Chronic Leg Swelling

Overview

Chronic leg swelling is almost always the symptom of fluid build up in the body which is also known as peripheral oedema. It can be due to disruption in the kidney, lymphatic or circulatory system. Some of the common diseases causing it are cardiomyopathy, chronic kidney disease, liver cirrhosis, deep vein thrombosis, heart failure, lymphedema, nephrotic syndrome, pericarditis. It can also be due to inflammation such as rheumatoid arthritis, knee bursitis, and osteoarthritis. The patient needs to be aware of when to seek the help of the doctor. Which includes symptoms such as chest pain, difficulty in breathing, dizziness, and confusion. The management of chronic leg swelling is to treat the underlying cause. However, generally, diuretics will be prescribed because it will reduce the excessive amount of fluid build-up and also pain reliever will be prescribed if there is any pain in the swelling region.