Is your lower leg Swelling and hot?

Is your lower leg Swelling and hot?

At Cranbourne Family Chiropractic and Wellness Centre we sometimes find patients complaining of pain and swelling of the calf and feet.

This instantly creates an alarm bell particularly if there has not been any obvious trauma.

Deep vein thrombosis, or deep venous thrombosis, (DVT) is the formation of a blood clot in the deep vein system, usually in the legs below the knee. DVT above the knee is far more serious as the Veins are larger in diametre and the risk of detachment and travel to the lungs is far greater.

Patients complain of pain, swelling, redness, warmness and swollen veins.  

Other more life threatening complications include pulmonary embolism where a clot detaches from the wall of the vein and travels to the lungs.

Prevention includes regular walking, calf exercises including stretching, aspirin and compression stockings.

So if you are older and have swelling effecting one leg only, and have had long periods of rest for whatever reason, you need to consider DVT(Deep Vein Thrombosis).

If you have both legs effected without trauma, this is more likely a circulation problem, in which case you need to consider heart or kidney dysfunction. 

Always consult with your doctor or Chiropractor if you have any leg pain with swelling. It would be the best way to protect from further damage or unwanted consequences. 

For more information visit us online or call to make an appointment with one of our Chiropractors.