Do you have a left leg swelling? It can be a scary thing to see, but that doesn’t always suggest it is going to threaten your life. This post describes to you for what to expect when you observe swelling of your legs, especially left leg swelling.
Leg swelling can be a typical problem. Leg swelling normally refers to any swelling of any part of the legs, including the feet, ankles, thighs and calves. There are numerous reasons for leg swelling, but ultimately, the factor stems from fluid accumulation or inflammation from your joints or tissues. These are typically caused by an injury, extended sitting or standing, or a more serious disorder, such as a blood clot or concerns with flow. In some cases, your left leg can swell more than your right.
What Causes Left Leg Swelling?
In most cases, the swelling of the legs happens evenly, without one leg looking bigger than the other. But often one leg will swell while the other stays reasonably normal. Typical causes are water retention or inflammation, arthritis, some sort of injury that affects just one leg, or concerns with a blood clot. Here’s more details about the causes:
1. Arthritis
When you have severe arthritis in the knee or the ankle, it can cause serious swelling of the leg. This can likewise be a very painful condition that can make it hard to move or bend your leg, or even to put weight on the impacted limb. Arthritis can be a very serious condition that requires medical attention to prevent more damage to the leg, joint or surrounding areas.
2. Blood Clots
Lots of people believe that blood clots in any area of the body are going to hurt, but that might not hold true. In some cases the first and only sign of a blood clot in one leg is the swelling. Other signs may include an absence of feeling in the leg, or pain in the affected area, and even a tingling, numbing sensation. The leg may likewise feel hotter or colder than the other leg does. It is important to get instant medical attention if you believe a blood clot.
3. Water Retention
This is one of the most common causes of swelling, but it generally impacts both legs. When it affects simply one leg, which may be worried, so make certain to discuss it to your doctor. Water retention can be caused by something as easy as standing up throughout the day, however it can likewise be the result of serious problems, such as kidney failure or heart disease.
4. Trauma
If your leg has been injured in some method, swelling might be thought about a normal issue to have as that injury heals. A fracture of your leg, a serious bruise from bumping something, or other types of injury can cause swelling of the leg. Unfortunately, this type of swelling can increase the pain of the injury, so it helps to speak with a doctor about what you can do to alleviate the swelling.
5. Other Causes
Some other causes that lead to fluid accumulation in the legs may include kidney problems, heart problems, and blood clots in the legs, hormone treatments, pregnancy, and prescription medications. Often even ibuprofen— a medication you might take to decrease inflammation– can actually cause the swelling. Many injuries can lead to inflammation of the area, and that naturally causes swelling also.
How to Diagnose Left Leg Swelling
Often your leg might look a bit more swollen than the other, but is it truly swollen? There are a few ways to tell. First, take a look at the legs side-by-side. Is one bigger than the other? A swollen leg might appear glossy or shiny, and the skin may feel tight. You can also carry out a “Pit test”– simply press your finger versus your leg, making an indentation. When you remove the finger, does the indentation stay there? This is a sign that you might have serious swelling. Contact your doctor if you think you may have swelling of one or both legs.
How to Treat Left Leg Swelling
Oftentimes, relieving left leg swelling can be as basic as a RICE treatment– Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. This means you must rest your leg, raise it higher than your heart if possible, use compression stockings or other compression gear to ease the swelling, and apply ice to the area, specifically if it is painful.
There are other things that may help you avoid or remove leg swelling. These include a low-salt diet, plenty of workout to keep the blood streaming through your legs, and using support stockings below your clothes. Lose weight if you need to do so, and ensure your doctor knows all medications are you on. Also, keep your leg elevated, do not represent long periods of time, and move around often instead of sitting. When you take a trip, prevent tight clothing, such as garters around your thighs, and be sure to get up and walk around frequently– do not simply sit through an entire airplane trip!
Keep taking all your medications, and if your leg swelling is triggering pain, take some nonprescription medications to help.
Keep in mind: Since there is no way to be sure what is triggering the leg swelling, a visit to the doctor is in order. Make an appointment as quickly as possible.
When to See a Doctor
Often the doctor visit just cannot wait. If you are handling a swollen leg and you experience other symptoms, it’s time to go to the emergency room. These include if the swelling takes place for no evident factor, comes on extremely unexpectedly, or is the result of a mishap or injury. In that case, get to the medical facility as quickly as you can, according to iytmed.com. If you experience chest pain, fainting or dizziness, confusion, or difficulty breathing, require an ambulance, as these might be signs of an extremely serious situation.
