Signs and symptoms of lymphoedema

The symptoms of lymphoedema include:

• Swelling of the area - your clothing, shoes or jewellery (rings or watches) may feel tighter than usual. This may be the first sign you notice before you even see any swelling.
• Change in feeling - the limb or area may feel heavy, tight, full or stiff.
• Skin changes - the skin in the area may feel tight, stretched and sometimes the texture can feel thicker. Skin may also be dry, flaky, rough or scaly.
• Aching - in the affected area.

Other symptoms

The symptoms vary depending on whether the lymphoedema is mild, moderate or severe. At first, the swelling may not be very noticeable. There may be swelling in the tissue, and soft and gentle pressure might leave a mark or indentation on the skin (pitting oedema).

In later stages, the skin tissue often hardens and there may be more complex skin problems. Occasionally, the skin breaks and lymph fluid leaks out onto the surface. This is due to too much fluid building up in the tissues or damage to the skin. More severe lymphoedema may interfere with your ability to move about and do everyday things, or it may change the shape of your limb.

If you have any signs or symptoms of lymphoedema, you should contact your hospital doctor, specialist nurse, physiotherapist or GP for advice. Treatment can improve lymphoedema and the earlier it’s started the more straightforward and successful it‘s likely to be.