WAlking can sometimes help, though that may be a problem for you.
There's a mechanism in the ankle whereby motion of the ankle and the
achilles tendon along with contraction of attached muscles pumps lymph
out of the ankle region. Too little vigourous movement leads to too
little pumping leading to lymphodema. That is, if I recall correctly.
I've been up all night leaning over a bucket and having bruises pop up
on me, so my mind isn't too sharp just at the moment.

Cheers,

Ari

My mom just developed it. My uncle, the Pediatric RD, told her:

1 -  wear the compression stocking (and move up in tension if this tension
wasn't helping much);
2 - reduce the salt intake (significantly)
3 - drink more water and less of dehydrating stuff like coffee and diet
sodas.

Wonder if a pregnancy trick would work - you have to soak up to your neck in
a pool or hot tub or other deep water. The idea is that the water outside of
you (since it's deep, it exerts pressure) pushes the water 'in you' out of
the tissue and into the bloodstream where the kidneys eliminate it?

Diane - I have the same thing. I went to a vein doctor almost two years ago
now and he ran a bunch of tests on my legs and found them to be "normal"
well of course except for the lymphodema. Said to wear thigh highs which I
can't bear to try on. I wear the knee high support stockings in the middle
grade. Can't remember the number but something like 18-22 rings a bell.

Have you had a hysterectomy?  I think when I had mine, something the doctor
did may have screwed up the vascular stuff with my legs. He said I had a lot
of .... can't remember what he called it ...oh year, varicose veins or
such.in the abdomen and he spent a lot of time tying them off. Said he
usually saw that in women in their 60's and it would account for achy legs
and a sore back especially around the time I had my period. Of course, I've
gone back and looked at my records and it's not written in there and I was
half in and half out when he told me this. My Mom can't remember what he
said either. I've always wondered if that is what caused this problem. My
right leg, the one I had the blood clot in, is a lot worse than the other. I
usually only wear a stocking on my right leg because when I wear one on the
left, my kneecap starts to slip after a few hours. Painful. Can't win for
loosing.