Can Liposuction Surgery Cure Lipedema-Related Back Pain?
Lipedema is a surprisingly common condition among women, although many people remain unaware of its existence. Even doctors often fail to recognize the signs of the condition misdiagnose their patients. Once sufferers receive a diagnosis, however, they can seek out effective treatment. While there is no cure at present, liposuction surgery is the best option to achieve long-term relief. This procedure reduces pain, improves mobility, and helps patients achieve a better quality of life. One of the symptoms that surgery addresses is back pain which is common among sufferers.
What Are the Symptoms of The Disease?
Many symptoms indicate an individual may suffer from lipedema. Unfortunately, medical professionals often fail to spot these critical signs of the condition. Patients must know what to look out for themselves. Some of the primary symptoms of lipedema include:
- Symmetrical column-like lower limbs
- Pain and swelling in the legs and buttocks (some patients also experience pain and swelling in the arms or abdomen).
- A disproportionately large lower body when compared with the upper body.
- Aching and tenderness to the touch in affected areas
- Dimpled skin in the affected areas
- Difficulty in standing and walking for extended periods.
- Emotional issues like depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem
Also Read – Will Lipedema Liposuction Slow the Progression of the Disease?
Problems With Getting Treatment
Many sufferers find that they struggle to get a diagnosis from medical professionals, because doctors don’t understand the condition well. Many doctors tell their patients that they are obese. That leads to a lot of wasted time, with patients trying and failing to lose weight through dieting and exercising. Lipedema fat doesn’t respond to this approach. Therefore, many patients become emotionally distressed as they cannot resolve their issues.
The delay in diagnosing patients with lipedema also means the disease continues to progress and grow worse. Lipedema is a progressive condition that only gets worse over time. The lipedema fat accumulates further in the affected areas. Patients also experience more pain and mobility issues as time passes, and their mental health deteriorates. Seeking an early diagnosis is crucial as then treatment can begin earlier.
Once patients receive a lipedema diagnosis, they can start treatment. There are two types of treatment available for sufferers to choose from. Many doctors recommend that patients start by taking a conservative treatment approach. Conservative therapies include eating a healthy diet, wearing compression garments, and undergoing regular manual lymphatic drainage massages. These treatments can help to reduce discomfort and symptoms in the short term. They cannot help patients achieve long-term relief, though.
The other treatment option is to undergo surgery. Surgery for this condition involves having liposuction on the affected areas. Surgery addresses the disease at its cause – the diseased fat – rather than only the symptoms. That means it produces longer-lasting results and helps patients improve their quality of life.
Back Pain as A Symptom
Although back pain isn’t a specific symptom of lipedema, it’s a problem many sufferers experience. Many people suffer from back pain, but for lipedema sufferers, back pain can be especially severe. Lipedema sufferers often have a shelf of excess fat on their lower back. The extra weight of this fat causes the spine to distort. Patients who stand or sit for long periods of time, experience more back pain because of this spinal distortion. Some lipedema sufferers have constant back pain due to the heaviness of the diseased fat.
How Does Surgery Help with Lipedema-Related Back Pain?
Liposuction surgery to treat lipedema can help relieve lipedema-related back pain.
Liposuction treats the cause of lipedema, which is the diseased fat itself. The surgery removes the fat cells permanently, and as a result, the pain from the fat itself diminishes. Also, because the weight of the excess fat is gone, there is less pressure on the lower back. Less pressure means less spinal distortion, so sufferers can be more comfortable when they are sitting, standing, and walking. Patients, therefore, experience relief from their lipedema-related back pain. Some patients see a marked improvement in their discomfort. Others find their back pain goes away completely.
Lipedema surgery also helps sufferers find relief from their other symptoms. Their limbs are smaller after surgery and are less heavy. That makes moving around more manageable and less painful. The procedure also makes the lower body more proportionate with the upper body. Patients, therefore, experience greater self-confidence and self-esteem due to their improved appearance. Liposuction helps lipedema sufferers experience a much better quality of life in the long term.
Lipedema sufferers must find a skilled and experienced surgeon with experience in treating patients with lipedema. Not all cosmetic surgeons will perform liposuction on lipedema patients. Those who do offer this treatment don’t all produce the same impressive results. Dr. Su at ArtLipo is a specialist in this field. He regularly treats lipedema patients and produces excellent outcomes. Why not get in touch today to find out more?
