Lipoedema sufferers receive little or no government support with the condition not currently being recognised by Medicare.
Item 45585 | Medicare Benefits Schedule.
Vascular surgeons, in fact, are one of the few medical professions where you can find Lipedema diagnosis and management as a core requirement of their advanced medical training programs. A vascular medicine specialist will carefully consider differentiating Lipedema vs lymphedema and also from other conditions.
There is no simple blood test or scan to diagnose lipoedema and the diagnosis is made on taking a full history and examination. Classic Patient History: It generally affects women usually with a strong family history of lipoedema. There have been some rare cases with males being affected.
Currently, treatment consists of removal of excess adipose tissue, typically using various specialised liposuction techniques, however, tissue excision has not routinely been performed due to fears of causing lymphoedema.
However, lipedema frequently does worsen with time due to the general trend toward increasing body weight and obesity (which is itself a progressive disease) with age. Psychological distress is often also a progressive disorder, one that typically amplifies feelings of pain and diminishes willpower and general health.
Lipedema requires a clinical diagnosis, meaning that there is no standardized test such as bloodwork or imaging that can confirm the presence of Lipedema.
Your general practitioner (GP) or an experienced nurse is likely to be your first contact person when you notice any signs or symptoms of lipoedema. Your HCP will carry out a medical examination of your body, including your skin and soft tissues, and the function of the arteries and veins.
This blockage can prevent the proper drainage of lymph fluid, which can result in lymphedema. Left untreated, lymphedema can cause infections, healing challenges, hardened skin, and the development of fibrosis, which is scar-like tissue.
A simple pinch test can often tell you whether you have lipedema. To do this, pinch the skin lightly in the areas of the body that may be affected. If you experience disproportionate pain, you may suspect lipedema. In this case, the next step is to get a medical diagnosis.
Lymphedema may be considered an "out-of-capitation" or "out-of-network" service. Medicare covers PT/OT visits for medically necessary services. Remember that if you only have Medicare A and B, you will be responsible for 20% of the cost of your treatment.
Making the diagnosis of lipedema
Age of onset: 10 to 30.
Stage 1. In this early stage, it may be difficult to distinguish lipedema from excess fat on the lower body. Instead, providers look for certain characteristics, including: Extra fat in the buttocks, thighs, and calves, but not in the ankles or feet.
Lipedema is a foe because lifestyle change does not reduce lipedema fat, the fat is painful, can become obese, causes gait and joint abnormalities, fatigue, lymphedema and psychosocial distress. Hypermobility associated with lipedema can exacerbate joint disease and aortic disease.
What causes lipedema? The exact cause of lipedema is unknown. But the condition runs in families in 20% to 60% of cases, so you may inherit it. The condition occurs almost exclusively in women and people AFAB.
Obesity is the result of being overweight, which can cause fat to develop in the legs. Lipedema is the disproportionate setting of fat in arms and legs, unrelated to body weight, often associated with prominent swelling, common pain, and a column-like look. Lipedema can appear in both thin and obese individuals alike.
Traditionally, most common features of lipedema is excessive fatty tissue deposition in the lower extremities, buttocks, hips, legs, even abdomen. Because of abnormal connective tissue strength and large amount of fatty tissue accumulation, abdominal or stomach skin is extra prone to stretching, loosening and pain.
Aerobic exercises such as swimming, walking and cycling are especially recommended because they increase lymphatic drainage and improve blood flow through the affected limbs. High impact exercising (i.e. jogging, step-aerobics) or contact sports are better avoided as they may exacerbate join pain and lead to bruising.
Those with lymphedema should be wary of beverages that contain alcohol and caffeine, both of which can contribute to dehydration. For this reason, coffee and lymphedema do not mix well. Although drinking enough water is essential for those with lymphedema, diuretics — also known as water pills — should be avoided.
Magnesium. This supplement is often used by those suffering from lipedema. It cannot be considered as effective, as it does not in itself have a direct action on the complications of lipedema.