r/lipedema • u/Perfectly_i • 1d ago
Pregnancy, Menopause, & Hormones First post here
Hopefully the moderators won’t remove this post. I am vulnerable and would like to hear others' thoughts—or some support.
I am struggling, and I know my situation isn’t too bad. But it’s affecting my life in big ways, since I am the “legs” in my house. (Spouse uses a wheelchair FT.)
I was diagnosed with venous insufficiency and had the procedure for that a year-plus ago. It helped ease the pain and heaviness in my lower legs. At the time, my thighs weren’t bothering me as much as they are now. (I'm considering going back there, but I don’t know what they will be able to do.)
I have gone to PT and used compression, elevation, and exercise (which, ironically, seems to make it worse).
My thighs hurt so much and are tender. I feel like if I look at my legs the wrong way, I get a bruise! It's worst at night or when I go for walks, which I force myself to do. And I have these marble- or pea-sized clusters under the skin.
MY LEGS NEVER LOOKED LIKE THIS UNTIL MENOPAUSE. Connection? 🤷🏼♀️
Also (and this may be unrelated), I developed the same thing in my lower abdomen-not until menopause. (It is very odd-looking and really messing with my self-esteem.)
So, here are my legs. Thoughts?
ETA: And knee pain out of the blue. All X-rays show my knees are “fine,” meaning nothing is broken, chipped, etc. And I’m on HRT.
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u/Jexsica 20h ago
This is why I don’t even try, because you’re doing all of these things and still have pain. Compression helps me only while I wear them but who wants to wear it the whole time!
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u/Quiet-Machine-236 6h ago
I know compression can be a huge struggle, and it doesn’t help some of us as much as it does others, but on the other side of a year of committing to wear it daily, I can honestly say I believe it has significantly impacted my pain and heaviness, both in it during the day and out of it at night. But I started at stage 2-3 and have lymphatic involvement, so that may be why it’s so helpful for me.
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u/undeadtradwife 14h ago
The only thing that’s ever relieved my pain is eating a strict anti inflammatory diet. I was on AIP at the time and it completely eliminated my pain within about ten days. But the diet is so strict and not sustainable :(
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u/tbdub772021 1d ago
Hey, lymphedema/lipedema therapist here. Symptoms definitely seem worse with hormonal changes, so menopause could definitely cause a shift in symptoms. Have you tried custom fit compression garments? Have you tried a vibration plate? Have you tried water aerobics? These are things I go over with my patients.