Lipoedema affects almost only women and is not diagnosed that often, although an estimated 70,000 to 3 million women in Germany suffer from it. Read what the disease is all about here!
Table of Contents
What is lipedema?
Lipoedema is a pathological fat distribution disorder that occurs in women. It occurs most frequently between the ages of 20 and 30, regardless of body fat percentage. Typical signs are unnatural looking arms and legs, while the middle of the body appears slim. In addition, there is burning pain and feelings of tension in the skin , with a feeling that it would burst open at any moment.
Symptoms of Lipedema
The clinical picture can be recognized by 5 core symptoms:
- The fat is unevenly distributed on the body
Legs, hips, buttocks and arms are affected by lipoedema. More fat accumulates on them in the subcutaneous tissue. The legs are getting fatter. No change is usually visible on the feet, hands, waist and stomach. - Pain
The affected parts of the body are sensitive to pain and pressure. They burn and the skin feels like it’s about to tear. - Increasing pain
Throughout the day, pain, sensitivity to touch and pressure increase. In addition, the legs swell, tight and feel heavy. The fatty tissue feels unnatural with many small nodules, as if Styrofoam balls were under the skin. - Hematoma
sufferers get bruises more quickly. - The amount of adipose tissue cannot be reduced
Neither through exercise nor through diet can the fat in the lipoedema be reduced.
- Thigh type : thighs and hips are affected (saddlebags)
- Lower leg type : the lower legs are also affected here (breeches). The lower legs can become so thick that, like the knuckle type, the skin protrudes over the ankles and also equals the thickness of the thighs.
- Ankle Type : Upper and lower thighs and ankles are affected. At the same time, a collar of fat can develop that protrudes over the ankles.
Causes of lipedema
According to the current state of knowledge, it is assumed that lipoedema is caused by hormonal changes. This can be, for example, at the end of puberty, during pregnancy or during the menopause. It is also suspected that the disease is genetic if ancestors already contracted it.
Diagnose
The diagnosis is made by taking an anamnesis (collecting the history of the disease), visual inspection and palpation. Lipoedema can be divided into three stages.
Stadium 1
- Visible riding pants
- Smooth skin, cellulite only forms when you push it together
- The subcutaneous tissue feels thickened but soft
- Thigh and knee structure feels like Styrofoam beads in a plastic bag
- Riding pants are pronounced
- Coarse skin surface
- Subcutaneous tissue continues to thicken, yet soft
- Pronounced girth of the arms and legs
- Subcutaneous tissue greatly thickened and hardened
- Deformed inner thighs and knees
- X-leg position
treatment of lipedema
There are two ways to treat lipedema. The KPE method, complex physical decongestion therapy, is partially paid for by health insurance and is a mixture of compression and lymphatic drainage. This treatment is designed to reduce leg pain and swelling and halt the progression of the disease. However, the type of treatment does not address the cause or make the disease go away entirely.
A second treatment option is the so-called liposuction (“liposuction”). Since this operation is still rated as a cosmetic procedure by health insurance companies, there are only very few cases where the costs of “liposuction” are covered. In most cases, those affected have to pay the operation costs of around 6,000 euros themselves. In most cases, even three to five interventions are necessary.
Info:
The G-BA (Federal Joint Committee) has made a procedural proposal that provides for liposuction for women with lipoedema in the 3rd stage of the disease as a health insurance benefit since January 1st , 2020 . Associated with this are quality requirements, follow-up and documentation obligations.
Dietary change in lipoedema sufferers
In principle, lipoedema cannot be stopped with exercise and nutrition, but they can contribute to and increase general well-being. It is particularly important to reduce excess weight by using more calories than you take in. A healthy and balanced diet should be a daily part. Make sure you eat enough fruit and vegetables, whole grains, unsaturated fatty acids, and animal and vegetable protein. To promote lymphatic drainage, at least 2 liters of water or tea should be drunk.
Sport and lipoedema
The following sports have proven to be helpful for lipoedema:
Aquafitness
Whether gymnastics, spinning or swimming. The pressure in the water works like a lymphatic drainage and significantly improves the symptoms.
Fascia training Bonded fascial
tissue that surrounds the muscles can be a cause of pain. The pain can be reduced with fascia training.
Nordic Walking
This sport is particularly easy on the joints and suitable for the untrained. In addition to fitness, the arms are also trained.
