{"id":687,"date":"2025-08-14T10:28:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-14T10:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/?p=687"},"modified":"2025-10-06T14:55:31","modified_gmt":"2025-10-06T14:55:31","slug":"pitting-edema-vs-lymphedema","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/pitting-edema-vs-lymphedema\/","title":{"rendered":"Pitting Edema vs. Lymphedema: How to Tell Them Apart (and Why It Matters)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you (or your patients) notice swelling in an arm, leg, or elsewhere, the first question is usually <em>what\u2019s causing it?<\/em> Two common\u2014but very different\u2014culprits are <strong>pitting edema<\/strong> and <strong>lymphedema<\/strong>. They can look similar at first glance, especially early on, but their causes, clinical clues, and best treatments diverge. Getting the distinction right prevents delays in care, unnecessary tests, and the wrong therapies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This guide breaks down the differences clearly, shows how clinicians tell them apart, and offers practical next steps\u2014including when to seek urgent care and how to find a certified lymphedema therapist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-pitting-edema\"><span id=\"what-is-pitting-edema\"><strong>What is Pitting Edema?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:auto 40%\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Pitting edema<\/strong> is swelling caused by excess <strong>fluid<\/strong> in the tissues. When you press a thumb into the swollen area for a few seconds and let go, it leaves a temporary \u201cpit\u201d (indentation) that slowly rebounds. Pitting edema is a <strong>sign<\/strong>, not a diagnosis, and usually comes from an <strong>underlying systemic or venous issue<\/strong>\u2014think heart failure, kidney or liver disease, medication effects (e.g., some calcium channel blockers), pregnancy, or chronic venous insufficiency. Treating the underlying cause is the main goal.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pitting-edema-test.jpg?resize=1024%2C1024&ssl=1\" alt=\"Clinical demo \u2014 Pitting test (indentation)\" class=\"wp-image-690 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pitting-edema-test.jpg?w=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pitting-edema-test.jpg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pitting-edema-test.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pitting-edema-test.jpg?resize=768%2C768&ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pitting-edema-test.jpg?resize=80%2C80&ssl=1 80w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pitting-edema-test.jpg?resize=380%2C380&ssl=1 380w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pitting-edema-test.jpg?resize=800%2C800&ssl=1 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Clinicians sometimes \u201cgrade\u201d pitting from <strong>1+ to 4+<\/strong> based on depth and how long the indentation lasts. The classic scale\u2014useful for documentation\u2014has <strong>limited reliability<\/strong>, so it shouldn\u2019t be the only thing driving decisions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-lymphedema\"><span id=\"what-is-lymphedema\"><strong>What is Lymphedema?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Lymphedema<\/strong> is <strong>chronic swelling<\/strong> caused by <strong>impaired lymphatic drainage<\/strong>. It can be:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-image alignright uagb-block-a3ba5fa5 wp-block-uagb-image--layout-default wp-block-uagb-image--effect-static wp-block-uagb-image--align-right\"><figure class=\"wp-block-uagb-image__figure\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/positive-stemmer-sign.jpg ,https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/positive-stemmer-sign.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/positive-stemmer-sign.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 150px\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/positive-stemmer-sign.jpg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1\" alt=\"Clinical sign \u2014 Positive Stemmer sign\" class=\"uag-image-691\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" title=\"positive-stemmer-sign\" loading=\"lazy\" role=\"img\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Primary<\/strong> present from birth because of congenital or genetic defects in the lymph vessels.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Secondary<\/strong> (more common) after cancer treatment, lymph node surgery, radiation, infection, trauma, or longstanding venous disease (phlebolymphedema).\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Early lymphedema may <strong>pit<\/strong> (because fluid is still relatively mobile), but as protein-rich lymph stagnates, tissues become <strong>fibrotic<\/strong>, the swelling turns <strong>non-pitting<\/strong>, and skin changes\u2014<strong>thickening, hyperkeratosis, papillomatosis<\/strong>\u2014can appear. Lymphedema also increases the risk of <strong>cellulitis<\/strong>. A classic exam clue is the <strong>Stemmer sign<\/strong>: the inability to pinch a fold of skin at the base of the second toe or finger. A <strong>positive Stemmer sign<\/strong> is quite <strong>sensitive<\/strong> (~92%) for lymphedema (though not perfectly specific).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-quick-visual-pitting-edema-vs-lymphedema\"><span id=\"quick-visual-pitting-edema-vs-lymphedema\"><strong>Quick Visual: Pitting Edema vs. Lymphedema<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Feature<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Pitting Edema<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Lymphedema<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>What\u2019s going on?