@joananofilter: LIPEDEMA vs LYMPHEDEMA — and why you can have BOTH 👇 They get confused constantly, even by doctors. Here's the difference: LIPEDEMA = a fat disorder. • Symmetrical, both legs (or both arms) equally • Stops at the ankle or wrist — the "cuff" or bracelet sign. Feet and hands stay normal • PAINFUL to touch, bruises easily • Doesn't respond to diet or exercise the way normal fat does • Almost exclusively affects women, often triggered by puberty, pregnancy, or menopause LYMPHEDEMA = a lymphatic fluid disorder. • Often asymmetrical — one limb worse than the other • DOES involve the feet, toes, hands • Pitting in early stages (press your thumb in, it leaves a dent) • Positive Stemmer sign — you can't pinch the skin at the base of the toe • Can be primary (born with it) or secondary (surgery, lymph node removal, cancer treatment, infection) AND HERE'S WHAT NOBODY TELLS YOU: Lipedema tissue puts pressure on your lymphatic vessels. Over time, that system gets overwhelmed and stops draining properly. That's called lipo-lymphedema — lipedema that has progressed into secondary lymphedema. So it's not "which one do I have." Sometimes the answer is both. And that changes your entire treatment plan. Save this. Send it to the woman who's been told to "just lose weight." #lipedema #lymphedema

Joana Lerche

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Region: BR

Monday 14 September 2026 19:54:16 GMT