Lymphoedema

Apart from the system of blood vessels, there is another network of vessels in the human body: it is called the lymphatic system and consists of lymphatic vessels, lymphatic nodes and lymphatic organs. Lymph secreted in the tissues is transported through the lymphatic system and the major lymphatic branches to the venous system. Lymphatic movement is triggered by the pressure of tissue fluids, active contractions of lymph vessel walls as well as pressure from adjacent organs and muscles. Lymph creates direct communication between the cells and the blood.

Under normal conditions, lymph production and lymph drainage are in balance. Normal immune function depends, for the most part, on the lymphatic system. Two to four litres of excess water, proteins, dead cells, foreign bodies and fat are drained from the connective tissue. If this filtering function is impaired, the body will not be able to get rid of the accumulated wastes, the immune system will not be able to fight the increasing load, thus giving rise to recurrent infections. The net result is an impaired and vulnerable immune system.

If the vessels are no longer able to drain the lymph, which is produced from the interstitial fluid, persistent oedema may develop .

Oedema: Accumulation of abnormal quantities of fluid in the intercellular space in the tissues or in a body cavity, caused by inflammation, impaired or overloaded venous or lymphatic circulation, heart failure or impaired renal function. It occurs most frequently in the loose connective tissue under the skin.

A solution to lymph oedema is drainage therapy, focusing on maintenance of the lymphatic and venous circulation and drainage of accumulated oedemas. Lasting results are achieved by manual or mechanical lymph drainage (maintenance treatment for 1-3 times a week), supported by the use of medical stockings, depending on the status achieved

The severity of lymphoedema ranges from a mild swelling of the feet resolving spontaneously on rest to elephant's foot.