<\/td><td>Fluid overload or venous issues<\/td><td>Lymphatic drainage failure<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Pitting with thumb press<\/td><td><strong>Yes<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Early:<\/strong> often yes; <strong>Later:<\/strong> typically no (fibrotic)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Typical distribution<\/td><td>Often <strong>bilateral<\/strong> (e.g., legs) in systemic causes; can be unilateral with DVT\/CVI<\/td><td>Often <strong>unilateral<\/strong> at onset; may involve <strong>dorsum of foot\/hand<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Better with elevation\/overnight?<\/td><td>Often <strong>improves<\/strong><\/td><td>Often <strong>persists<\/strong>, may worsen through the day<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Skin changes<\/td><td>Shiny, taut skin; stasis changes with CVI<\/td><td>Skin thickening, <strong>hyperkeratosis<\/strong>, papillomatosis in later stages<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Signature clinical sign<\/td><td>None specific; pitting grade 1+\u20134+ (limited reliability)<\/td><td><strong>Positive Stemmer sign<\/strong> commonly present in established disease<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Best initial management<\/td><td>Treat the <strong>underlying cause<\/strong>; compression helps for venous disease<\/td><td><strong>Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT)<\/strong>: manual lymph drainage, compression, exercise, skin care<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Response to diuretics<\/td><td>Can help when cause is systemic (e.g., heart failure)<\/td><td>Generally <strong>not effective<\/strong> (nonsystemic edema)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sources support the exam distinctions and the limits of pitting grades; Stemmer sign sensitivity; and nonsystemic edema\/lymphedema nonresponse to diuretics.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pitting-edema-vs-lymphedema.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1\" alt=\"pitting edema vs. lymphedema comparison chart\" class=\"wp-image-846\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pitting-edema-vs-lymphedema.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pitting-edema-vs-lymphedema.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pitting-edema-vs-lymphedema.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pitting-edema-vs-lymphedema.jpg?resize=380%2C253&ssl=1 380w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pitting-edema-vs-lymphedema.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pitting-edema-vs-lymphedema.jpg?resize=1160%2C773&ssl=1 1160w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pitting-edema-vs-lymphedema.jpg?w=1536&ssl=1 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-clinicians-tell-them-apart\"><span id=\"how-clinicians-tell-them-apart\"><strong>How Clinicians Tell Them Apart<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-history-and-pattern\"><span id=\"1-history-and-pattern\"><strong>1) History and Pattern<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Time course & laterality<\/strong>: Acute unilateral swelling triggers evaluation for <strong>DVT, infection, trauma<\/strong>; chronic bilateral swelling suggests systemic causes (CHF, renal, hepatic) or venous disease. Prior <strong>cancer surgery or radiation<\/strong> raises suspicion for <strong>secondary lymphedema<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-physical-exam\"><span id=\"2-physical-exam\"><strong>2) Physical Exam<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Pitting vs. non-pitting<\/strong>: Pitting suggests venous disease, systemic edema, or <strong>early<\/strong> lymphedema; <strong>non-pitting<\/strong> suggests <strong>later-stage<\/strong> lymphedema or pretibial myxedema.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Stemmer sign<\/strong>: Positive = strong clue for lymphedema (sensitivity ~92%); a negative sign does <strong>not<\/strong> exclude it\u2014especially early or if swelling spares the digits.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Skin clues<\/strong>: CVI often shows <strong>hyperpigmentation, stasis dermatitis, medial ankle ulcers<\/strong>; lymphedema tends toward <strong>thickened\/\u201cwarty\u201d<\/strong> skin in later stages.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-testing-when-needed\"><span id=\"3-testing-when-needed\"><strong>3) Testing (When Needed)<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Rule out DVT<\/strong> with <strong>compression ultrasound<\/strong> if risk is intermediate\/high (Wells criteria).\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Duplex ultrasound with reflux<\/strong> helps confirm <strong>chronic venous insufficiency<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Lymphoscintigraphy<\/strong> is considered the <strong>imaging test of choice<\/strong> for confirming lymphedema (though not always available). <strong>Indocyanine green (ICG) lymphography<\/strong> and <strong>MRI lymphangiography<\/strong> are adjuncts at specialized centers.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS)<\/strong> can detect <strong>subclinical<\/strong> lymphedema (e.g., in breast-cancer survivors) and is increasingly used for surveillance; recent guidance supports <strong>lower L-Dex thresholds<\/strong> to flag early change.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-treatment-paths-diverge\"><span id=\"treatment-paths-diverge\"><strong>Treatment Paths Diverge<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-managing-nbsp-pitting-edema\"><span id=\"managing-pitting-edema\"><strong>Managing\u00a0Pitting Edema<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because pitting edema is a <strong>symptom<\/strong>, treatment targets the <strong>cause<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Heart failure<\/strong>: diuretics, guideline-directed therapy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Medication-induced edema<\/strong>: adjust or switch the culprit drug.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Venous disease<\/strong>: <strong>compression therapy<\/strong> (stockings, adjustable wraps), leg elevation, calf-muscle pump exercises.