?

The lymphatic system is a large network of lymph nodes, vessels, and organs that move lymph fluid throughout the body tissues back to the circulatory system. This network is part of your body’s immune system, and it helps filter and rid the body of toxins and waste. Lymph fluid is made up of fat, water, protein, cellular debris, and lymphocytes that are white blood cells, which help fight bacteria in the blood, and a fluid called chyle, which is found in the intestines.

What Causes Lymphedema

Lymphedema is a condition that occurs when fluid builds up in a part of your body, causing pain, swelling, and discomfort in the affected area. Lymphedema causes vary but typically occur when there’s a disruption to the lymphatic system.

Edema Guide: What Is Edema?

If you’ve ever experienced swelling in your body, whether it be your ankle, leg, or arm, you may have edema. Edema is the medical term for swelling, and it can be caused by a number of factors, such as a disease, medication, or allergy.

Lipedema Guide: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments, and More

Lipedema is a disease that occurs when there’s a buildup of fat beneath the skin, which causes an enlargement of certain parts of the body as well as pain. While lipedema is relatively rare, it’s important to know the signs and symptoms. Here’s what you need to know about lipedema, its causes, symptoms, and more.

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What Causes Lymphedema

Lymphedema is a condition that occurs when fluid builds up in a part of your body, causing pain, swelling, and discomfort in the affected area. Lymphedema causes vary but typically occur when there’s a disruption to the lymphatic system.

Lipedema Guide: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments, and More

Lipedema is a disease that occurs when there’s a buildup of fat beneath the skin, which causes an enlargement of certain parts of the body as well as pain. While lipedema is relatively rare, it’s important to know the signs and symptoms. Here’s what you need to know about lipedema, its causes, symptoms, and more.

Edema Guide: What Is Edema?

If you’ve ever experienced swelling in your body, whether it be your ankle, leg, or arm, you may have edema. Edema is the medical term for swelling, and it can be caused by a number of factors, such as a disease, medication, or allergy.

Lymphedema Guide: What Is Lymphedema?

Lymphedema is a progressive disease where an abnormal amount of fluid accumulates in a localized region of the body. The lymphatic system is often referred to as the main filter for waste products in the body such as toxins, fat, and cancer cells. When the lymphatic system becomes damaged or congested due to lymph node removal or damage to lymph vessels, it can no longer successfully perform its job of filtering toxins and waste from a specific part of the body and this results in swelling, known as lymphedema.

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Lymphedema

Whether you’re looking to understand the causes of lymphedema or are in search of how to manage your symptoms, our lymphedema blog can provide you with the resources you need. Explore our blog for trustworthy lymphedema information and solutions.

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What is Lymphedema?

The lymphatic system is a large network of lymph nodes, vessels, and organs that move lymph fluid throughout the body tissues back to the circulatory system. This network is part of your body’s immune system, and it helps filter and rid the body of toxins and waste. Lymph fluid is made up of fat, water, protein, cellular debris, and lymphocytes that are white blood cells, which help fight bacteria in the blood, and a fluid called chyle, which is found in the intestines.

What Causes Lymphedema

Lymphedema is a condition that occurs when fluid builds up in a part of your body, causing pain, swelling, and discomfort in the affected area. Lymphedema causes vary but typically occur when there’s a disruption to the lymphatic system.

Edema Guide: What Is Edema?

If you’ve ever experienced swelling in your body, whether it be your ankle, leg, or arm, you may have edema. Edema is the medical term for swelling, and it can be caused by a number of factors, such as a disease, medication, or allergy.

Lipedema

Our lipedema hub shines a light on many common lipedema questions. Whether you’re looking for information on causes, symptoms, or treatments, our lipedema resources can provide you with the information you need.

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Lipedema Guide: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments, and More

Lipedema is a disease that occurs when there’s a buildup of fat beneath the skin, which causes an enlargement of certain parts of the body as well as pain. While lipedema is relatively rare, it’s important to know the signs and symptoms. Here’s what you need to know about lipedema, its causes, symptoms, and more.

Lipedema vs. Cellulite: What Are the Differences?

Our skin is the largest and one of the most important organs in our body. With that said, there are several medical conditions that can affect our skin and change its appearance. Two common skin conditions are lipedema and cellulite, which can make the skin look bumpy, uneven, and swollen. While these two conditions may appear similar on the surface, they’re completely different from one another. For example, lipedema can cause symptoms like pain and decreased mobility, while cellulite is purely cosmetic and poses no health concerns.

What you Need to Know About Lipedema

Lipedema is a chronic, progressive condition. That means it cannot be cured, and often gets worse over time. However, when identified early and treated consistently with in-office and at-home treatments, lipedema symptoms can be managed effectively.

Select a body region to learn more:

Head and Neck

Upper Body

Lower Body

In many cases, the sooner you treat chronic swelling, the better for your long-term health. Our at-home therapy is designed to treat your swelling on your own time to help you get back to living your best life.

Review The Clinical Evidence

General

Our general edema resource hub provides information and solutions for lymphatic swelling. Explore our general edema resources below for information on edema causes, symptoms, and treatments.

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How to Talk to Your Doctor About Swelling

Your doctor might be your strongest ally in finding appropriate treatment for your swelling. Consider making an appointment specifically to discuss your swelling rather than as part of another visit so that you have enough time to get the help you need.

Signs Your Swelling Might be Caused by an Underlying Condition

When it comes to symptoms like swelling, diagnosis of an underlying condition can be a process. This is particularly true for primary care physicians who treat a wide range of issues, which means it may take more than just one short appointment to pinpoint the cause of swelling.

Why Tracking Symptoms Matters

Knowing exactly which symptoms you have, how long you’ve had them, and how they are progressing can help doctors identify the cause of your swelling and put you on a path to managing your condition.