Symptoms
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Swelling of the arms, legs or trunk on the affected side of the body
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Feeling of heaviness or discomfort in the hand, arm, chest or legs
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Loss of flexibility in the hand, wrist or ankle
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Difficulty fitting into your clothes
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“Bursting” or “shooting” pain sensations, or pins and needles
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Tightness of rings, watch or bracelet
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Infections that won’t go away or keep coming back in the same area
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Changes in skin texture such as tightness, redness, or hardening
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Rash, itching, redness, pain, or warmth of the skin
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Fever or flu-like symptoms
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Trouble sleeping
- Loss of hair
Causes
Causes of lymphedema include
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Infection
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Cancer
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Scar tissue from radiation therapy or surgical removal of lymph nodes
- Inherited conditions in which lymph nodes or vessels are absent or abnormal