What Helps With Lipoedema Pain?
A Gentle Guide for Daily Relief**
Lipoedema pain can feel heavy, achy, or tender — especially on days when swelling increases or your body feels overworked. While there’s no single “fix”, many women find real relief from a combination of supportive habits, gentle movement, and clothing that doesn’t add unnecessary pressure.
At curae, many of the women who discovered my work — including my very first converted customer — live with lipoedema. Their feedback has shaped everything I design, especially the need for softness, breathable layers and pressure-free fits. What follows is a guide informed by those lived experiences, combined with trusted, non-medical advice for comfort and ease.
1. Gentle, Low-Impact Movement
Not all exercise helps lipoedema pain — in fact, high-impact workouts can make symptoms worse. What tends to help most is movement that encourages lymphatic flow without overloading the joints.
Supportive options include:
- Walking (low strain, helps circulation)
- Swimming or aqua movement (reduces joint pressure)
- Rebounding on a mini trampoline (gentle lymphatic stimulation)
- Pilates or refromer-based stretching
- Restorative yoga (ideal on flare days)
Why it helps:
Lipoedema pain often increases when fluid stagnates. Gentle movement keeps lymph flowing and reduces the feeling of heaviness.
2. Wearing Compression — When It Helps, and When It Doesn’t
Compression garments are the cornerstone of lipoedema management for many women. But they can also be uncomfortable if worn with the wrong base layer.
Women I’ve spoken to often tell me the same thing:
Compression helps the swelling… but the underwear underneath can make or break the day.
If compression helps you:
- Choose breathable compression leggings.
- Layer them over soft, pressure-free underwear (shorts work best).
- Avoid seams and waistbands that dig.
If compression feels too painful:
- Consider wearing them for shorter intervals.
- Focus on gentle drainage routines (below).
- Adjust sizing with a fitter if possible.
3. Lymphatic Drainage: Small, Daily Rituals
You don’t need a spa appointment — daily stimulation can be simple:
- Dry brushing (light upward strokes toward the heart)
- Gentle lymphatic massage (slow, circular motions near lymph nodes)
- Warm, not hot, showers to improve circulation
- Leg elevation for 10–20 minutes
These rituals work especially well when combined with comfortable, non-restrictive clothing afterwards.
4. Prioritising Anti-Inflammatory Habits
Lipoedema pain is often worsened by inflammation. Small, consistent habits can help create ease over time.
Supportive ideas:
- Include more omega-3 rich foods (salmon, walnuts, chia).
- Add magnesium (foods or bath flakes) to help muscle relaxation.
- Reduce high-salt meals that increase fluid retention.
- Stay hydrated — simple but effective.
Nothing extreme needed — just workable, everyday choices.
5. Wearing the Right Clothing on Flare Days
One of the most overlooked triggers of lipoedema pain is tight, synthetic or compressive clothing in the wrong areas. This includes underwear that digs, rolls, or overheats.
Many women with lipoedema tell me they need:
- Pressure-free waistbands
- Breathable fabrics such as micromodal or lyocell
- Soft seams that don’t create friction
- Shorts-style underwear that prevents chafing and offers gentle coverage
My very first lipoedema customer described traditional underwear as “digging into a compromised immune system” — and it was this exact sentence that made me rethink how underwear should be designed for sensitive, swelling-prone bodies.
Why soft underwear helps pain:
- Prevents hot spots under compression
- Avoids digging on tender tissues
- Encourages airflow
- Allows the body to expand gently on high-swell days
If you want to discover what gentle base layers can feel like, you can explore my Cozy Charlotte Shorts — designed specifically with pressure-free comfort in mind.
👉 Link this to: /products/cozy-charlotte-shorts
6. Creating a “Low-Effort Comfort Routine”
Pain days often overlap with low-energy days — the kind where getting dressed feels hard. This is something I hear again and again from women with lipoedema or chronic swelling.
A supportive routine might look like:
- Start the morning in breathable shorts that don’t irritate
- Add a gentle, cooling layer (like a soft cami)
- Keep a compression-friendly base layer ready near your bed
- Use a warm compress on tender areas
- Stretch for five minutes every few hours
Small rituals, repeated, make daily pain management far more sustainable.
7. Supportive Community (You’re Not Alone)
Sometimes the biggest relief isn’t physical — it’s emotional.
Connecting with others who understand the condition can make a massive difference.
If you’re looking for something supportive and quiet, I’ll soon be writing more on curae’s wellness hub:
👉 Link to: /blogs/wellness
(A space where I’ll talk about sensitive skin, swelling, and therapeutic comfort.)
Final Thoughts: Relief Begins With Gentleness
Lipoedema pain is complex — but your daily soothing doesn’t have to be.
Gentle movement, soft fabrics, circulation-friendly rituals and compassion towards your own body all have a powerful cumulative effect.
From my own experience designing curae, I’ve learned that comfort isn’t a luxury — it’s a need. Tiny details like seam placement, fabric softness and waistband ease are exactly what help turn pain from overwhelming to manageable.
And if you’re on a flare day today, consider this your reminder:
You deserve softness you can live in, and comfort you can rely on.
📌 Explore gentle underwear designed for lipoedema comfort:
👉 Cosy Charlotte Shorts — pressure-free, breathable, adaptive
📌 Read more from the Sensitive Skin & Lipoedema series:
