Having to deal with pain or swelling of any part of your body can be disturbing; And you quickly want to know why its happening.<\/p>\n
If you’ve developed calf swelling on one leg, it is important you see you doctor to determine the cause. The truth is, Calf swelling may not be due to a serious health concern; And if you are lucky it could happen as a result of not stretching before a workout. Other non-serious causes of calf swelling are dehydration and high-intensity exercises.<\/p>\n
Having said that, right or left calf swelling can be due to serious medical issues. In fact, in some cases, it may cause sudden death.<\/p>\n
If you experience swelling of both calf muscle, it means you have a systemic illness. Swelling can affect other parts of your body, extending below your knees down to your ankle. On the other hand, if swelling only affects one calf muscle, it is a localized condition.<\/p>\n
Serious causes of calf swelling and tightness are cellulitis, direct trauma to your calf, injury to the gastrocnemius and soleus muscle, lymphedema, chronic venous insufficiency, and deep venous thrombosis (DVT).<\/p>\n
While calf swelling may not always be life-threatening, sudden death may occur if a clot dislodges and moves to your lungs. So, it is best you see a doctor.<\/p>\n
Here are some questions your doctor will ask you<\/p>\n
Duration of calf muscle pain;<\/strong><\/p>\n Location of swelling;<\/strong><\/p>\n Other questions;<\/strong><\/p>\n This article<\/strong> explains why you have swelling of the calf muscle with or without pain, and treatment options.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you have swelling affecting the left or right side of your calf muscle, it is important you see your doctor.<\/p>\n While mild pain and swelling may go away, it is vital you allow your doctor to determine the underlying cause. In some instance, a deep venous thrombosis, which can result in death may be asymptomatic.<\/p>\n Here are causes of calf swelling and pain<\/p>\n The human body is made up of arteries and veins. In simple terms, the arteries deliver blood and oxygen to your body tissues while the vein returns used deoxygenated blood back from your body tissues to your heart.<\/p>\n Within your vein are valves that ensure one-directional movement of blood against gravity, and contraction of your calf muscles assists venous return.<\/p>\n If there is trauma to the valves in your veins, it can affect blood flow in your veins and result in calf swelling that may extend from your knees to your ankles.<\/p>\n In severe cases, calf swelling may cause an ulcer in the affected limb as blood pools and fails to return.<\/p>\n Besides calf and leg swelling, there are other symptoms you may experience. A varicose vein (that is, a long, tortuous and enlarged vein that runs close to the skin)<\/em>, pain, and overlying skin changes of the affected calf due to pooling of blood.<\/p>\n Venous insufficiency can be managed though may worsen if you sit or stand up for a long period of time. There are many treatments available, and it is best to see your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.<\/p>\n Compression stocking can be used to add more pressure on your calf to assist in the return of blood to your heart.<\/p>\n A deep vein thrombosis affects about 900,000 people in the United States<\/a> each year, and a\u00a0common symptom is swelling of the calf muscle. DVT means a clot develops in your deep veins and mostly affect the legs. In some cases, the clot dislodges and travels to your lungs resulting in life-threatening complications.<\/p>\n A DVT happens to people who are prone to clot formation. Usually, surgery, sitting for too long, and being bedridden due to illness increases the chances for a clot to form. Also, pregnant women are more likely to have a clot than non-pregnant women.<\/p>\n Other risk factors for DVT are obesity, smoking cigarettes, age over 60 years, traveling long distance without a break.<\/p>\n If you have a clot in the deep veins of your calf, you can experience sweating of the affected calf muscle with pain, redness, cramping, and skin color discoloration.<\/p>\n In severe cases, especially if a clot migrates to your lungs, you will have severe difficulty in breathing, coughing up bloody mucus, chest tightness<\/a>, and dizziness<\/p>\n\n
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<\/span>What causes left or right Calf swelling?<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/span>1.\u00a0 Venous insufficiency<\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/span>
![\"calf](\"https:\/\/medplux.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/calf-swelling-varicose-vein.png\")
Who are at risk of venous insufficiency?<\/span><\/h4>\n\n
<\/span>What other symptoms will I experience?<\/span><\/h4>\n
<\/span>Any treatment options?<\/span><\/h4>\n
<\/span>2.\u00a0 Deep venous thrombosis (DVT)<\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/span>
![\"dvt](\"https:\/\/medplux.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/dvt-picture.png\")
<\/a>Who is at risk of a DVT?<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/span>What other symptoms of a DVT?<\/span><\/h4>\n
<\/span>How to avoid and treat a DVT?<\/span><\/h4>\n
![\"cellulitis\"](\"https:\/\/medplux.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/cellulitis.jpg\")
If you have the above symptoms, it is important you see your doctor quickly. This is because an untreated skin infection can get complicated forming an abscess (that is, pus inside your leg).<\/em><\/p>\n