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Lifestyle<\/strong>: sodium reduction, activity, elevation when sitting.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Note: Before prescribing significant compression in lower limbs, clinicians often check an <strong>ankle-brachial index<\/strong> to avoid worsening unrecognized arterial disease.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-managing-nbsp-lymphedema\"><span id=\"managing-lymphedema\"><strong>Managing\u00a0Lymphedema<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There\u2019s no \u201ccure,\u201d but <strong>excellent control<\/strong> is possible. The gold-standard is <strong>Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT)<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-image uagb-block-0268a0b1 wp-block-uagb-image--layout-default wp-block-uagb-image--effect-static wp-block-uagb-image--align-none\"><figure class=\"wp-block-uagb-image__figure\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/complete-decongestive-therapy-pillars-e1754589537857-1024x353.jpg ,https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/complete-decongestive-therapy-pillars-e1754589537857.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/complete-decongestive-therapy-pillars-e1754589537857.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 150px\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/complete-decongestive-therapy-pillars-e1754589537857-1024x353.jpg?resize=1024%2C353&ssl=1\" alt=\"Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) pillars\" class=\"uag-image-718\" width=\"1024\" height=\"353\" title=\"complete-decongestive-therapy-pillars\" loading=\"lazy\" role=\"img\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Compression<\/strong> (multi-layer short-stretch bandaging, then fitted garments or adjustable wraps)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Decongestive\/Remedial Exercises<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Meticulous skin care<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These are supported by international consensus and widely used in practice. Intermittent pneumatic compression, self-care education, and weight management may also help. <strong>Diuretics are generally not effective<\/strong> for nonsystemic edema like lymphedema and can be counterproductive if relied upon in place of CDT.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some centers also use <strong>BIS<\/strong> to catch changes early and intervene before visible progression. Surgical options (e.g., <strong>lymphaticovenous anastomosis<\/strong> or <strong>vascularized lymph node transfer<\/strong>) are considered in selected patients alongside ongoing conservative care.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">      \n\t\t\t<div class=\"uagb-icon-wrapper uagb-block-353d77a7      \"\n\t\t\tstyle=\"\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-svg-wrapper\" \n\t\t\t\t\t aria-label=\"house-medical-flag\"\t\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"0\">\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 640 512\" role=\"graphics-symbol\" aria-hidden=\"false\" aria-label=\"\"><path d=\"M480 0C497.7 0 512 14.33 512 32H624C632.8 32 640 39.16 640 48V176C640 184.8 632.8 192 624 192H512V512H448V32C448 14.33 462.3 0 480 0V0zM416 512H416.1L416.8 512H96C78.33 512 64 497.7 64 480V288H31.1C18.61 288 6.631 279.7 1.985 267.1C-2.661 254.5 1.005 240.4 11.17 231.7L235.2 39.7C247.2 29.43 264.8 29.43 276.8 39.7L416 159V512zM223.1 256H175.1C167.2 256 159.1 263.2 159.1 272V304C159.1 312.8 167.2 320 175.1 320H223.1V368C223.1 376.8 231.2 384 239.1 384H271.1C280.8 384 287.1 376.8 287.1 368V320H336C344.8 320 352 312.8 352 304V272C352 263.2 344.8 256 336 256H287.1V208C287.1 199.2 280.8 192 271.1 192H239.1C231.2 192 223.1 199.2 223.1 208V256z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\n\n<header class=\"wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading uagb-block-b3a398ce\"><h2 id=\"when-to-seek-urgent-care\" class=\"uagb-heading-text\"><strong>When to Seek Urgent Care<\/strong><\/h2><\/header>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Swelling can signal emergencies. Get prompt medical evaluation for any of the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-icon-list uagb-block-aed18bea\"><div class=\"uagb-icon-list__wrap\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child uagb-block-de61cc23\"><span class=\"uagb-icon-list__source-wrap\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M64 496C64 504.8 56.75 512 48 512h-32C7.25 512 0 504.8 0 496V32c0-17.75 14.25-32 32-32s32 14.25 32 32V496zM476.3 0c-6.365 0-13.01 1.35-19.34 4.233c-45.69 20.86-79.56 27.94-107.8 27.94c-59.96 0-94.81-31.86-163.9-31.87C160.9 .3055 131.6 4.867 96 15.75v350.5c32-9.984 59.87-14.1 84.85-14.1c73.63 0 124.9 31.78 198.6 31.78c31.91 0 68.02-5.971 111.1-23.09C504.1 355.9 512 344.4 512 332.1V30.73C512 11.1 495.3 0 476.3 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"uagb-icon-list__label\"><strong>Sudden, painful one-sided leg swelling<\/strong> \u2192 possible <strong>DVT<\/strong>.<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child uagb-block-abd3888b\"><span class=\"uagb-icon-list__source-wrap\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M64 496C64 504.8 56.75 512 48 512h-32C7.25 512 0 504.8 0 496V32c0-17.75 14.25-32 32-32s32 14.25 32 32V496zM476.3 0c-6.365 0-13.01 1.35-19.34 4.233c-45.69 20.86-79.56 27.94-107.8 27.94c-59.96 0-94.81-31.86-163.9-31.87C160.9 .3055 131.6 4.867 96 15.75v350.5c32-9.984 59.87-14.1 84.85-14.1c73.63 0 124.9 31.78 198.6 31.78c31.91 0 68.02-5.971 111.1-23.09C504.1 355.9 512 344.4 512 332.1V30.73C512 11.1 495.3 0 476.3 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"uagb-icon-list__label\"><strong>Shortness of breath, chest pain, pink frothy sputum<\/strong> \u2192 possible <strong>pulmonary edema\/PE<\/strong> or heart failure exacerbation.