One Leg Suddenly Becomes Swollen and Painful? Do Not Massage It

You wake up and notice that one leg is noticeably bigger than the other. It feels painful, warm or unusually tight. You may think it is ordinary swelling and ask someone to massage it.

Stop and pay attention. Sudden swelling in one leg can sometimes be a sign of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot in a deep vein, usually in the leg.

Here are warning signs you should not ignore:

1. One leg is more swollen than the other. 2. Pain or tenderness in the calf or thigh. 3. The affected area feels warmer than the surrounding skin. 4. The skin becomes red or discoloured. 5. The leg feels heavy or unusually uncomfortable.

Not every swollen leg is caused by a blood clot. Injury, infection and other conditions can also cause swelling. But DVT needs prompt medical assessment because a clot can travel to the lungs.

If a blood clot is suspected, don’t massage the affected leg or attempt to treat it with home remedies. Get urgent medical assessment instead.

Watch out for this emergency sign: If leg swelling is accompanied by sudden breathlessness, chest pain, coughing up blood, dizziness or fainting, seek emergency medical help immediately. These may indicate a clot has travelled to the lungs.

Don’t wait several days hoping the swelling will disappear. Sudden, unexplained swelling in one leg deserves medical attention.

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