Upcoming Lymphatic Disorders Events:
LE&RN Chapter Meeting
When: Tue Nov 3, 6:00 - 7:00 pm
Where: Therapy Achievements, 802 Shoney Dr SW, Ste A, Huntsville, AL 35801
Topic: Lymphedema Surgery: Understanding Your Options
Join us for an informative discussion about surgical options for treating lymphedema. We’ll watch a portion of the LE&RN Symposium presentation, Combining Surgical Approaches to Effectively Treat Lymphedema, featuring Dr. Jay Granzow, to learn about different lymphatic surgery approaches. Following the video, a woman who has undergone lymphatic surgery will share her personal experience, including what she learned, what the process was like, and her perspective on life after surgery.
Come learn, ask questions, and hear a real patient experience.
Why Lymphatic Disorders Support Matters
Living with a lymphatic disorder can be physically and emotionally challenging. Conditions such as lymphedema, lipedema, and other lymphatic disorders are frequently misunderstood, underdiagnosed, or misdiagnosed—even by healthcare professionals. Many people spend months or even years searching for answers before receiving an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Unfortunately, swelling associated with lymphatic disorders is often mistaken for obesity, poor circulation, or simple fluid retention. Patients may be told to "just lose weight" or that their symptoms are a normal part of aging, delaying the specialized care they need. These experiences can leave individuals feeling frustrated, isolated, and uncertain about where to turn.
The good news is that you don't have to navigate your journey alone. Educating yourself about your condition and connecting with others who understand your experiences can make a tremendous difference. A strong support network can provide practical advice, emotional encouragement, educational resources, and access to knowledgeable healthcare providers who specialize in lymphatic disorders.
Fortunately, there are many outstanding organizations dedicated to improving the lives of people living with lymphedema, lipedema, and other lymphatic diseases. These groups offer patient education, support communities, advocacy, research updates, and resources to help you better understand your condition and confidently manage it for the long term.
Lymphatic Disorders Awareness & Support Organizations:
Lymphedema Education & Research Network (LE&RN)
LE&RN is an internationally recognized non-profit organization that fights lymphatic disease (LD) through education, research, and advocacy. LE&RN is committed to investigating preventive and therapeutic benefits for a broad array of diseases that are impacted by lymphatic function, such as heart disease, obesity, AIDS, Rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and cancer metastasis. LE&RN does so by:
- Maintaining an international Patient Registry and biorepository
- Providing a directory of Clinical Trials and Studies
- Credentialling Centers of Excellence to ensure standard of care
- Hosting live-stream symposiums, publishing the peer-reviewed journal Lymphatic Research & Biology and sending weekly e-newsletters
- Maintaining a website with features such as Ask the Experts that connects patients with the field’s more renowned practitioners
- Providing scholarship grants to lymphedema therapists and funding conference travel awards to young researchers
- Establishing local Support Chapters
National Lymphedema Network (NLN)
The National Lymphedema Network is a trusted resource for education, advocacy, and support for people impacted by lymphedema and related lymphatic conditions. We connect patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and advocates with the knowledge, community, and tools needed to improve care and quality of life.
Lipedema Foundation
The mission of the Lipedema Foundation is to Define, Diagnose and Develop Treatments for Lipedema through collaborative research that addresses the basic biology, genetics, and epidemiology of Lipedema.
- Providing a Lipedema Registry to learn more about Lipedema; understand barriers to diagnosis; better manage symptoms; assess quality of life impact; and develop new treatment approaches
- Partnering with Research and patient communities to identify and overcome barriers to advancement of Lipedema care
- Providing Educational Resources to help undertand the pathology, diagnosis and treatment of lipedema disorders
- Providing a Directory of Diagnosing Clinicians (Doctors, Nurse Practitioners, and Physician Associates who are comfortable diagnosing, many of whom also provide conservative therapy for Lipedema) and Therapists (Physical, occupational, and massage therapists who typically cannot diagnose but are often knowledgeable about Lipedema and provide conservative care).
Past Lymphedema Support Events:
June 13, 2026 LE&RN Chapter Meeting
What: Pool Party!
Where: Huntsville Aquatic Center, 2213 Drake Ave, SW, Huntsville, AL 35805
Join us to relax and have a good time at the Huntsville Aquatic Center Legacy Pool! Water exercise is one of the best ways to work out with lymphedema and what better way than to do it with Lymphedema & Lipedema friends! Admission is $4 and we will meet at the Huntsville Aquatic Center Legacy pool, 2213 Drake Ave SW, Huntsville, AL 35805.
September 2025 LE&RN Chapter Meeting
Topic: Updates on Lipedema – Diagnostics, Screenings, & Related Topics
Speaker: Melissa Flowers, COTA/L, CLT
Lipedema is frequently misunderstood both in the medical community and in general. It is mistaken for obesity or lymphedema, and although people with lipedema can have these conditions as well, getting treatment for the underlying condition can be very difficult. For our September LASNA meeting, Melissa Flowers, COTA/L, CLT will share the latest updates from the 2025 Fat Disorders Resource Society Conference.
December 3, 2024 LE&RN Chapter Meeting
Topic: Men’s Health and Lymphatic Disorders
Speakers: John Waples, MD and Darin Gregg, COTA
1 CEU available for Nurses, Social Workers, OTs & PTs
Join us for our December LE&RN Chapter Meeting to hear Dr. John Waples and Darin Gregg present on Men’s Health and Lymphatic Disorders. They will outline:
- The prevalence of and risk factors for men’s health issues such as DVT, CVI, and prostate, colorectal, breast and other cancers
- The barriers to diagnosis and treatment of men’s health issues
- The importance of early identification and therapy intervention
- Effective therapy modalities
September 2024 Lymphedema Awareness & Support MeetUp
Topic: Latest Research on Lipedema – Diagnostics, Screenings, & Related Topics
Speaker: Melissa Flowers, COTA/L, CLT
Lipedema is frequently misunderstood both in the medical community and in general. It is mistaken for obesity or lymphedema, and although people with lipedema can have these conditions as well, getting treatment for the underlying condition can be very difficult. For our September LASNA meeting, Melissa Flowers, COTA/L, CLT will share the latest updates from the 2024 Fat Disorders Resource Society Conference.
June 2024 Lymphedema Awareness & Support MeetUp
Our June LASNA meeting will feature segments from the video series Living With Chronic Wounds. In this documentary, patients and healthcare professionals share their experiences with caring for and treating common types of non-healing wounds. By telling about the challenges and strategies for living with chronic wounds, they give encouragement and hope to others living with this condition. The project was produced by the European Wound Management Association (EWMA) whose goal is to work with different national or international organizations to increase data collection and evidence, implement knowledge and develop education around wound management.
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