<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child uagb-block-6ee9210b\"><span class=\"uagb-icon-list__source-wrap\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M64 496C64 504.8 56.75 512 48 512h-32C7.25 512 0 504.8 0 496V32c0-17.75 14.25-32 32-32s32 14.25 32 32V496zM476.3 0c-6.365 0-13.01 1.35-19.34 4.233c-45.69 20.86-79.56 27.94-107.8 27.94c-59.96 0-94.81-31.86-163.9-31.87C160.9 .3055 131.6 4.867 96 15.75v350.5c32-9.984 59.87-14.1 84.85-14.1c73.63 0 124.9 31.78 198.6 31.78c31.91 0 68.02-5.971 111.1-23.09C504.1 355.9 512 344.4 512 332.1V30.73C512 11.1 495.3 0 476.3 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"uagb-icon-list__label\"><strong>Shortness of breath, chest pain, pink frothy sputum<\/strong> \u2192 possible <strong>pulmonary edema\/PE<\/strong> or heart failure exacerbation.<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child uagb-block-12c65fdb\"><span class=\"uagb-icon-list__source-wrap\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M64 496C64 504.8 56.75 512 48 512h-32C7.25 512 0 504.8 0 496V32c0-17.75 14.25-32 32-32s32 14.25 32 32V496zM476.3 0c-6.365 0-13.01 1.35-19.34 4.233c-45.69 20.86-79.56 27.94-107.8 27.94c-59.96 0-94.81-31.86-163.9-31.87C160.9 .3055 131.6 4.867 96 15.75v350.5c32-9.984 59.87-14.1 84.85-14.1c73.63 0 124.9 31.78 198.6 31.78c31.91 0 68.02-5.971 111.1-23.09C504.1 355.9 512 344.4 512 332.1V30.73C512 11.1 495.3 0 476.3 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"uagb-icon-list__label\"><strong>New swelling after trauma<\/strong> with severe pain or discoloration.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"faqs\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>FAQs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq uagb-faq__outer-wrap uagb-block-f25b3890 uagb-faq-icon-row uagb-faq-layout-accordion uagb-faq-expand-first-true uagb-faq-inactive-other-true uagb-faq__wrap uagb-buttons-layout-wrap uagb-faq-equal-height     \" data-faqtoggle=\"true\" role=\"tablist\"><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq-child uagb-faq-child__outer-wrap uagb-faq-item uagb-block-86272b3e \" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\"><div class=\"uagb-faq-questions-button uagb-faq-questions\">\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M432 256c0 17.69-14.33 32.01-32 32.01H256v144c0 17.69-14.33 31.99-32 31.99s-32-14.3-32-31.99v-144H48c-17.67 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.33-31.99 32-31.99H192v-144c0-17.69 14.33-32.01 32-32.01s32 14.32 32 32.01v144h144C417.7 224 432 238.3 432 256z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon-active uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M400 288h-352c-17.69 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.31-31.99 32-31.99h352c17.69 0 32 14.3 32 31.99S417.7 288 400 288z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-question\"><strong>Is pitting edema always not lymphedema?<\/strong><\/span><\/div><div class=\"uagb-faq-content\"><p>No. <strong>Early lymphedema can pit<\/strong>; later it often becomes non-pitting as fibrosis develops. Context (history, other signs) matters.\u00a0<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq-child uagb-faq-child__outer-wrap uagb-faq-item uagb-block-f5a99e4b \" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\"><div class=\"uagb-faq-questions-button uagb-faq-questions\">\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M432 256c0 17.69-14.33 32.01-32 32.01H256v144c0 17.69-14.33 31.99-32 31.99s-32-14.3-32-31.99v-144H48c-17.67 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.33-31.99 32-31.99H192v-144c0-17.69 14.33-32.01 32-32.01s32 14.32 32 32.01v144h144C417.7 224 432 238.3 432 256z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon-active uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M400 288h-352c-17.69 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.31-31.99 32-31.99h352c17.69 0 32 14.3 32 31.99S417.7 288 400 288z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-question\"><strong>Will elevation fix lymphedema?<\/strong><\/span><\/div><div class=\"uagb-faq-content\"><p>Elevation may offer <strong>temporary<\/strong> relief but typically doesn\u2019t fully resolve lymphedema, especially as it progresses\u2014unlike many systemic or venous causes of pitting edema.\u00a0<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq-child uagb-faq-child__outer-wrap uagb-faq-item uagb-block-16961968 \" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\"><div class=\"uagb-faq-questions-button uagb-faq-questions\">\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M432 256c0 17.69-14.33 32.01-32 32.01H256v144c0 17.69-14.33 31.99-32 31.99s-32-14.3-32-31.99v-144H48c-17.67 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.33-31.99 32-31.99H192v-144c0-17.69 14.33-32.01 32-32.01s32 14.32 32 32.01v144h144C417.7 224 432 238.3 432 256z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon-active uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M400 288h-352c-17.69 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.31-31.99 32-31.99h352c17.69 0 32 14.3 32 31.99S417.7 288 400 288z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-question\"><strong>What about diuretics (\u201cwater pills\u201d) for lymphedema?<\/strong><\/span><\/div><div class=\"uagb-faq-content\"><p>They\u2019re <strong>not recommended<\/strong> for nonsystemic edema like lymphedema; core therapy is <strong>CDT<\/strong> and compression. Diuretics are used when there\u2019s a <strong>systemic<\/strong> cause (e.g., CHF).\u00a0<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq-child uagb-faq-child__outer-wrap uagb-faq-item uagb-block-33ea3d63 \" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\"><div class=\"uagb-faq-questions-button uagb-faq-questions\">\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M432 256c0 17.69-14.33 32.01-32 32.01H256v144c0 17.69-14.33 31.99-32 31.99s-32-14.3-32-31.99v-144H48c-17.67 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.33-31.99 32-31.99H192v-144c0-17.69 14.33-32.01 32-32.01s32 14.32 32 32.01v144h144C417.7 224 432 238.3 432 256z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon-active uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M400 288h-352c-17.69 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.31-31.99 32-31.99h352c17.69 0 32 14.3 32 31.99S417.7 288 400 288z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-question\"><strong>How is lymphedema officially \u201cstaged\u201d?