What is the treatment for swollen legs?
- DVT is treated with medicines to thin the blood and break up the blood clot.
- Heart failure is usually treated with a number of medications to improve your heart function, including diuretic medicines.
- Skin infections ( cellulitis) or bone infections (osteomyelitis) are treated with antibiotics
Full Answer
When to see a doctor for swollen legs treatment?
Those include: Getting regular exercise, even if it's just walking Eat healthier foods, including fruits and vegetables Try and maintain a healthy weight for your body's build Follow your doctor's advice if you have conditions like diabetes Maintain …
What is the best remedy for swollen legs?
Jan 13, 2022 · Treatment options for lymphedema include: bandaging the affected leg wearing compression stockings massaging the lymph nodes to encourage drainage performing gentle exercises to encourage drainage caring for the skin to reduce the risk of infection and associated lymphedema
How to treat swollen legs with home remedies?
Dec 19, 2020 · Swelling is common symptom of a broken leg. But it's also a sign of other conditions including infections and heart-related problems. Leg Swelling - Swollen Legs - Symptoms, Causes, Treatments, Diagnosis
What herbs are good for swollen legs?
The Best Natural Remedies for Swollen Legs Raise your legs above your heart while lying down. Place a pillow under your legs and stay like that for half an hour. Try to repeat this action three times a day every day. Exercise your legs. This practice helps pump fluid …
Why do my legs swell up?
Instead of filtering water and waste material from your blood, fluid gathers in your body, which causes swelling in your arms and legs. Acute kidney failure -- when your kidneys suddenly stop working -- can also cause swollen legs, ankles, and feet. But it usually happens when you’re hospitalized with other problems.
How to tell if your leg is swollen?
Raise your legs above your heart level for half an hour, several times a day. But since leg swelling can be a sign of something serious, don't ignore it. If you notice other symptoms, especially leg pain, shortness of breath, or extreme fatigue, call your doctor right away.
Why do my legs swell after delivery?
If, during the last trimester or soon after delivery, you have swollen legs and shortness of breath, talk to your doctor about a condition called peripartum cardiomyopathy, a type of heart failure related to pregnancy. Learn more about swelling and other discomforts during pregnancy.
What causes fluid buildup in one leg?
Several things can lead to extra fluid, or edema, in one leg, or both: Congestive heart failure: This happens when your heart is too weak to pump all the blood your body needs. It leads to fluid buildup, especially in your legs. Other symptoms of congestive heart failure : Shortness of breath or trouble breathing.
What happens when you break a bone in your leg?
Inflammation: It happens when the tissues in your legs get irritated and swollen. It’s a natural response if you break a bone or tear a tendon or ligament, but it also may be a sign of a more serious inflammatory illness, like arthritis.
What does it mean when your legs are edema?
Fluid buildup (edema): It happens when the tissues or blood vessels in your legs hold more fluid than they should. This can happen if you simply spend a long day on your feet or sit for too long. But it may also be a sign that you’re overweight or don’t get enough exercise, or of more serious medical conditions.
Can prescription drugs cause swelling?
Sometimes, swelling can be an unwelcome side effect of prescription drugs. The medications most likely to cause swollen legs include: Call your doctor if you take any of these drugs and get swollen lower limbs. Learn more about common medication side effects.
How to treat a swollen leg?
Use the R.I.C.E. Method 1 Rest. If movement is painful at first, rest your legs and stay off them as much as you can until you’re able to move without pain. 2 Ice. Keep an ice pack on your legs for about 20 minutes every hour over the first 3 days after symptoms start. Avoid using heat, as it may make swelling worse. 3 Compression. Wrap an elastic bandage around your legs or wear compression stockings, which use pressure to keep swelling down. 4 Elevation. Keep your legs raised above the level of your heart for 30 minutes, three or four times per day, so that gravity can help move fluids out and toward the rest of your body.
What to do if your leg is swollen?
When to See Your Doctor. Sometimes, the best thing to do is to get medical help or have a specialist check your leg pain and swelling. In general, if your symptoms start severely, suddenly, more often than usual, or for no clear reason, they may be signs of something more serious.
How to stop swelling in legs after a symtom?
Avoid using heat, as it may make swelling worse. Compression. Wrap an elastic bandage around your legs or wear compression stockings, which use pressure to keep swelling down. Elevation.
What is the best medicine for swelling?
