How Lymphedema Happens
Lymphedema is When
Fluid Goes Crazy
In Lymphedema, when protein molecules get stuck in the interstitium (space between the cells) and can’t get back out via the lymphatic system, more fluid (also containing protein) rushes out of the circulatory system (blood/heart) to join it.
This is like people looking out of their office windows and seeing total gridlock, yet rushing to their cars and driving on the sidewalks and through the medians so that all possible space is congested.

What Does That Look Like Under the Skin?
A new technology called IC Green Lymphography allows a look at the lymphatics by injecting a special fluorescing dye at the end of an extremity (fingers or toes) and watching it being taken up by the lymphatic system.
In a healthy lymphatic system, nice clear channels (roads) are visible. In a limb with lymphedema, the dye will back up and pool in an area that is not draining well.
Here is a video showing ICG Lymphography.
Infrastructure Breakdown
The longer the cars are stuck in gridlock and the harder the city works to move them back to the suburbs, the more that the roads become broken down and riddled with potholes until they are no longer functional. In the lymphatic system, this shows up as valves that fail to close to keep fluid from moving back toward the swollen area, and the inability for the lymphatic vessels to contract to help propel fluid in the right direction.
The city is still hard at work trying to remove the cars from the roads, and as it does so, it tries to make permanent repairs to the roads using stronger materials.
Fibrosis Sets In
In the lymphatic system, this is somewhat similar to fibrosis, or the creation of thick scar tissue. This is what causes the tissue of an affected area (usually an arm or a leg) to harden permanently. In addition to the fibrosis, the body lays down layers of fat.
Treatment
The good news is that there is treatment for lymphedema. Complete Decongestive Therapy is a series of steps to restore the body to a more normal state.
It involves three steps 1) Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) or Electro-Lymphatic Therapy 2) Compression Bandaging and 3) Garment Fitting for long-term wear garments.
