OEDEMA

What is Oedema?
Oedema is a build-up of excess fluid in the body tissues. If the fluid is in the tissue under the skin it leads to a puffy, shiny appearance and a doughy feel. Most commonly, oedema is seen in the ankles or legs, as the fluid is gravity-dependent. Usually, applying finger pressure leaves an indentation in the skin, hence the term "pitting oedema", but oedema can also be "non-pitting", when it is caused by lymphatic obstruction. Oedema is not a disease in itself. Rather, it is a clinical sign which may be associated with an underlying medical problem.

What are the mechanisms that cause oedema?
General Principles: Oedema occurs when the body's normal balance of fluid intake and output is disturbed. Normally, one takes in fluid by drinking and eating and gets rid of it in the form of sweat, urine, faeces and by breathing. Within the body, fluid is transported by blood vessels (arteries and veins) and also by the lymphatic system. The fluid in the bloodstream contains not only blood cells, but also oxygen and other nutrients for the body's cells. This fluid can move through the walls of the blood vessels into body tissues to provide nutrition and water for cells and then move back into the blood vessels once depleted of nutrients.

The 2 possible mechanisms that can cause an abnormal fluid build-up in the tissues are:

1) An increase in the pressure within the blood vessels (e.g.. caused by an increased amount of fluid) causing fluid to shift out of the vessels into the surrounding tissues, or
2) A decrease in the amount of proteins(e.g. albumen) in the bloodstream causing water to shift out of the vessels to make the surrounding tissues as dilute as the blood stream.

Treatment of oedema
The treatment depends on the underlying cause of the oedema. If it is one of the ordinary, or physiological causes, there are a few general measures to take to improve the swelling. Some of these measures may even help people with oedema caused by an underlying medical problem. They include:

- keeping legs elevated as much as possible and massaging the effected areas to increase circulation.
- cutting down on salt intake
- exercise
- weight loss
- wearing supportive stockings

Client reported benefits for Oedema include:

• Reducing fluid retention.
• Increased mobility and range of movement.

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Remember you have nothing to lose but your pain and just like many of our current clients in the years to come you could be reporting back to us your improved quality of life