Symptoms
of lipedema
Lipedema symptoms are often difficult to classify because of how they appear and their similarity to the symptoms of other disorders.
Getting a diagnosis of lipedema is often a drawn out and difficult struggle because the symptoms are experienced by patients in very different ways and are often confused with those of other diseases. What is important is that affected patients have access to a doctor who has experience with lipedema. Many practices now offer specialist consultations. The initial diagnosis can often be made by a phlebologist.
Symptoms similar to those experienced with lipedema may occur with diseases such as fibromyalgia, chronic musculoskeletal pain, polyneuropathy or even chronic venous insufficiency. These include:
- pain and tightness in the legs and arms
- feeling of heaviness in the legs and arms
- exhaustion and lethargy
For a specific diagnosis, it is essential to have a personal physical examination in addition to the symptoms described above. There are currently no instrument-based diagnostics available that can confirm lipedema. Ultrasound in particular can only give minor indications but never evidence of the presence of lipedema.
Tthe typical symptoms of lipedemia include:
- physical proportions that do not match the rest of the body (greatly enlarged, column-like legs with a slim upper body)
- symmetrical fat deposits on the legs and/or arms
- tendency to bruise easily
- pain and tightness in the legs and arms
- pain in the legs and arms if pressure is applied or they are touched
- Attempts to lose weight have little or no effect on the size of the arms and legs.
