Why You Should Never Ignore Swelling in Your Arms or Legs

From pregnancy to deep vein thrombosis to broken bones to medication side effects, there are many reasons you might notice swelling in your arms or legs. While you could be tempted to brush off swelling, you should know why you have swelling so you can take the appropriate steps to mitigate it.

If lymphedema is the cause of your swelling, our team of board-certified wound care specialists at Advanced Foot, Ankle, & Wound Specialists can recommend the appropriate treatments.

In the meantime, this guide highlights the advantages of swift treatment and why you should never ignore swelling in your arms or legs. 

Why are your arms and legs swelling?

How we treat swelling depends on what’s causing it. For example, a blood clot and lymphedema both cause swelling, but doctors treat them differently. 

Lymphedema often develops after you’ve had lymph nodes removed as part of a cancer treatment, but it can also occur if your lymph nodes become damaged. Infections, surgery, and radiation are examples of conditions that may damage your lymph nodes. 

If you don’t have working lymph nodes, fluid can build up because it can’t drain properly, and all of that fluid causes your arm or leg to swell. In other words, lymphedema develops when your lymph nodes can’t properly drain the lymph fluid.

Lymphedema usually affects only one arm or leg, but it can occur in both legs or arms. You might suspect you have lymphedema if:

While some people might notice only light swelling, severe swelling can cause achiness and can make it difficult to perform your daily tasks.

Why swift treatment matters

Treatment for swelling reduces your risk of unwanted complications. For example, untreated lymphedema can increase your risk of developing additional infections (such as cellulitis) and lymphangiosarcoma, a rare type of soft tissue cancer. 

Treating lymphedema

Once we diagnose lymphedema, we may recommend conservative treatments to manage your symptoms. These include:

Light exercise 

Light exercise promotes lymph drainage. Exercise shouldn’t be vigorous, and you should always wear proper footwear to reduce the risk of cuts, blisters, or scrapes on your feet.

Massage

Manual lymph drainage massages encourage proper fluid drainage. But a massage might not be right if you have skin infections, blood clots, or other disorders affecting your lymph nodes.

Pneumatic compression

Pneumatic compression refers to a special wearable sleeve that stimulates lymph drainage via a special pump that squeezes the sleeve. We might also recommend that you wear compression garments for the same reason. 

Surgery

If light exercise or massage doesn’t help, you’re not out of options. We may recommend surgery to remove excess tissue, promote healing, and help reduce the swelling.

Taking care of your limbs

Regardless of your treatment path, take care of your arm or leg and do everything you can to reduce the risk of complications. Inspect your limb daily for any signs of injury or infections. If you do spot the signs of infection, the right treatment can halt the spread of the infection to other parts of your body. 

Always follow your treatment plan, wash and dry your leg or arm daily, and apply lotion to any dry skin.

To learn more about lymphedema and explore your treatment options, contact us at one of our offices in Tamarac, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Coral Springs, or Hollywood, Florida.

You Might Also Enjoy...

Why Rest Isn't Optional While Nursing an Ankle Sprain

Sprains are among the most common ankle injuries, and while you may be tempted to try to power through the pain, don’t. Not resting your ankle can have serious consequences. Read on to understand the importance of rest while nursing an ankle sprain.

Swollen Arms and Legs: Is it Lymphedema?

If you notice swelling in your arms or legs, you might wonder if it’s lymphedema. Lymphedema is common after lymph node removal, but it can develop after other surgeries too. Read on to learn more about the top signs of lymphedema.

5 Ways to Manage Your Psoriatic Arthritis Symptoms

Psoriatic arthritis is a type of arthritis that affects people with psoriasis, and unfortunately, it can lead to painful foot symptoms. Read on to learn five ways to help manage your psoriatic arthritis symptoms.

How Do Cancer Treatments Affect Your Feet?

Chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, and other types of cancer treatments are designed to stop cancer cells from spreading. Treatments can be aggressive, though, and affect all parts of your body, even your feet.

4 Encouraging Facts About Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is a painful overuse condition that causes pain with every step you take. Thankfully, plantar fasciitis is a treatable condition. Read on to learn four encouraging facts about this condition.

When to See a Specialist About Heel Pain

Whether you have stabbing pain in the bottom of your heel or near the back of it, heel pain makes it hard to complete your daily activities. But when is it time to pause the at-home treatments and seek a specialist's care? Find out here.