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ( NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or naproxen may help ease swelling and pain. Acetaminophen might also fight pain. Some doctors say magnesium is a good mineral to add to your diet to help with painful swelling.
How to help swelling in legs?
These tips will help with leg pain and swelling whenever you have to lie down or stay seated for long periods of time, such as when you’re sleeping, traveling, or working at a desk: Don’t wear tight clothing, especially around your thighs. Wear compression stockings that are approved by your doctor.
How to stop swelling in the back of the leg?
Get up and stretch as often you can during the day. Focus on extending your knees as well as flexing your ankles to help with blood circulation. This may help pump extra fluid away from your legs and back toward your heart.
How to get fluid out of your legs?
Try Massage. If you can’t visit a massage therapist and don’t have any tools, you can still do massage on your own at home. Rub or stroke your legs upward, in the direction of your heart. Make sure the pressure is firm but not painful. This can help move excess fluid out of that area.
What causes swelling in the legs?
For example: Breathlessness which started at the same time as the leg swelling might suggest heart failure (if both legs) or DVT (if one leg) spreading to the lungs ( pulmonary embolism). A high temperature (fever) suggests some type of infection.
Why do my legs swell?
The most common cause of swelling in both legs is oedema. This is a collection of fluid in between the cells, which are the building blocks of the tissues of our body. Oedema can occur in one particular part of the body, or it can be generalised.
Why do my legs swell up in hot weather?
Long journeys or being immobile for other reasons. If your legs are hanging down and not moving for long periods of time, you can develop swollen legs.
Why is my leg swelling on one side?
One-sided swelling is more likely to be due to a problem with a particular part of that leg. In a specific area or generalised. Swelling around joints is usually caused by injury or a type of arthritis. Swelling in specific areas of skin may be caused by allergy or infection.
Why do my legs swell when I'm pregnant?
Usually this is par for the course and nothing to worry about, but if you are pregnant, your midwife will be doing regular checks to be sure you don't have a blood pressure problem ( pre-eclampsia) causing it. Heart failure.
Why do I have yellow blotches on my legs?
Being yellow (jaundiced) suggests a liver problem, such as cirrhosis. Swelling in other places other than the legs - for example, in the tummy, hands or around the eyes. This would suggest a problem with another or a general body system rather than a problem with the leg or legs.
Can a swollen leg be symmetrical?
There are a surprising number of different kinds of swelling of the legs. One leg or both legs could be swollen. If both legs, it could be symmetrical or worse on one side. A specific part of the leg (s) could be swollen, or the entire leg (s). It could have come on suddenly or gradually.
What to wear when swelling goes down?
If one of your limbs is affected by edema, your doctor may recommend you wear compression stockings, sleeves or gloves, usually worn after your swelling has gone down, to prevent further swelling from occurring. These garments keep pressure on your limbs to prevent fluid from collecting in the tissue. Protection.
How to stop edema on feet?
Dry, cracked skin is more prone to scrapes, cuts and infection. Always wear protection on your feet if that's where the swelling typically occurs. Reduce salt intake. Follow your doctor's suggestions about limiting how much salt you consume. Salt can increase fluid retention and worsen edema.
How to stop edema from coming back?
Lifestyle and home remedies. Compression stockings, also called support stockings, compress your legs, promoting circulation. A stocking butler may help you put on the stockings. The following may help decrease edema and keep it from coming back.
Does edema go away on its own?
Mild edema usually goes away on its own, particularly if you help things along by raising the affected limb higher than your heart. More-severe edema may be treated with drugs that help your body expel excess fluid in the form of urine (diuretics). One of the most common diuretics is furosemide (Lasix).
Why do my legs swell up?
Below are eight potential causes of swollen legs and ankles. 1. Injury to the foot or ankle. An injury to the foot or ankle could cause swelling in the ankle and lower leg. One of the most common causes of injuries to this area is a sprained ankle. A sprained ankle can occur as a result of a simple misstep, or a sports or exercise injury.
How to reduce swelling in feet?
Elevation: Elevating the foot or ankle above heart level will help reduce swelling. 2. Infection. An infection in the feet, ankles, and lower legs can cause swelling in this area. People who have diabetes are at increased risk of developing an infection in their feet.
What does lymphedema feel like?
A person who has lymphedema may experience a feeling of heaviness or swelling in their legs or other affected body parts . Treatment.
What is the condition where the veins in the legs do not flow?
