Leg Swelling Specialist

What causes leg swelling?

There are two types of leg swelling: one that occurs as the result of an injury, infection, or disease, and one that develops from fluid buildup in the legs.

Trauma

Leg swelling due to trauma typically only affects the injured leg and tends to be acutely painful. This type of leg swelling could be the result of damage to the bones or soft tissues or a disorder like deep vein thrombosis (DVT), where a blood clot forms in your leg.

Conditions like peripheral artery disease (PAD) that affect the flow of oxygen to your legs can also cause leg swelling and cramps. 

Fluid buildup

If your leg swelling isn't painful and both legs swell, it's likely that there's a buildup of fluid in your legs known as edema.

You have a higher risk of leg swelling due to edema if you:

• Are overweight or obese
• Spend long periods standing up
• Travel long distance
• Are pregnant

Leg swelling can affect women during their menstrual cycle. Chronic venous insufficiency is also a leading cause of leg swelling.

How does chronic venous insufficiency cause leg swelling?

Chronic venous insufficiency is a circulatory disorder that results from a problem with the valves in your veins. If these valves weaken or get damaged, blood can leak back through them and form pools in your veins.

An obvious sign of this problem is varicose veins, which can also cause soreness, itching, and discomfort. Fluid can start building up in the surrounding tissues, which leads to leg swelling.

Ultrasound vein mapping technology can detect faulty valves and confirm a case of chronic venous insufficiency.

What treatment might I need for leg swelling?

The treatment University Vascular recommends for your leg swelling depends on the cause of your condition. If a circulatory disorder like chronic venous insufficiency is responsible for your leg swelling, they offer several treatments that destroy or remove the affected veins.

Endovenous radiofrequency ablation

VenaCure minimally invasive endovenous radiofrequency ablation uses radiowave energy to heat the diseased vein. The vein collapses and eventually disappears. Your body sends blood that would have gone through the faulty vein to other, healthy veins.

Endovenous laser therapy (EVLT)

EVLT works in a similar way to endovenous radiofrequency ablation but uses heat from laser energy.

Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy involves an injection of an irritant substance into the problem vein. This substance, which can be liquid or foam, makes the vein walls collapse.

Ambulatory phlebectomy

Some large varicose veins might require removal. Instead of stripping them surgically, University Vascular can extract them through tiny incisions in your leg.

If you have leg swelling, it's important to find out why and get the appropriate treatment before the problem worsens. Call University Vascular to schedule a consultation or book online today.