<\/strong><\/span><\/div><div class=\"uagb-faq-content\"><p>Staging systems describe increasing chronicity and fibrosis\u2014from latent\/subclinical through irreversible changes. For an overview of stages and self-management tips, see our explainer: <strong>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/navigating-the-journey-understanding-the-four-stages-of-lymphedema\/\">Understanding the Four Stages of Lymphedema.<\/a>\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"find-a-certified-lymphedema-therapist\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Find a Certified Lymphedema Therapist<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-center\" style=\"grid-template-columns:auto 25%\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hands-on care and garment selection are where outcomes really improve. The <strong>Norton School Therapist Referrals<\/strong> page can help you locate a <strong>Certified Lymphedema Therapist (CLT)<\/strong> near you. You can also learn what a CLT does and how to vet credentials in our guide.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>More helpful reads from our blog:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>F<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/finding-a-lymphedema-therapist-near-you\/\">inding a Lymphedema Therapist Near You<\/a><\/strong> (step-by-step walkthrough of our referral tool).\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/stemmers-sign-and-its-crucial-connection-to-lymphedema\/\">Stemmer\u2019s Sign and its Crucial Connection to Lymphedema<\/a><\/strong> (what the sign is and how it\u2019s used).\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/find-a-clt.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&ssl=1\" alt=\"Find a CLT \u2013 Norton School\" class=\"wp-image-692 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/find-a-clt.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&ssl=1 683w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/find-a-clt.jpg?resize=200%2C300&ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/find-a-clt.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/find-a-clt.jpg?resize=380%2C570&ssl=1 380w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/find-a-clt.jpg?resize=800%2C1200&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/find-a-clt.jpg?w=1024&ssl=1 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-key-takeaways\"><span id=\"key-takeaways\"><strong>Key Takeaways<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Pitting edema<\/strong> = a <strong>sign<\/strong> that often points to <strong>systemic or venous<\/strong> causes; treat the <strong>cause<\/strong>, and use compression appropriately.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Lymphedema<\/strong> = a <strong>chronic lymphatic condition<\/strong>; may pit early but often <strong>non-pitting later<\/strong>, with <strong>positive Stemmer sign<\/strong> and characteristic skin changes; best treated with <strong>CDT<\/strong> and <strong>compression<\/strong>, not diuretics.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>When in doubt, especially with <strong>acute unilateral swelling<\/strong> or <strong>systemic symptoms<\/strong>, seek urgent evaluation.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-references-amp-further-reading\"><span id=\"references-further-reading\"><strong>References & Further Reading<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>American Academy of Family Physicians.<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aafp.org\/pubs\/afp\/issues\/2022\/1100\/peripheral-edema.html\"><em>Peripheral Edema: Evaluation and Management in Primary Care.<\/em> (Nov 2022)<\/a>. Practical algorithms for differentiating causes; notes limits of pitting scale; outlines testing and management principles.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mayo Clinic.<\/strong> <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/edema\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20366493?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Edema\u2014Symptoms<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/edema\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20366493\"> <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/edema\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20366493?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">and Causes<\/a>.<\/em> Accessible overview of systemic causes and general care.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cleveland Clinic.<\/strong> <em><a href=\"?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Lymphedema: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment<\/a>.<\/em> Patient-friendly overview of lymphedema.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>International Society of Lymphology (ISL).<\/strong> <em><a href=\"https:\/\/isl.arizona.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/2021-09\/Consensus%20Document-SM.pdf\">2020 Consensus Document: Diagnosis & Treatment of Peripheral Lymphedema<\/a>.<\/em> Core reference for CDT and clinical practice.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Goss JA, Greene AK.<\/strong> <em><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/31624689\/\">Sensitivity and Specificity of the Stemmer Sign for Lymphedema<\/a>.<\/em> Reports ~<strong>92% sensitivity<\/strong> for lymphedema; helpful but not perfectly specific.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Villa G, et al.<\/strong> <em><a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC6377575\/\">Procedural Recommendations for Lymphoscintigraphy in Lymphedema<\/a>.<\/em> Imaging best practices; supports lymphoscintigraphy as the <strong>test of choice<\/strong> in many cases.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC9883343\/\">BIS in Lymphedema Surveillance<\/a>.<\/strong> Updated guidance supporting <strong>lower L-Dex thresholds<\/strong> to detect subclinical change sooner.