Elephant legs: causes, treatment

Elephantiasis, or elephantiasis of the legs, is a disease in which the limbs grow and become huge due to the fact that the skin and subcutaneous fat heavily thicken in them. What exactly becomes the cause of such a pathology, and how it can be treated, we will discuss in the article.

Congenital elephant leg: causes

In the medical environment elephantiasis is also called lymphodema. It is based on a violation of the state of the lymphatic channel, which stops the outflow of lymph from the tissues and, accordingly, leads to their increase. Muscle tissue is impregnated with proteins, which causes fibrotic changes in the subcutaneous tissue.

In medicine, the primary (congenital) and secondary (acquired) elephant legs are distinguished.

The emergence of congenital lymphodema is provoked by a genetic predisposition and problems in the formation of the lymphatic system of the child. By the way, most often this pathology occurs in women. And it can manifest itself from childhood, and in adulthood.

Elephant purchased

Depending on the type, elephant leg causes elephantia are different. Thus, one of the prerequisites of the described pathology is the infection of a human with Bacroft filar larvae. These are worms-parasites, which are classed as nematodes. They live in the lymphatic system of people, also affecting subcutaneous fat. And they are spread by their mosquitoes, living in countries with a subtropical and tropical climate. It is there that parasitic elephant leg is especially common (photo of this pathology can be seen in the article).

Filaria in the lymphatic ducts are intertwined into tangles, which, in fact, causes a slowdown in the outflow of lymph. In addition, they provoke the compaction of the walls of the vessels, which leads to their blockage due to thrombosis or stenosis. Thrombosed lymph vessels, by the way, are often torn.

Foci of necrosis, available in such cases, become a favorable environment for the development of coccal infection, which leads to the occurrence of abscesses.

In addition, as a result of the vital activity of parasites, especially in the event of their decay, substances appear that cause an increase in the sensitivity of the skin in the form of rashes, inflammations,

Are there any other reasons that can cause elephantiasis?

Physicians to the causes of the acquired disease - elephant legs, also include the appearance of malignant tumors in the lymph nodes, their purulent inflammation (lymphadenitis), trauma to the limbs, erysipelas.

Sometimes, surgical intervention or some medical procedures, for example: radiotherapy, cosmetic venectomy, liposuction, arterial reconstruction, etc., are the impetus to the development of the described disease.

How is the disease manifested?

Elephant leg is not a fatal illness, but it can lead to disability and severely disrupt the normal course of life of the patient. In order not to miss the first symptoms of the disease, you need to know about how they look.

• Pathology begins to develop with a slight soft swelling that appears on the back of the foot. It, like the usual swelling, intensifies toward evening, and after a long rest or to the morning disappears.
• After a while, such swelling does not pass after rest, keep constantly, extending to the upper part of the lower leg or thigh, and become more dense at the same time. The shape of the limb now resembles a cylinder.
• In the region of the edema, skin folds are formed, which give it the appearance of elephant skin.
• Subsequently, the skin changes: it becomes inflamed, blushes, becomes covered with cracks and trophic ulcers.

To the characteristics described above, you can add keratinization of the skin, the appearance of warts and chronic dermatitis. Feet is felt heaviness, fatigue, pains.

When to call a doctor

As you probably already guessed, you should apply to specialists already at the initial stage of the disease. That is, as soon as you notice that the swelling on your feet does not pass by morning, and if it is lightly pressed it turns out to be soft and supple, you should visit the doctor, otherwise elephant leg will grow steadily. Treatment at the early stage has the greatest chance of success.

The doctor will need to differentiate your disease from others, with similar symptoms (varicose, deforming osteoarthritis, etc.). To do this, you need to do lymphoscintigraphy, computed tomography, ultrasound and radiography.

Do not forget to mention in your conversation with the doctor and your vacation in hot countries, if there was one, so that a specialist could rule out the infection with filaria, which was mentioned above.

How to treat elephantiasis

How to treat elephantiasis of the legs depends on the stage of elephantiasis. At the beginning of the disease the doctor will recommend the patient to bandage the affected area with an elastic bandage to reduce puffiness, wear compression stockings or knee socks, and also take massage and physical therapy sessions. Good reviews are also available on regional barotherapy (this is a kind of vacuum massage). A positive effect on the pathology of electrophoresis with trypsin and lidase and phonophoresis with apizarthron was noted.

In addition to these procedures, the patient is also prescribed a drug "Venoruton" and ointment "Troxevasin".

Treatment of elephant leg in a stable, deforming or fibrous stage, as a rule, is carried out by surgical methods. So, with the palliative method, partially cut out the affected tissue and apply drainage modifications in order to improve the outflow of lymph. This method is especially popular in the treatment of elderly people and children.

In the advanced stage, a radical method is used: excision of the skin, connective tissue and fascia. However, such operations can have complications and require a long stay in the hospital.

A few tips for patients with elephantiasis

Treatment of elephant legs can not be successful if the patient does not reduce the burden on his legs. During work, you should pause for 15 minutes, and it is better if at this time it is possible to take a horizontal position and slightly raise your legs. For the night also it is necessary to put under them a soft roller.

Do not sit with your legs crossed, wear tight shoes and clothes - all this slows the flow of lymph. And the question of the possibility of visiting saunas and baths will be decided by the attending physician.

In addition, patients should remember that phytotherapy and folk remedies are not suitable for the treatment of elephantiasis. If you only rely on them, the optimal time for starting treatment will go away, and you can not wait for the result. Means for the so-called cleansing of the lymphatic system in modern medicine there! Remember this and do not waste time!

Are preventive measures possible with an elephant disease?

Although the disease of elephant leg in an unopened stage has, as a rule, positive predictions, measures that will help prevent its development will not be superfluous. This especially applies to families where there were already cases of this disease.

Doctors advise to include in the menu chicory with ginger, tea, brewed from leaves of cowberry with the addition of honey, and cranberry mors.

If there are even small swelling on your feet, you should do a light foot massage and raise your legs for 10-15 minutes.

A mandatory condition is wearing comfortable shoes and an active lifestyle. Do not get carried away with salty and spicy food and start treatment for injuries, erysipelas and burns. Keep track of your weight, and the use of any medications to reduce swelling on your feet, check with your doctor, otherwise the consequences can be deplorable! Be healthy!