Lipalgia syndrome is a chronic condition that mainly affects women, and results in disproportionate fat accumulation in your legs and sometimes in your arms.
The fat accumulation in the legs and sometimes in the arms also is often accompanied by tenderness and pain in the areas that are affected by Lipalgia syndrome.
Lipalgia syndrome is also known as lipedema.
In Lipalgia syndrome, the legs and any other affected limbs, become disproportionately larger than the rest of your body, which often results in a significant waist to hip ratio difference.
The affected areas with Lipalgia syndrome are also often painful to the touch and the pain can also be spontaneous or triggered by pressure.
And the fat accumulation often starts at the level of your ankles and extends upwards, sparing your feet.
Lipalgia syndrome can get worse over time and could lead to issues with mobility, result in skin changes and even result in secondary lymphedema.
The physical changes and pain associated with Lipalgia syndrome can negatively impact your mental health and lead to feelings of anxiety, depression and even embarrassment in some people.
There's no cure for lipalgia syndrome, although treatments are available to help improve quality of life and manage the condition.
Lipalgia is often also misdiagnosed and most particularly in primary care and it's also confused with obesity or lymphedema frequently.
Lipalgia can be treated through manual lymphatic drainage, compression therapy, diet and exercise and medications.
Manual lymphatic drainage is a specialized massage technique that helps to reduce swelling and improve lymphatic flow.
Compression therapy is when you wear compression garments to help reduce swelling and support the affected limbs.
And eating a low carbohydrate diet and performing regular low impact exercises can help you manage the weight and improve your overall health.