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>This article is for education only and is not a substitute for medical advice. If you have new or worsening swelling\u2014especially with pain, redness, breathing issues, or fever\u2014seek care promptly.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"If you (or your patients) notice swelling in an arm, leg, or elsewhere, the first question is usually what\u2019s causing it? Two common\u2014but very different\u2014culprits are pitting edema and lymphedema. They can look similar at first glance, especially early on, but their causes, clinical clues, and best treatments diverge. Getting the distinction right prevents delays in care, unnecessary tests, and the wrong therapies.\nThis guide breaks down the differences clearly, shows how clinicians tell them apart, and offers practical next steps\u2014including when to seek urgent care and how to find a certified lymphedema therapist.\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":689,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","iawp_total_views":14642,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,25],"tags":[39,55,38,83],"class_list":["post-687","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-living-with-lymphedema","category-lymphedema-education-resources","tag-cdt","tag-edema","tag-mld","tag-pitting-edema"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Pitting Edema vs. Lymphedema: How to Tell Them Apart (and Why It Matters) - The Norton School Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn how pitting edema differs from lymphedema\u2014causes, exam clues (Stemmer sign), testing, and evidence-based treatment like CDT and compression.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/pitting-edema-vs-lymphedema\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Pitting Edema vs. Lymphedema: How to Tell Them Apart (and Why It Matters) - The Norton School Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn how pitting edema differs from lymphedema\u2014causes, exam clues (Stemmer sign), testing, and evidence-based treatment like CDT and compression.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/pitting-edema-vs-lymphedema\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Norton School Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/NortonSchool\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/NortonSchool\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-08-14T10:28:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-10-06T14:55:31+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pitting-edema-vs-lymph.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1536\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"The Norton School\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@https:\/\/x.com\/LymphSchool\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@LymphSchool\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"The Norton School\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nortonschool.com\\\/blog\\\/pitting-edema-vs-lymphedema\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nortonschool.com\\\/blog\\\/pitting-edema-vs-lymphedema\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"The Norton School\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nortonschool.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/205b6f333f9fe02206886425c82a3b53\"},\"headline\":\"Pitting Edema vs. Lymphedema: How to Tell Them Apart (and Why It Matters)\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-08-14T10:28:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-10-06T14:55:31+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nortonschool.com\\\/blog\\\/pitting-edema-vs-lymphedema\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1304,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nortonschool.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nortonschool.com\\\/blog\\\/pitting-edema-vs-lymphedema\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/www.nortonschool.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/08\\\/pitting-edema-vs-lymph.jpg?fit=1536%2C1024&ssl=1\",\"keywords\":[\"CDT\",\"edema\",\"MLD\",\"pitting edema\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Living with Lymphedema\",\"Lymphedema Education &amp; Resources\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nortonschool.com\\\/blog\\\/pitting-edema-vs-lymphedema\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nortonschool.com\\\/blog\\\/pitting-edema-vs-lymphedema\\\/\",\"name\":\"Pitting Edema vs. Lymphedema: How to Tell Them Apart (and Why It Matters) - The Norton School Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nortonschool.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nortonschool.com\\\/blog\\\/pitting-edema-vs-lymphedema\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nortonschool.com\\\/blog\\\/pitting-edema-vs-lymphedema\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/www.nortonschool.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/08\\\/pitting-edema-vs-lymph.jpg?fit=1536%2C1024&ssl=1\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-08-14T10:28:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-10-06T14:55:31+00:00\",\"description\":\"Learn how pitting edema differs from lymphedema\u2014causes, exam clues (Stemmer sign), testing, and evidence-based treatment like CDT and compression.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nortonschool.com\\\/blog\\\/pitting-edema-vs-lymphedema\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nortonschool.com\\\/blog\\\/pitting-edema-vs-lymphedema\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nortonschool.com\\\/blog\\\/pitting-edema-vs-lymphedema\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/www.nortonschool.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/08\\\/pitting-edema-vs-lymph.jpg?fit=1536%2C1024&ssl=1\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/www.nortonschool.