Our bodies have a network of vessels and nodes that drain lymph fluid much the same way that blood vessels move blood through our bodies. Lymph fluid contains proteins, salts, water and white blood cells (which help to fight infection). Damage to or blockage of the lymph vessels can cause lymph fluid to build up in your tissues, usually in your arm or leg. This build up of lymph fluid is called lymphedema.
The earliest symptoms include: a feeling of heaviness, slight discomfort and clothes fitting more tightly on one extremity. Left untreated lymphedema can lead to cosmetic deformity and increased risk of infection. Severe cases are associated with thickening of the skin, hardening of the limb and leakage of lymph fluid. Although many physicians think of lymphedema as a rare condition, it is a fairly common condition affecting roughly one percent of the US population.