Persistent Lower Leg Swelling: The Importance of Prompt Expert Evaluation

A little leg swelling after a long day isn’t unusual. In fact, swelling can occur after engaging in various everyday activities, such as standing for hours, sitting for extended periods on a plane, or consuming excessive amounts of salt. But when leg swelling sticks around or keeps coming back, it’s a warning sign that shouldn’t be ignored. 

Persistent swelling is often associated with circulation problems, and without prompt medical care, it can increase your risk of more serious complications. Fortunately, Anthony B. Lewis, MD, FACC, and the team at TLC Medical Group Inc. have extensive experience diagnosing and treating leg swelling and its underlying causes. Here’s what our team wants you to know.

Circulation: A key role in swollen legs

Your veins and arteries do more than just move blood from one place to another — they’re part of an intricate system that delivers oxygen, removes waste, and keeps your tissues fed and functioning. When that system is impeded, fluid can accumulate in your legs, ankles, and feet, a condition known as edema. 

While a variety of circulation problems can cause edema, chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is one of the most common culprits. Normally, blood flows from your limbs back to your heart, propelled by tiny valves inside your veins. 

In CVI, those valves become weakened or damaged, allowing blood to flow backward and “pool up” in the lower legs, ankles, and feet (and, less commonly, in the arms or hands). In turn, pooling increases pressure inside the veins, causing fluids to leak into surrounding tissues. 

Over time, edema can cause additional problems, including skin discoloration, limb heaviness, recurrent aching, and itching. Eventually, skin starts to break down, increasing your risk of dangerous and potentially life-threatening sores or ulcers that don’t always respond well to medical treatment.

The potential role of deep vein thrombosis

CVI is a common cause of lower limb swelling, but it’s not the only potential cause. Sometimes, swelling is caused by a different type of circulation problem, known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). DVT develops when a clot forms inside a deep vein, interfering with blood flow and leading to symptoms such as rapid swelling, warmth, redness, and pain that tend to worsen when standing or walking.

While decreased circulation can definitely cause its own problems, DVT poses another danger: a life-threatening complication called pulmonary embolism (PE) that happens when the clot breaks away and travels to the lungs. 

Unfortunately, many people don’t realize how serious leg swelling can be until complications arise. If you notice swelling that occurs quickly, affects only one leg, or is accompanied by tenderness or warmth, it’s essential to call the office immediately and let us know so that we can recommend the appropriate treatment promptly.

Other circulation-related causes

While CVI and DVT affect your veins, another cause of leg swelling — peripheral artery disease (PAD) — involves your arteries. In PAD, sticky plaques build up inside the arteries, narrowing the passageway and slowing blood flow as a result. In addition to swelling, PAD can cause symptoms like leg cramps during walking, shiny skin, and sores that don’t heal well.

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is another potential cause of leg swelling, especially when swelling happens in both legs. CHF occurs when the heart isn't able to pump efficiently. As a result, blood and fluids back up in your legs (and other parts of your body), leading to persistent swelling that tends to worsen throughout the day. 

Both PAD and CHF need prompt medical treatment to avoid serious complications, like severe infections, tissue death, and even limb amputation.

Early care is critical

Persistent leg swelling isn’t just uncomfortable — it’s a sign that something’s wrong. When circulation is impaired, your tissues don’t get the oxygen they need, and that can cause gradual, sometimes irreversible damage. 

The good news is that early intervention can help. If you’ve noticed swelling that lasts more than a few days, recurs often, or seems to be getting worse, don’t wait. Request an appointment online or over the phone with Dr. Lewis and the team at TLC Medical Group in Port St. Lucie, Florida, today.