Leg Swelling

What causes leg swelling?

Leg swelling is the hallmark symptom of inflammation after you suffer a musculoskeletal injury. But there’s another type of leg swelling called edema that’s not associated with inflammation.

Edema occurs when excess fluids accumulate in the tissues of your legs. This can happen if you stand or sit for a long time, but leg swelling due to edema signals conditions such as:

• Peripheral arterial disease
• Cardiomyopathy
• Heart failure
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• Lymphedema
• Cellulitis
• Venous disease

Of the conditions in this list, venous disease is one of the top causes of leg swelling.

What venous conditions cause leg swelling?

The two primary venous causes of leg swelling are chronic venous insufficiency and deep vein thrombosis:

Chronic venous insufficiency

Chronic venous insufficiency begins when one or more valves in your leg veins stop working properly. These veins normally keep blood flowing in one direction — up your legs and back to your heart. When a valve weakens, it lets some of the blood flow back down the leg vein.

Refluxing blood builds up in that segment of the vein. As the accumulating blood increases pressure, other valves further down the vein start to weaken. This allows blood to reflux into another segment of the vein and raises venous pressure in the lower leg.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

A deep vein thrombosis develops when your blood flow slows down, allowing the blood to thicken and form a clot. You may develop a DVT when you’re inactive for a long time or after trauma or surgery that damages the vein.

DVT can lead to chronic venous insufficiency. At the same time, venous insufficiency can cause a DVT.

What other symptoms might I have along with leg swelling?

The vascular conditions responsible for leg swelling also cause:

• Leg pain
• Varicose veins
• Leg itching and burning
• Heavy-feeling or tired legs
• Skin rashes
• Discolored and thickened skin
• Nonhealing ulcers

DVT may also cause redness and tenderness along the vein.

How is leg swelling treated?

After reviewing your medical history and finishing a physical exam, Dr. Zakir orders other diagnostic tests as needed. He often performs a vascular ultrasound to view the vein’s structure and see blood flowing through the vessels.

Your customized treatment plan depends on the underlying cause of your leg swelling. You may need compression stockings, medication for a blood clot, or treatments such as sclerotherapy or radiofrequency ablation to eliminate faulty valves and restore normal circulation.

If you have leg swelling, call Cardiac & Vascular Interventions of New Jersey or request an appointment online today.