Leg swelling is a disease that can develop due to many conditions. People may notice this swelling visually or they may express that their socks are tight and that they have difficulty in wearing trousers. Leg swelling can occur as a result of edema, that is, fluid retention. In this case, there is more fluid than it should be in the veins or other tissues in the leg.
What Causes Leg Swelling?
Edema formation in the leg may occur due to sitting or standing for a long time, or it may develop due to some medical disorders. Another condition that causes leg swelling is inflammation. Causes such as muscle, tendon rupture or joint inflammation can cause swelling in the leg due to inflammation.
The formation of swelling in the leg occurs with two basic mechanisms as edema or inflammation. Some diseases cause swelling by causing edema formation, that is, fluid retention, while others cause swelling by causing inflammation. Diseases that cause swelling in one or both legs can be listed as follows: Other symptoms developing due to heart failure; shortness of breath, fatigue, cough can be listed as.
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
Deep vein thrombosis is a blood clot in the leg veins. This clot, called thrombosis, can break off from where it is and travel to the lungs. Going of the clot to the lung is called pulmonary embolism, and this situation creates a life-threatening picture. Deep vein thrombosis usually causes hard swelling in one leg. In addition to swelling, it can lead to symptoms such as leg tenderness, cramps, increased temperature, red or blue discoloration. People who show symptoms of DVT should apply to the nearest health center without wasting time.
Varicose or Venous Insufficiency
Normally, there are valve-like structures in the leg veins. These valves ensure that blood from the leg goes towards the heart and does not flow back towards the lower parts of the body. However, these valves When dysfunction occurs, blood escapes behind the valve and begins to pool in this area. The pooled blood creates a bluish purplish appearance of varicose veins on the leg. Varicose veins are among the conditions that cause swelling in the leg veins. In addition, pain due to sitting or standing for a long time in the leg may cause pain. The kidney becomes unable to filter waste materials and excess water in the body. As a result of this situation, fluid accumulation occurs in the body. Accumulated fluid causes swelling, especially in the arms and legs. In kidney diseases, symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, shortness of breath, and excessive thirst also occur in the patient. Although acute renal failure is a sudden, short-term condition, it can cause swelling in the legs.
Pregnancy
In the last stages of pregnancy, the pressure on the veins in the legs increases with the increase in the size of the baby. This can cause the blood circulation to slow down, resulting in soft swelling in the leg. If symptoms such as severe headache, visual impairment, swelling around the eyes are observed in addition to leg swelling, the nearest health center should be consulted and necessary tests should be performed to eliminate the suspicion of preeclampsia (pregnancy poisoning).
The conditions that cause swelling in the leg by causing inflammation are as follows:
Joint Inflammation or Other Joint Disorders
Osteoarthritis, popularly known as calcification, can cause swelling in the leg. Rheumatoid arthritis, a rheumatic disease, can also cause inflammation and swelling around the joint. Joint diseases such as gout and knee bursitis are among the causes that cause swelling in the legs.
Injuries
Reactions develop in the body as a result of injuries such as wrist sprains and bone fractures. This reaction allows white blood cells and some bodily fluids to migrate to the injury site, thereby accelerating the healing process. As a natural result of this, swelling occurs in the injured area. One of the injuries that cause swelling in the leg is the rupture of the Achilles tendon. The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscles to the heel bone and is the largest in the body. It is a tendon. If a tear occurs in this tendon while walking, running or jumping, swelling may occur on the back of the leg. Anterior cruciate ligament injuries can also cause swelling in the leg. The anterior cruciate ligament crosses the front of the knee and serves to fix the leg bones. Damage to this ligament can cause pain and swelling in the leg.
Cellulite
Cellulite is a serious infection caused by various bacteria, especially Streptococcus and Staphylococcus, entering the body through a crack in the skin. Cellulite is most commonly seen on the lower leg. This infection causes symptoms such as swelling, tenderness, pain, heat increase, red spots, blistering lesions, pitting in the leg. In addition to these symptoms in the leg, if the person has symptoms such as fever and sudden deterioration of the general condition, it will be beneficial to apply to the nearest health center without wasting time.
Infection and Wound
Slight swelling may be seen in the leg in cases such as minor cuts and abrasions on the leg. This condition resolves itself within a few weeks at the latest. However, if the wound becomes infected, the swelling in the leg increases and the patient may experience other symptoms in addition to the swelling. In such a case, the situation should not be expected to improve on its own, and a doctor should be consulted.
Which Department to Go to for the Treatment of Swelling of the Legs? If several are present, the person should contact the emergency room immediately. These symptoms may be a sign of a serious heart or lung disease and the person may need urgent intervention.
Even if the leg swelling developed suddenly without any apparent reason, it is necessary to apply to the emergency room. Leg swelling caused by an accident, injury or injury should also be treated urgently. Leg swelling is seen in only one leg and if there are symptoms such as paleness, whitening, coldness in the swollen leg, it is necessary to apply to the emergency room again.
Leg swelling may occur due to different reasons and each cause falls under the specialty of a different department. While causes such as heart failure, varicose veins, DVT enter the field of cardiology department, leg swelling during pregnancy The obstetrics department takes care of it. While kidney diseases fall into the field of nephrology, conditions such as sprains and fractures fall into the field of orthopedics.
If the person has a slight swelling that will not cause emergency admission, it would be beneficial to consult the family doctor first. The family physician makes the appropriate referral by looking at the leg swelling and accompanying symptoms, if any.
Causes such as swelling between the legs, swelling and tenderness in the back and front of the leg may not always be severe enough to require a doctor's consultation. Simple leg swelling can be alleviated with home remedies. These methods are;- Restriction of salt consumption,
- Place a pillow, cushion-like height under the feet while lying down,
- Wearing elastic compression stockings,
- Long If standing or sitting for a while, it can be listed as changing the position by taking a break in between.
However, if swelling still persists despite these methods, the nearest health center should be consulted.
It should not be forgotten that leg swelling can occur due to serious reasons. If the swelling in the person does not correct itself in a short time, the necessary controls should be made.
You can ask the expert team of Group Florence Nightingale Hospitals about the issues you are wondering about leg swelling and ask for suggestions regarding your question. You can use the contact form on our website to reach us.
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