Potential Causes
A swollen leg can be caused by many different factors. Sometimes both legs are swollen due to the heart not pumping well enough or the kidneys not working properly. When this happens, back pressure on the venous side of the circulation causes swelling, most noticeable in the legs and feet.
Sometimes, just one leg is swollen. This can be a sign of a serious blood clot in a deep vein in the leg or pelvic area. Other times, there’s no blood clot, but the blood flow out of the leg is obstructed because of narrowing of a vein.
Leaky Valves & Obstructions
If valves inside the leg veins are not able to close properly, or if they are absent or abnormally developed from birth, the pressure inside the veins will be higher than normal. So called “leaky valves” are the most common cause of the typical varicose veins we see. This condition is called venous reflux disease, and in advance cases, it can lead to scarring of the skin and underlying tissues, or serious leg ulcers.
Another potential cause of leg swelling is called lymphatic obstruction, or blockage of the lymphatic fluid where it is draining out of the leg. Lymphatic fluid is constantly circulating between the cells outside the blood vessels all throughout your body. Small channels, called lymphatics, carry the fluid back into the veins near the heart. The lymphatic channels can be disrupted from various causes including previous surgery, infection in the leg or foot, cancer, or from abnormal development from birth.
Treating a swollen leg requires knowing the cause
Dr. Hill can diagnose the source and start treatment, usually right away. Sometimes, this requires only medical treatment, compression stockings and leg elevation. Other times, minor surgical treatments are better. It really depends on your situation and how we can best tailor a treatment for you.
If you, or someone you love, is experiencing these symptoms, contact us.