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What Causes Extremely Sensitive Skin After Treating Severe Lymphedema In Leg?
Question: after treating severe lymphedema with 4 Uno boots and now several hours a day of compression leg sleeve my skin from ankle to mid shin/calf is EXTREMELY sensitive (stinging with sharp needle-like stabs of pain) even to air circulating and the lightest/softest sheet. In addition, I must wear compression stockings during the day and the same section of skin gets VERY dry and flaky. Is there any lotion or cream that can relieve the dry skin and block the sensitivity/pain? I don't know if this is the result of diabetic nerve pain, the lymphedema was untreated for over a year (I kept asking doctors about my swelling feet but not until the skin became discolored and my legs painful did any doctor address the issue)
Brief Answer:
Veins insufficiency, not lymphedema.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
First of all this is not a lymphedema. For 99% your condition is caused by veins insufficiency. Please note that blaming overweight as the main reason of this condition is false.
Due to impeded blood flow from your limb caused by enlarged and insufficient veins the fluid appears in the soft tissues. This causes swelling, skin changes (which you have in the lower part of your limb) and skin hypersensitiveness. Your condition is quite advanced and the next step will be an ulcer hard to heal. That is why you need proper diagnostic and treatment.
Compression is correct treatment of veins insufficiency but it is clearly not enough.
And there is no cream which can help with the skin problem as the reason are veins.
This is what you should do:
- have veins Doppler ultrasound done
- have urine analysis, kidneys ultrasound and heart ultrasound (kidneys condition or heart insufficiency can be the reason of such swelling but it appears in both legs in such case)
- in case of diagnosed veins insufficiency you need a surgery
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Veins insufficiency, not lymphedema.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
First of all this is not a lymphedema. For 99% your condition is caused by veins insufficiency. Please note that blaming overweight as the main reason of this condition is false.
Due to impeded blood flow from your limb caused by enlarged and insufficient veins the fluid appears in the soft tissues. This causes swelling, skin changes (which you have in the lower part of your limb) and skin hypersensitiveness. Your condition is quite advanced and the next step will be an ulcer hard to heal. That is why you need proper diagnostic and treatment.
Compression is correct treatment of veins insufficiency but it is clearly not enough.
And there is no cream which can help with the skin problem as the reason are veins.
This is what you should do:
- have veins Doppler ultrasound done
- have urine analysis, kidneys ultrasound and heart ultrasound (kidneys condition or heart insufficiency can be the reason of such swelling but it appears in both legs in such case)
- in case of diagnosed veins insufficiency you need a surgery
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Note: For further inquiries on surgery procedure and its risks or complications book an appointment now
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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