Hello, I've recently been diagnosed with lymphoedema in both legs and can't exercise as I'm waiting for a total knee replacement so if anyone has any suggestions I'd be grateful. Also I've heard that they wont operate with my condition, is this true? I hope not as am having to use a walking stick now and can't walk or stand for more than about 15-20 mins. before having to sit down because of the pains. I've got Graves Disease as well and wonder if it could be the cause of the lymphoedema? I'm not getting much info. or help from the doctors as to self help or treatment and have just been given compression stockings and moisturisers for the dryness of my skin.
I hope someone has some suggestions.
All the best.
soreness with lymphoedema
Hi, I am soon to attend my first lymphoedema clinic, having had problems for just over 6 years.
Newborn with lymphoedema
Lymphoedema 
Hi there . I've had lymphoedema in my legs for the last twenty five years and have now developed arthritis in both hips and both knees for about the last three years . I was referred to a specialist for potential hip and knee replacements but told the following information . They said that the main intention of any replacement surgery was to firstly remove the pain of the arthritis and secondly to regain movement in that joint and limb . My consultant felt that the lymphoedema could make me very high risk of the wound not healing or of getting infection and on my very bad left leg then they wouldn't consider it . As I also had a constant element of pain already from my lymphoedema taking the risk of surgery wouldn't give me full benefit .
I have recently had another flare up of my arthritis in my better right leg which resulted in a locked knee which caused excruciating pain and very little movement in the whole leg . It has taken about three months for me to get this leg any where near normal where I can weight bear on it . During this time I saw physics who gave me very easy excercises to do to strengthen the muscle above my knee cap . This involved lying flat and pulling the toes of my right leg upwards towards my body whilst trying to push my knee cap down . This causes the muscle above the knee to tighten and then release as you lower the toes . I've built up the number of times that I can do this now and try to maximise it at about thirty bends at a time . I also do excercises where I put a cushion under my knee and clench the top part of my outer thigh and buttock and this helps . Finally I lift my leg straight in the air and try to hold it for a few seconds . Circling the ankles also helps . These are very simple excercises that can be done anytime that you have a few minutes and I've found them really beneficial .
Finally I'd say make use of your walking aids . I'm a very young minded person in my early sixties who didn't want to go down the road of being reliant on anything but I've learnt the hard way that you are better being sensible . I use an arm crutch rather than a stick as I find that this gives me more support than a stick and I bought one off the Internet in bright turquoise !! I keep it in my car and use it whenever my legs are feeling extra tired . I also have a modern looking wheelchair that I take all over the world with me . I use it for distance walking . Most of the time at the moment I push it myself and use it as a walking aid . If I get tired I stop and sit in it for a while as I find standing quite difficult . My husband before his death then used to push me back when I got tired . Now that I'm on my own I still use it but I just can't go as far. I've learnt not to worry about what I think people must think of me . If it helps me to get through the day then I'll use anything that I need .
During my recent knee licking experience the consultant I saw at a different hospital said that he wouldn't necessarily rule out surgery on my better leg so I think it's worth getting expert opinions . Whether I would totally be able to take the chance of the surgery is another matter having experienced how ill I was previously from an infection i. I wish you all the best however .
Many thanks for your reply, it is very helpful and comprehensive. I certainly will push for some sort of physio especially as the lymphoedema is spreading further up my legs. Your exercise suggestions sounded very familiar - I had to do the same ones after my first knee replacement in 2002 so I know how to do them. I should have added that I've had to have 3 operations on my feet in the past too (bunions, hammer and claw toes and instep bones broken and reset as they were badly bowed) they said it was bad luck as I appear to have been born with very thin bones (not osteoporosis thank God). Unfortunately the bunions have come back so you can imagine walking is near impossible at the moment. As I say, I'm desperate to regain some degree of mobility especially as my husband is wheelchair bound and I'm having to be his carer with some help from council carers. Again, thank you and I wish you all the best too.
Thank you so much for posting this. I had to double check to see who posted it and not me! I need a hip replacement on left hip and knee replacement on right knee. Right hip will need doing eventually. I have been wondering if the stalling by doctors has been because of the lymphedema and the likelihood of infection and making things worse having cut through the skin and damaging the lymphatic system somewhere else. Good for you for getting around and doing the best you can. It is not easy at the best of times and certainly is not when you no longer have someone else to support you. Best wishes for the future.
Thank you for your kind comments and best wishes .