Why Do Legs Swell, and How Can You Relieve It When Pain and Numbness Appear?

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If your legs tend to swell easily on a regular basis, it is likely that fatigue has built up.

However, if easy leg swelling continues along with numbness and pain, it may be a symptom of another condition.

In particular, if irregular but frequent leg muscle cramps also occur, it is important to get examined.

Today, let’s look at the reasons why legs swell, along with ways to relieve swelling.

Why do legs swell?

🦵 Varicose veins

One possible reason for leg swelling is varicose veins.

This refers to a condition in which venous blood in the legs becomes stagnant during circulation back to the heart.

It is not just a slowdown in blood circulation; in severe cases, backflow can also occur.

When venous blood becomes stagnant like this, swelling can develop easily, and muscle cramps and reduced sensation in the legs may also lead to fatigue.

Varicose veins can also develop due to aging, and in addition, obesity and wearing tight clothing that compresses blood flow can be causes.

They can also be caused by birth control pills or problems such as thrombophlebitis, so if there are any suspected factors, it is important to receive treatment.

🦵 Diabetes

Diabetes is a condition in which the sugar level in the blood remains above normal, disrupting the body’s balance.

What makes diabetes frightening is that if it worsens, it can bring about various complications.

Among these complications, one that is related to leg swelling is diabetic foot.

Diabetic foot is one of the symptoms that occurs when blood sugar remains high and inflammation levels also rise.

As damage progresses in the foot area, where peripheral nerves are located, it can lead to necrosis, infection, wounds, pain, and deformity, so caution is needed.

Early symptoms of diabetic foot are said to include leg swelling, and it can also lead to numbness and pain in the legs.

🦵 Ankle ligament rupture, sprain

The foot is adjacent to the leg, so pain or problems in the foot can naturally extend to the leg.

Pain in the ankle area, which connects the foot and leg, can be a reason for leg swelling.

In particular, a tunnel is located in the ankle tendon area, which serves as a passage through which a bundle of nerves passes.

If inflammation develops in this tissue, the nerves can become compressed, which is said to cause numbness in the legs.

🦵 Herniated disc

The main skeletal structure that supports the body’s weight can be said to extend from the neck and lower back to the pelvis, legs, and feet.

Among these, if disc symptoms appear in the lower back or neck, it can be a reason for leg swelling.

When a disc, which serves to protect the spaces between the vertebrae, herniates, it presses on the bundle of nerves passing through the spine, and pain and swelling can appear simultaneously in the areas controlled by those nerves.

At this time, if the nerves that control the legs are irritated, numbness, swelling, and pain in the legs may occur, and the nerves may become dulled, leading to sensory paralysis.

In addition, sciatica can also be cited as a cause of leg swelling.

It is said that when inflammation develops in the left pelvis, the nerves connected to that area are compressed, causing pain and swelling in the calves, thighs, feet, and hips.

How can leg swelling be relieved?

Today, we looked at the reasons why legs swell.

As a way to relieve leg swelling, if a disease is suspected, it is important to identify and address the cause through appropriate treatment.

Improvement is possible through medication and physical therapy.

If a disease is not the cause, improving daily habits is important as a way to relieve leg swelling.

If you consume too much sodium, water in the body can become insufficient, which can interfere with lymph node circulation and cause swelling.

Therefore, when planning meals, it is recommended to avoid stimulating foods and to eat foods rich in calcium and potassium, which help promote sodium excretion.

Also, muscle tightness can be another possible reason for leg swelling.

To relieve muscle tightness and fatigue, massage or using a foam roller can promote blood circulation and lymph node circulation.

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