Leg Swelling May Be a Sign of Illness

Blood coming to nourish the legs is transported back to the heart through veins and the lymphatic system. Sometimes an increase in incoming blood, sometimes excessive passage into tissues, and sometimes problems in return transport disrupt the balance in circulation, causing edema. Soner Sanioğlu, Cardiovascular Surgery Specialist at Yeditepe University Kozyatağı Hospital, states that vein or lymphatic system disorders, heart or kidney failure, pregnancy, excess weight and immobility can affect these mechanisms and cause edema to develop. Additionally, infection, connective tissue diseases, certain blood pressure medications and certain anti-rheumatic drugs can cause edema as a side effect.

Pain Not Always Present

Soner Sanioğlu, noting that edema in the legs, also defined as peripheral edema, can manifest in different ways, states: "Edema can present a symmetrical appearance in both legs, or it may appear in only one leg. While some edema is accompanied by pain, others are painless. In some cases, we see that leg swelling is not accompanied by foot swelling. Peripheral edema is dangerous when it has a sudden onset, is unilateral and very painful. Sometimes we can see that edema is accompanied by skin redness."

Suggests Heart, Kidney or Thyroid Failure, Low Blood Protein

Since each patient has a different underlying disease causing edema, the character of the edema also varies. Emphasizing that this situation provides clues about diseases in the diagnostic stage, Soner Sanioğlu states: "Symmetrical swelling of both legs suggests systemic causes affecting our entire body such as heart, kidney or thyroid failure, low blood protein, and drug reactions. In cases where edema occurs in one leg, we consider circulation problems affecting only that leg such as varicose veins, vein insufficiency or lymphatic insufficiency. When these circulation problems affect both legs, edema can also appear bilaterally. Swelling not accompanied by pain and edema appearing more intensely in the feet should suggest lymphatic insufficiency more strongly. Redness, pain and increased skin temperature in the swollen leg suggest infection," he said.

Be Cautious of Unilateral, Sudden-Onset Pain

Alerting to the fact that edema accompanied by unilateral, sudden-onset, severe pain can be dangerous as it may indicate sudden blockage in the leg veins, Soner Sanioğlu states: "These edemas resulting from sudden blockages in leg veins can lead to serious problems if not treated appropriately. It cannot be said that edema with non-sudden onset is not an important problem. Regardless of the cause, when peripheral edema is not treated, it can over time lead to dermatitis in the skin and thickening, and even ulceration."