What are the stages of lymphedema?
Lymphedema develops in a number of stages, from mild to severe, but it is important to note that all stages are treatable and, to varying extents, reversible. Lymphedema is classified into three, sometimes four stages. For the sake of simplicity, we break it down into 3 stages:
- STAGE ONE
- swelling in the arm/leg, which is helped by elevation.
- Reversible Lymphedema.
- characterized by an accumulation of protein-rich lymphatic fluid.
- STAGE TWO
- in this stage the arm/appendage is not significantly helped by elevation.
- sometimes called "Spontaneously Irreversible Lymphedema" although it still is reversible with treatment.
- characterized by the presence of connective tissue and scar tissue.
- STAGE THREE
- in this stage the arm/appendage is grossly enlarged and is sometimes called "elephantiasis" due to the excessive size of the body part.
- sometimes called "Lymphostatic Elephantiasis" it is still reversible with treatment.
- characterized by hardening of the skin and various raised lesions on the skin.