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/08\\\/pitting-edema-vs-lymph.jpg?fit=1536%2C1024&ssl=1\",\"width\":1536,\"height\":1024,\"caption\":\"image contrasting a pitting test on one leg with lymphatic swelling on the other.\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nortonschool.com\\\/blog\\\/pitting-edema-vs-lymphedema\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nortonschool.com\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Pitting Edema vs. Lymphedema: How to Tell Them Apart (and Why It Matters)\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nortonschool.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nortonschool.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"The Norton School Blog\",\"description\":\"The Premier School for Lymphedema Certification\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nortonschool.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nortonschool.com\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nortonschool.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Norton School of Lymphatic Studies\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nortonschool.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nortonschool.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nortonschool.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/11\\\/norton-school-logo.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nortonschool.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/11\\\/norton-school-logo.png\",\"width\":450,\"height\":192,\"caption\":\"Norton School of Lymphatic Studies\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nortonschool.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/NortonSchool\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/LymphSchool\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nortonschool.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/205b6f333f9fe02206886425c82a3b53\",\"name\":\"The Norton School\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/de3f1ab94f8de93ceda39389111addaf1e0a314f711416da07c2aa3f711e903a?s=96&d=mm&r=pg\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/de3f1ab94f8de93ceda39389111addaf1e0a314f711416da07c2aa3f711e903a?s=96&d=mm&r=pg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/de3f1ab94f8de93ceda39389111addaf1e0a314f711416da07c2aa3f711e903a?s=96&d=mm&r=pg\",\"caption\":\"The Norton School\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nortonschool.com\\\/blog\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/NortonSchool\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/in\\\/nortonschooloflymphatictherapy\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/LymphSchool\\\/\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nortonschool.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/nortonadmin\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Pitting Edema vs. Lymphedema: How to Tell Them Apart (and Why It Matters) - The Norton School Blog","description":"Learn how pitting edema differs from lymphedema\u2014causes, exam clues (Stemmer sign), testing, and evidence-based treatment like CDT and compression.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/pitting-edema-vs-lymphedema\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Pitting Edema vs. Lymphedema: How to Tell Them Apart (and Why It Matters) - The Norton School Blog","og_description":"Learn how pitting edema differs from lymphedema\u2014causes, exam clues (Stemmer sign), testing, and evidence-based treatment like CDT and compression.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/pitting-edema-vs-lymphedema\/","og_site_name":"The Norton School Blog","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/NortonSchool\/","article_author":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/NortonSchool\/","article_published_time":"2025-08-14T10:28:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-10-06T14:55:31+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1536,"height":1024,"url":"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pitting-edema-vs-lymph.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"The Norton School","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@https:\/\/x.com\/LymphSchool\/","twitter_site":"@LymphSchool","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"The Norton School","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/pitting-edema-vs-lymphedema\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/pitting-edema-vs-lymphedema\/"},"author":{"name":"The Norton School","@id":"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/205b6f333f9fe02206886425c82a3b53"},"headline":"Pitting Edema vs. Lymphedema: How to Tell Them Apart (and Why It Matters)","datePublished":"2025-08-14T10:28:00+00:00","dateModified":"2025-10-06T14:55:31+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/pitting-edema-vs-lymphedema\/"},"wordCount":1304,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/pitting-edema-vs-lymphedema\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pitting-edema-vs-lymph.jpg?fit=1536%2C1024&ssl=1","keywords":["CDT","edema","MLD","pitting edema"],"articleSection":["Living with Lymphedema","Lymphedema Education &amp; Resources"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/pitting-edema-vs-lymphedema\/","url":"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/pitting-edema-vs-lymphedema\/","name":"Pitting Edema vs. Lymphedema: How to Tell Them Apart (and Why It Matters) - The Norton School Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/pitting-edema-vs-lymphedema\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/pitting-edema-vs-lymphedema\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pitting-edema-vs-lymph.jpg?fit=1536%2C1024&ssl=1","datePublished":"2025-08-14T10:28:00+00:00","dateModified":"2025-10-06T14:55:31+00:00","description":"Learn how pitting edema differs from lymphedema\u2014causes, exam clues (Stemmer sign), testing, and evidence-based treatment like CDT and compression.