Erythema nodosum and anti-inflammatory treatment

Erythema nodosum is inflammation in deeper skin tissue, usually felt as tender lumps rather than surface blisters or ulcers. Warmth, redness and later colour changes can occur as the inflammation settles. Anti-inflammatory treatment may help pain and swelling, but it does not explain why the reaction began.

Possible triggers include an infection, a medicine, sarcoidosis, inflammatory bowel disease or another immune-related condition. A clinician uses your history and examination to decide whether testing is needed. Similar-looking nodules can have different causes, so self-treatment should not replace assessment.

Rest when the legs are painful, elevate them when sitting and try a cool compress wrapped in cloth. Ask a pharmacist or clinician whether an anti-inflammatory pain medicine is appropriate for you; stomach, kidney, liver, pregnancy and medicine considerations can change that advice. Do not combine products with the same active ingredient.

If symptoms are severe or persistent, a clinician may treat the trigger and consider prescription anti-inflammatory treatment. Oral corticosteroids are reserved for selected cases after important infections have been considered.

Get prompt help for severe pain with inability to walk, rapidly spreading redness, major one-sided swelling, breathing difficulty, chest pain, high fever, or eye pain or vision changes. Arrange a review if the nodules recur, new symptoms appear, or home measures do not allow normal movement.

Which anti-inflammatory option fits my health history? Do I need tests for an infection or inflammatory condition? How long should I use the treatment? What symptoms would mean I should stop it or call?