Sortconfused pesso with overweight or cellulite, Lipedema is a pathology which affects 10% of the women’s world population, and consists of one body disproportion with abnormal accumulations of adipose tissue On legs, thighs and sometimes arms, as well as a feeling of pain. Dr. Sara Mantovani and Lio Lipedema Italia are committed to correctly disseminate the disease, to help women live together and fight against this problem.
Lipedema: what it is about
“The Lipedema It is now defined as a “pathology of the Lasso connective system, which concerns in particular the subcutaneous adipose tissue and which occurs with abnormal accumulations of adipose tissue in particular with hips, thighs, legs and in some cases in the upper limbs”. It affects about 10-11% of the female population On a world scale, it has chronic characteristics and can evolve over time “begins to explain Dr. Sara Mantovani, an expert physiotherapist on the oncological, lymphological and lipedema rehabilitation.
But what is it about? “It is a pathology recognized since 2018 by WHOwho included him in the ICD-11 with his code (EF02), even if the first description dates back to 1940 in a publication of Allen and Hines of the Mayo Clinic.
The exact mechanisms that lead to this increase in subcutaneous adipose tissue are not yet very clear, even if there are various physiopathological hypotheses. However, it is often confused with obesity, lymphedema or cellulite” The expert, suggested by Lio Lipedema Italia, the Italian Association for Lipedema, specifies.
The main symptoms: disproportion and pain
«Among the main signs and symptoms of recognition, the lipedema is often characterized by: one Disproportion between trunk and lower limbs and sometimes even superior, pain in palpation and sometimes spontaneous, feeling of heaviness and swelling of the lower limbs (the feet do not swell) and ease to develop bruising “.
Among the signs of recognition there is also the “Cuff Sign” That is, the sign of the sock or the cuff, which is not the sign that leaves the sock or a tight garment on the ankle, but but the departure of the adipose accumulation above the ankle or wrist, like a sort of step. The fabric tends to be soft to palpation, yielding.
The pathology is also defined as “Painful lipoipertrophy”precisely because one of the main features is pain »explains Dr. Mantovani.
How to recognize and diagnose Lipedema
«The diagnosis of Lipedema must be carried out by a doctor who has specific training on the pathology. Generally in Italy more easily deal with the diagnosis of the Lipedema Vascular surgeons, physiatrists that deal with lymphology, angiologists, plastic surgeons, endocrinologists ».
«The diagnosis is currently mainly clinical, but there are no instrumental examinations capable of defining exactly the presence of the pathology.
The anamnesis is therefore fundamental: a patient with lipedema will typically describe the onset of the problem in public age or pre -items timeswith a disproportion between the volume of the lower limbs and that of the rest of the body, difficulty in losing volume even in the face of restrictive diets And also very intense training. Probably he will report that he has always felt uncomfortable because of the legs (typically) and that the symptoms and volume had worsening with ponderal increases.
Also, during the visit they should detect some body measures (not only weight and height, since the BMI in the Lipedema is not such a significant index taken alone, but it must be seen together with other indices), some pain test and to conclude even one ultrasound evaluationto identify the possible presence of other lymphatic and/or venous pathologies »continues Dr..
How to deal with it
“It is important to keep in mind that Lipedema is a pathologyrecognized by WHO and with its code, is not an aesthetic condition and should not be treated as such ».
«Then there are guidelines that give indications on how to deal with the pathology: a adequate food plan is importanteven if there is no “diet for the lipedema”. Exercise is fundamental and obviously must be calibrated on the person. It is fundamental because having a good musculature promotes the venous and lymphatic return, It improves functionality in daily life, maintains joint mobility and contrasts hypermability.
Important role in the management of the lipedema plays it compression, carried out through lymphological bandages or elastic-compressive clothing (socks, graduated compression leggins) To reduce the stasis that can be present at the level of the subcutaneous tissue and encourage venous and lymphatic return.
Then it is also the Psychological support: Often patients find themselves in a discouragement situation since in years of attempts they have never seen satisfactory results and have never been taken seriously even by health professionals, feeling diminished.
In the end, The surgical treatment is contemplated in all guidelines, with an indication of carrying out a conservative path before and after. It is important to contact specialized surgeons, which usually work with patients with lipedema. Surgery is not the cure of the Lipedemaas the conservative paths are not, and this is important to be underlined ».
The most common mistakes when you suffer from Lipedema
“I wouldn’t talk about mistakes. I can say it is important to rely on serious professionalswho have trained in the field of pathology and that continue to deepen their knowledge. It is not always easy of course, especially in this historical moment in which the “Lipedama fashion” seems to be exploded and it seems that everyone takes care of it.
It is normal in chronic pathologies to look for the definitive and perhaps fast or easy solution, it is human, But the Lipedema, like other chronic diseases, requires commitment and constancywith ups and downs, of course, with moments when you want to give up everything and others in which you do anything possible.
Important is, to be followed by the right professionals, Getting to a compromise of balance that allows not to live “for” the lipedama, but “with” the lipedema. Which seems easy to say, but to get a little less »concludes Dr. Mantovani.