What should you know about legs swelling and hurting?

A minor injury, prolonged inactivity, varicose veins or inflamed tissues can cause pain and swelling. Fluid retention may be linked with heart failure, chronic kidney disease, obesity or medicines. A clot is another concern when one leg becomes swollen, warm, tender or discoloured, particularly after travel, surgery or bed rest. Pain that affects both legs may have a different explanation, so the timing and pattern matter.

For mild symptoms after an obvious strain, rest the area, elevate the leg and use a wrapped cool pack briefly. Avoid deep massage when swelling is unexplained or one-sided. Arrange medical advice for ongoing pain, repeated swelling, skin changes or difficulty walking, and take your medicines as prescribed.

Call emergency services for chest pain, sudden breathlessness, coughing blood, collapse or severe weakness. Seek same-day care for sudden one-sided swelling, warmth, redness, intense tenderness, fever, or a foot that becomes pale, blue or cold.

Ask whether you need an examination or scan, which medicines may affect swelling, how active you should be, and which symptoms should trigger emergency help.