When Is Leg Swelling a Sign of Something Serious?
Author: StrideCare Internal Team
We’ve all experienced leg swelling at one point in our lives. Many times, it can be chalked up to an injury, allergic reaction, bug bite, medication, or standing for too long, and simple treatments like rest usually provide quick relief. But occasionally, leg swelling is a sign of something more serious—even if it feels like there’s no rhyme or reason. You may have even visited your doctor and asked, “Should I be concerned about leg swelling? Is it a sign of something serious?”
Leg swelling, formally called edema, goes beyond the ordinary when it occurs suddenly and for no apparent reason, doesn’t go away, and is accompanied by painful symptoms that, if left unchecked, could affect your quality of life.
Your Leg Swelling Could Be a Vascular Issue
For many people, leg swelling is a temporary annoyance. For others, vein disease may be to blame. Our veins carry blood back to the heart to support many systems critical to our cardiovascular health and other functions. These things are great when working properly. But as we age, vein valves can weaken and struggle to pump blood as efficiently as they once did. Veins can also become diseased, which causes a buildup of plaque and other issues.
As a result, fluid accumulates in our lower body and can’t be released. And if that swelling and pressure are left to increase on the blood vessels for too long, they can inevitably burst and cause additional complications. With that said, more than 20 million Americans suffer from some form of vein disease—so if you’re experiencing chronic leg swelling, this is often the reason.
Are You Experiencing Any of These Symptoms?
- Swelling in one or both legs that can come and go
- Achy or heavy feeling in your legs
- Cold and numb feet
- Burning, throbbing, and itching
- Muscle cramps
- Fainting or dizziness
- Discomfort after sitting or standing for too long
- Pain when walking
- Skin discoloration and thickened skin
- Open sores and ulcers on your legs
If you are experiencing chronic leg swelling in the legs, ankles, or feet, it could be associated with these conditions:
- Lymphedema — Also known as lymphatic dysfunction, lymphedema is a condition in which the lymph nodes in your body are not draining excess fluids from your tissues. As a result, leg swelling and edema can occur. In severe cases, ongoing fluid retention hardens the skin. The affected area becomes very large, and skin changes can become permanent—to the point where the patient experiences loss of function.
- Varicose Veins — Varicose veins affect roughly 25 percent of men and women in the United States. And, yes, these twisted, bulging veins could be nothing more than an ugly fact of life. But many times, they cause leg swelling and are a precursor to a more life-threatening health condition—especially if you’re experiencing any pain or discomfort that affects your quality of life.
- Chronic Venous Insufficiency — This is caused by broken vein valves that no longer hold a proper seal. As a result, poor blood flow from the veins in your legs back up to your heart will cause blood to pool in your legs. This can cause a variety of issues, including leg swelling, varicose veins, cramps, skin changes, and leg ulcers.
- Deep Vein Thrombosis — People with varicose veins are reportedly five times more likely to develop DVT, a life-threatening condition where blood clots form in one of the veins deep within your body. Swelling only on one side is perhaps the most worrisome sign you should seek expert vein care. One-sided swelling may indicate a blood clot or DVT. One common complication of DVT is known as post-thrombotic syndrome. People with this syndrome may have a swollen leg that feels heavy and hurts. More severe cases of post-thrombotic syndrome can lead to the formation of chronic wounds.
What Can You Do for Your Leg Swelling?
The good news is that treatment options are available, some of which you can do at home.
- Wear compression stockings — Compression socks are a great conservative treatment option, as they support your legs by applying gentle pressure. This helps with circulation, leg swelling, and painful legs. Wearing them during long work shifts, plane flights, and even while exercising helps limit symptoms from progressing or getting worse.
- Elevate your legs — Elevating your legs above your heart at least three times a day for 15 minutes each time allows gravity to help blood flow. Always use a cushion to prevent the edges and corners of desks and chairs from digging into your skin and limiting circulation to the area due to excessive pressure.
- Exercise — Exercise is something you can incorporate into your lifestyle. Walking helps to get the blood circulating and to reduce swelling, and swimming takes the pressure of gravity off the body to allow the muscles and veins to rest and circulate blood and fluids more easily.
- Choose healthier eating habits — Eating better and improving your diet plays a huge role in maintaining blood circulation, losing weight, and improving cardiovascular health. Options include fruits and vegetables, foods high in Vitamin C and E, and fiber-rich foods.
- Avoid tight clothing — Tight clothing around the waist, upper thighs, and legs can interrupt blood flow through the veins and increase pooling of blood and leg swelling.
If these methods do not work, see a vascular specialist for minimally invasive treatments. If venous insufficiency is causing your swelling, our vein specialists offer many treatment options. These are typically performed without the need for surgery, in the convenience of our offices, with quick and easy procedures, and covered by most major medical insurance and Medicare.
First, to determine the cause of your leg swelling, we use the latest ultrasound equipment. This allows us to get an inside look at the performance of your vascular system. Our experts will perform diagnostic venous ultrasound on your legs. We pay close attention to every detail to determine if the cause of your swelling is vein related. Depending on your diagnosis, our team will determine the most effective swollen leg treatment option for you.
StrideCare Can Help with Leg Swelling
StrideCare has long been a leader in performing leading-edge procedures to treat vein disease and help patients with vein-related symptoms such as leg swelling. The vascular physicians at StrideCare are board-certified diagnostic radiologists with additional fellowship training in vascular and interventional radiology. We will do our best to get you on the road to healthier-feeling legs.
If your veins need treatment, or you have questions on leg swelling and would like a vein screening, the experts at StrideCare will recommend an individualized plan to help you get the best results. Request an appointment for a vein disease evaluation to discuss your options.
Prior to starting any new treatment or questions regarding a medical condition, always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider. This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice.
StrideCare serves the South Texas area including Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Round Rock, Bastrop, Brushy Creek, Cedar Park, Converse, Georgetown, Hutto, Kyle, League City, Leander, Marble Falls, New Braunfels, Pasadena, Pearland, Pflugerville, San Marcos, Schertz, Sugar Land, The Woodlands, Universal City and more.
