Finding Hope with Lipedema: Your Journey Toward Healing in Bend, Oregon

Have you ever felt like no matter how hard you try, you just can’t lose the weight in your legs?

Or maybe your legs ache, swell, bruise easily, and feel painful to the touch?

You’re not alone — and you are not crazy. You might be dealing with something called lipedema.

At MovementX in Bend, Oregon, my mission is to bring hope, healing, and personalized care to those living with lipedema. 

My name is Morgan Stewart, and as a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Certified Lymphedema Therapist (CLT), I specialize in helping people find real answers, real treatment options, and real relief — in a way that fits into your life, your body, and your goals.

What Is Lipedema?

Lipedema is a chronic condition affecting up to 11% of women worldwide (Lipedema Foundation, 2023). It causes an abnormal buildup of fat cells, primarily in the legs, hips, buttocks, and sometimes arms. This isn’t typical “diet and exercise” fat — lipedema fat behaves differently.

Some of the most common signs of lipedema include:

• Fat accumulation only in the legs and/or arms
• Feeling like your body is “two sizes” — smaller torso but disproportionately large legs
• Painful, tender tissue that bruises easily
• Swelling that worsens as the day goes on
• Skin that feels soft, but may be lumpy or nodular
• Difficulty losing “fat” in legs, no matter how much weight you lose elsewhere

Sadly, lipedema is often mistaken for simple obesity — even by well-meaning doctors — leading many women to feel shame, frustration, and defeat for years before getting a correct diagnosis.

A Personal Mission: Hope for Every Step

I created my mobile PT practice with a simple mission: to reach people who need support where they are, in their homes, on their terms.

Living with lipedema often feels like a lonely, uphill battle. My goal is to change that — by offering personalized, compassionate care, empowering education, and practical tools that help you reclaim your life.

You deserve a plan that understands the complexity of lipedema.

You deserve hope, not judgment.

Whether you are just beginning your journey, exploring conservative management, or considering surgical options, we are here to support and guide you through every step of your decision-making process. No pressure, just partnership.

Treatment Options: What Really Helps?

While there’s currently no cure for lipedema, there are many proven ways to reduce swelling, improve tissue health, decrease pain, and regain function.

At MovementX in Bend, we create a fully customized plan based on your body’s needs and your personal goals.

Here’s what treatment might look like:

1. Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT)

This is considered the “gold standard” for treating lipedema. It includes:

• Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD)
  
  A gentle, rhythmic massage technique that helps move stagnant lymphatic fluid out of the tissues. It’s incredibly relaxing and powerful for reducing pain and swelling. 
• Compression Therapy
  
  Custom-fitted garments like leggings or stockings that help control swelling, improve circulation, and prevent progression. 
• Exercise Therapy
  
  Low-impact activities like walking, swimming, and gentle strength training to promote lymph flow without stressing your joints.
  
  We often recommend using vibration plates as a low-impact way to stimulate circulation and lymphatic movement — especially helpful for those dealing with pain or mobility issues. 
• Skin Care
  
  Simple routines to protect delicate skin and reduce infection risk. 

I offer MLD, compression fitting guidance, personalized exercise planning, and more — directly in your home.

2. Specialized Techniques: Tailored for Lipedema

In addition to CDT, we often integrate other therapies to help soften tissues, manage discomfort, and boost your body’s healing:

• Cupping Therapy
  
  Gentle suction therapy can loosen dense tissues and promote lymphatic flow. When modified for lipedema, it can significantly help with pain and tightness. 
• Dry Brushing
  
  Using a soft, natural bristle brush in specific patterns can support daily lymphatic drainage at home. 
• Pneumatic Compression Pumps
  
  Sequential compression devices that massage fluid out of the legs. I can help you find and train with pumps that are safe and effective for lipedema tissue. 
• Lipedema-Specific Massage
  
  Specialized techniques that focus on gently moving fluid, breaking down fibrosis, and easing pain without damaging fragile lymphatic vessels. 

3. Surgical Options: A Personalized Pathway

Surgery is never the first-line treatment, but for some individuals, it becomes an important part of a comprehensive care plan.

• Lymph-Sparing Liposuction
  
  This specialized technique focuses on removing diseased fat cells while protecting delicate lymphatic structures. It can significantly improve mobility, pain, and appearance. 
• Combined Plastic Surgery Techniques
  
  Depending on your needs and goals, procedures like arm lifts, leg lifts, tummy tucks, or a panniculectomy(removal of an apron of excess abdominal skin) can be performed — often after initial liposuction to enhance comfort, function, and quality of life.

Surgical options can be transformative, but they aren’t mandatory to live better with lipedema.

No matter what part of your journey you’re on — whether you want to pursue surgical options or not — we’re here to provide education, support, and guidance so you can make the best decision for YOU.

Lipedema Is Real, and So Is Hope

You didn’t cause this. It’s not your fault.

Lipedema is a real medical condition, and getting help is about honoring your body — not blaming it.

Healing is not a straight line. Some days will be better than others. But with the right support, the right plan, and a community that believes in you, real progress is possible.

If you’re interested in teaming up, I bring specialized lipedema care to you — your living room, your kitchen table, your backyard if you want. Because life is busy, and healing should meet you where you are.

When we work together, my goal is to:

• Listen deeply to your story
• Build a personalized care plan that fits your life
• Help you feel stronger, freer, and more hopeful with every step

Ready to Begin Your Healing Journey?

If you’re in Bend, Oregon or the surrounding areas and struggling with lipedema symptoms, you don’t have to walk this road alone.

Contact me today for a free consultation. Let’s talk about your story, your hopes, and how we can work together to help you feel better: One step at a time.

Schedule a Consult with Me