Legs Like Mine: The Podcast

Legs Like Mine The Podcast: Episode 37 Strength Is the Missing Lipedema Treatment Not Being Discussed

Could the most overlooked conservative treatment for lipedema be... muscle? For years, lipedema conversations have focused on diagnosis, compression, surgery, pain management, lymphatics, and symptom control. All important. But what if we’ve been missing one of the most important pieces for preserving mobility? A brand-new study found that **sarcopenia, loss of muscle mass and strength, is prevalent in women with lower-extremity lipedema and increases with disease stage.** That means as lipedema progresses, many patients may be losing the very muscle they need to stabilize joints, climb stairs, protect their knees, and stay independent. In this episode of *Legs Like Mine*, we break down the research in plain language and connect it to a second emerging framework explaining why so many women with lipedema develop knee pain, altered gait, valgus collapse, and cartilage damage that may be misattributed or undertreated. I’m also sharing my own story. As a woman with stage 3 lipedema, I was headed toward knee replacement. After just two months of progressive resistance training three times a week, I can do stairs again and cancelled my surgery. This episode is for: ✔️ Lipedema patients struggling with mobility ✔️ Physical therapists treating unexplained knee pain ✔️ Physicians managing lipedema care ✔️ Anyone asking whether conservative care has been too narrowly defined If preserving mobility matters, this may be one of the most important conversations happening in lipedema right now. As promised during the video, here are a few links: Study: Ozbek IC, Kuculmez O, Dundar Ahi E. Prevalence of sarcopenia and its functional correlates in women with lower-extremity lipedema: A cross-sectional observational study. Phlebology. 2026 May 8:2683555261451570. doi: 10.1177/02683555261451570. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42102393.: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42102393/ [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42102393/] Paper: Amato AC. Chondromalacia in Lipedema: The Sarcopenic-Valgus Cascade That Keeps Getting Missed. Cureus. 2025 Oct 24;17(10):e95299. doi: 10.7759/cureus.95299. PMID: 41287673; PMCID: PMC12640552: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41287673/ [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41287673/] FREE copies of my Aqua Therapy for Lipedema and Lymphedema Book, along with others: https://legslikemine.com/books-and-downloads/ [https://legslikemine.com/books-and-downloads/] Dr. Amato's book - The Essential Guide to Living with Lipedema: Discovering the Truth and Transforming Treatment of a Misunderstood Condition: https://amzn.to/4u8X2v9 [https://amzn.to/4u8X2v9] Theraband Resistance Bands (Open): https://amzn.to/4eIXxHf [https://amzn.to/4eIXxHf] Check out the blog on www.LegsLikeMine.comIf you like our content, please consider donating a few dollars to say Hey Thanks for Making this: paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=MQNCDP9HAK5WQ [paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=MQNCDP9HAK5WQ]

Legs Like Mine The Podcast: Episode 36: Study Confirms Common Lipedema Health Struggles

In this episode I discuss a new research study from Spain that just came out, where researchers surveyed more than 1000 lipedema patients and compared the results to the national health survey. The findings confirm the overwhelming data supporting several key comorbidities with lipedema, and a couple I hadn't heard before. Why's this important? Take a listen to hear what the significance is! The research study I'm discussing is here: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/02683555261435120?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed [https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/02683555261435120?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed]Check out the blog on www.LegsLikeMine.comIf you like our content, please consider donating a few dollars to say Hey Thanks for Making this: paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=MQNCDP9HAK5WQ [ paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=MQNCDP9HAK5WQ]

Legs Like Mine The Podcast: Episode 35: Is there Finally a Blood Test for Lipedema?

There's been a lot of hype, and different people trying to sell patients information, about a possible blood test for lipedema. Guess what? Research IS happening on it, and yes, they have found some biomarkers that will lead to a test...someday. I'll talk today about a paper released within the last month that might lead to that test we need for an objective diagnosis. Bottom line: DO NOT PAY ANYONE FOR INFORMATION about a blood test. It's a scam. Check out the blog on www.LegsLikeMine.comIf you like our content, please consider donating a few dollars to say Hey Thanks for Making this: paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=MQNCDP9HAK5WQ

Legs Like Mine The Podcast Episode 35 - Lipedema Officially has a Global Body of Evidence, and What This Means for You

Today I am discussing the newly-dropped Global Lipedema Consensus Document that was published by members of the Lipedema World Alliance. (link [https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-68232-z]) In this comeback of Legs Like Mine, I break down a major new international medical consensus document on lipedema and why it matters so much for our community. This paper calls out what many of us have known for years: lipedema is a chronic disease, it comes with real symptoms like pain, heaviness, swelling, and easy bruising, and it is not the same thing as obesity. I explain the key highlights in plain language, including why diagnosis is often missed, what the document says about treatment and management, and how this consensus makes it harder for doctors and society to dismiss, misdiagnose, or blame us. This episode is about validation, awareness, and finally having receipts that support what we’ve been saying all along. The LegsLikeMine Podcast and content posted by LegsLikeMine is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. visit me at www.LegsLikeMine.com [www.legslikemine.com] And see all of the books I've written about lipedema here on my author page on Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/stores/Susan-OHara/author/B09Y3RTDN3?ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=78542e3d-73a6-4d79-b304-bb12ea667d3c].

LegsLikeMine The Podcast: Episode 34 - Why ICD-10 Codes for Lipedema Can't Wait

Take action: Email the CDC at ⁠nchsicd10CM@cdc.gov⁠ [nchsicd10CM@cdc.gov] before October 9, 2025 to support the initiative — and ask ten friends or supporters to do the same. Together, our voices can make a lasting impact. Welcome to Legs Like Mine: The Podcast — where we explore lipedema from a patient’s perspective, break down the latest research, and share real-life experiences of living with this often misunderstood condition. In this episode, we dive into why ICD-10 codes for lipedema are so urgently needed in the United States. While some argue that ICD-11 will solve the problem eventually, the reality is that the U.S. has no timeline for adopting ICD-11 — leaving patients invisible in the healthcare system. We’ll cover why diagnosis codes matter for tracking prevalence, ensuring consistency, and building the knowledge bases that guide clinical care. You’ll also hear why “waiting for ICD-11” is not an acceptable answer for patients today. Take action: Email the CDC at nchsicd10CM@cdc.gov [nchsicd10CM@cdc.gov] before October 9, 2025 to support the initiative — and ask ten friends or supporters to do the same. Together, our voices can make a lasting impact.