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/pitting-edema-vs-lymphedema\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/pitting-edema-vs-lymphedema\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/pitting-edema-vs-lymphedema\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pitting-edema-vs-lymph.jpg?fit=1536%2C1024&ssl=1","contentUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pitting-edema-vs-lymph.jpg?fit=1536%2C1024&ssl=1","width":1536,"height":1024,"caption":"image contrasting a pitting test on one leg with lymphatic swelling on the other."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/pitting-edema-vs-lymphedema\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Pitting Edema vs. Lymphedema: How to Tell Them Apart (and Why It Matters)"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/","name":"The Norton School Blog","description":"The Premier School for Lymphedema Certification","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Norton School of Lymphatic Studies","url":"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/norton-school-logo.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/norton-school-logo.png","width":450,"height":192,"caption":"Norton School of Lymphatic Studies"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/NortonSchool\/","https:\/\/x.com\/LymphSchool"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/205b6f333f9fe02206886425c82a3b53","name":"The Norton School","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/de3f1ab94f8de93ceda39389111addaf1e0a314f711416da07c2aa3f711e903a?s=96&d=mm&r=pg","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/de3f1ab94f8de93ceda39389111addaf1e0a314f711416da07c2aa3f711e903a?s=96&d=mm&r=pg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/de3f1ab94f8de93ceda39389111addaf1e0a314f711416da07c2aa3f711e903a?s=96&d=mm&r=pg","caption":"The Norton School"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog","https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/NortonSchool\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/nortonschooloflymphatictherapy\/","https:\/\/x.com\/https:\/\/x.com\/LymphSchool\/"],"url":"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/author\/nortonadmin\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pitting-edema-vs-lymph.jpg?fit=1536%2C1024&ssl=1","uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pitting-edema-vs-lymph.jpg?fit=1536%2C1024&ssl=1",1536,1024,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pitting-edema-vs-lymph.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pitting-edema-vs-lymph.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pitting-edema-vs-lymph.jpg?fit=768%2C512&ssl=1",768,512,true],"large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pitting-edema-vs-lymph.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1",1024,683,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pitting-edema-vs-lymph.jpg?fit=1536%2C1024&ssl=1",1536,1024,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pitting-edema-vs-lymph.jpg?fit=1536%2C1024&ssl=1",1536,1024,true],"pk-small":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pitting-edema-vs-lymph.jpg?resize=80%2C80&ssl=1",80,80,true],"pk-thumbnail":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pitting-edema-vs-lymph.jpg?resize=300%2C225&ssl=1",300,225,true],"csco-small":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pitting-edema-vs-lymph.jpg?resize=80%2C80&ssl=1",80,80,true],"csco-intermediate":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pitting-edema-vs-lymph.jpg?resize=200%2C140&ssl=1",200,140,true],"csco-thumbnail":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pitting-edema-vs-lymph.jpg?resize=380%2C220&ssl=1",380,220,true],"csco-thumbnail-alternative":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pitting-edema-vs-lymph.jpg?resize=300%2C180&ssl=1",300,180,true],"csco-thumbnail-uncropped":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pitting-edema-vs-lymph.jpg?fit=380%2C253&ssl=1",380,253,true],"csco-medium":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pitting-edema-vs-lymph.jpg?resize=800%2C500&ssl=1",800,500,true],"csco-medium-alternative":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pitting-edema-vs-lymph.jpg?resize=560%2C336&ssl=1",560,336,true],"csco-medium-uncropped":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pitting-edema-vs-lymph.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1",800,533,true],"csco-large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pitting-edema-vs-lymph.jpg?resize=1160%2C680&ssl=1",1160,680,true],"csco-large-uncropped":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pitting-edema-vs-lymph.jpg?resize=1160%2C773&ssl=1",1160,773,true],"csco-extra-large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pitting-edema-vs-lymph.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1",1536,1024,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"The Norton School","author_link":"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/author\/nortonadmin\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"If you (or your patients) notice swelling in an arm, leg, or elsewhere, the first question is usually what\u2019s causing it? Two common\u2014but very different\u2014culprits are pitting edema and lymphedema. They can look similar at first glance, especially early on, but their causes, clinical clues, and best treatments diverge. Getting the distinction right prevents delays&hellip;","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/687","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=687"}],"version-history":[{"count":24,"href":"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/687\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":847,"href":"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/687\/revisions\/847"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/689"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=687"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=687"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nortonschool.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=687"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}