The veins within a person’s legs contain special valves that prevent blood from flowing backward. Venous insufficiency is a condition in which these valves no longer function properly. As a result, the veins no longer transport adequate amounts of blood from the legs back up to the heart.
What is it called when lymph nodes are damaged?
Lymphedema is a condition in which excess fluid accumulates in the body’s tissues, causing swelling. Lymphedema occurs when a person’s lymph nodes become damaged or are absent due to surgical removal.
What are the symptoms of swelling in the legs and ankles?
A person should see their doctor or healthcare provider if they experience any of the following symptoms in the legs and ankles: sudden swelling. unexplained swelling. additional symptoms, including shortness of breath, fever, and pain. A doctor can help diagnose underlying conditions.
What causes a sprained ankle?
A sprained ankle can occur as a result of a simple misstep, or a sports or exercise injury. It happens when the ligaments that connect the ankle to the foot and leg are pulled out of alignment. A person who has a sprained ankle may experience pain and limited mobility in the ankle or foot. Treatment.
What is the best medicine for swollen legs?
Steroids. Medicines used in cases of depression including monoamine oxidase inhibitors (tranylcypromine and phenelzine) and tricyclics (amitriptyline, desipramine and nortriptyline). Before we present the best natural remedies, please see how to prepare this Most Powerful Herbal Tea for Swollen Legs.
How to get rid of swollen legs?
The Best Natural Remedies for Swollen Legs. Raise your legs above your heart while lying down. Place a pillow under your legs and stay like that for half an hour. Try to repeat this action three times a day every day. Exercise your legs.
What does it mean when your legs are swollen?
However, severe swelling may be a clear sign of toxemia or preeclampsia. This is a serious medical condition that is often manifested through swelling and high blood pressure. Swollen legs can also be a manifestation of kidney problems, heart or liver failure.
Why do my feet swell up?
It is the result of excessive accumulation of fluid in the feet, ankles and legs, known as edema.
What causes swollen legs?
Smoking is one of the causes of swollen legs, but it also leads to many health problems. Drink plenty of water. Although swelling means that you have extra fluid in your body this has nothing to do with water intake. Water helps the system’s detoxification. Massage the affected area.
How to reduce swelling and fluid buildup?
Follow a low-salt diet, which may reduce fluid buildup and swelling. Don’t exclude salt from your menu because salt is necessary part of our diet, but try to reduce the intake. Wear support stockings (sold at most drug and medical supply stores). You can also use compression or support socks.
How to stimulate blood circulation in the body?
It is a well-known fact that exercise stimulates blood circulation. Yoga is the perfect choice because it can be practiced by people regardless of their age and physical condition. Use Some Grapefruit Essential Oil. Next time you have a warm bath make sure to add few drops of grapefruit essential oil in it.
What causes swelling in the legs?
Leg swelling caused by the retention of fluid in leg tissues is known as peripheral edema. It can be caused by a problem with the venous circulation system, the lymphatic system or the kidneys.
Why do my legs swell?
Leg swelling can also be caused by inflammation in leg joints or tissues — either a normal response to injury or disease or due to rheumatoid arthritis or another inflammatory disorder. You'll usually feel pain with inflammatory disorders.
What medications cause fluid buildup?
Factors related to fluid buildup include: Pain relievers, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB) or naproxen (Aleve) Prescription medications, including some used for diabetes and high blood pressure. Venous insufficiency, chronic (leg veins with a problem returning blood to the heart)
Diagnosis
Treatment
- Mild edema usually goes away on its own, particularly if you help things along by raising the affected limb higher than your heart. More-severe edema may be treated with drugs that help your body expel excess fluid in the form of urine (diuretics). One of the most common diuretics is furosemide (Lasix). However, your doctor will determine whether t...
Clinical Trials
- Explore Mayo Clinic studiestesting new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition.
Lifestyle and Home Remedies
- The following may help decrease edema and keep it from coming back. Before trying these self-care techniques, talk to your doctor about which ones are right for you. 1. Movement.Moving and using the muscles in the part of your body affected by edema, especially your legs, may help pump the excess fluid back toward your heart. Ask your doctor about exercises you can do that …
Preparing For Your Appointment
- Unless you're already under a specialist's care for a current medical condition, you'll probably start by seeing your family doctor to begin evaluation for what could be causing your symptoms. Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment, and what to expect from your doctor.