Symptoms Lymphedemas can occur as the consequence of congenital malformation within the lymphatic system. A lack of lymphatic vessels is often the reason. Such so-called “primary lymphedemas” frequently develop during the first half of life. It is extremely rarely that lymphedemas already exist from birth. If a lymphatic system that had been absolutely intact suffers damage because of operations or radiation during cancer therapy, this is called a “secondary lymphedema”.
Further possible reasons for damages of the lymphatic system are frequent bacterial inflammations of the lymphatic vessels, phlebitis or a chronic varicosity disease. Chronic ulcerative inflammations as for example “ulcus cruris venosum” (ulcerated leg) as well as serious injuries accompanied by a slow healing process and complications in clinical course can also lead to disorders in lymphatic drainage. Lipedemas that remain untreated can result in lymphedemas as well. The applied manual lymphatic drainage is especially suitable for pain relief and functional improvement in case of: fibromyalgia collagenosis inflammatory of degenerative joint diseases In case of painful lipedemas it is possible to achieve a rapid pain relief by means of lymphatic drainage.