What can cause your leg to swell and hurt?

Causes of swollen legs and ankles

• Injury to the foot or ankle. An injury to the foot or ankle could cause swelling in the ankle and lower leg.
• Infection.
• Lymphedema.
• Venous insufficiency.
• Blood clot.
• Liver disease.
• Kidney disease.
• Medication side effects.

What can you do for leg pain and swelling?

Some tips that may help reduce swelling:

1. Put your legs on pillows to raise them above your heart while lying down.
2. Exercise your legs.
3. Follow a low-salt diet, which may reduce fluid buildup and swelling.
4. Wear support stockings (sold at most drugstores and medical supply stores).

Can IV drug use cause cellulitis?

Skin infections Cellulitis causes redness and pain to advance up the affected limb. Group A streptococcal bacteria causes most cases of cellulitis in the general population. However, people who inject IV drugs are also at risk of cellulitis from other bacteria and even fungi.

When should you seek medical attention for leg swelling?

Seek medical care right away if your legs swell for no apparent reason, especially if you have unexplained leg pain, difficulty breathing, chest pain or other warning signs of a blood clot in your lungs or a heart condition. Many factors — varying greatly in severity — can cause leg swelling.

Can IV drug use cause nerve damage?

It should be kept in mind that a swollen, painful area that is prone to bleeding in an IV drug user may be a pseudoaneurysm which can induce axonal nerve damage.

How do I know if I have an infection from IV drug use?

Skin and soft tissue bacterial infections are a common complication of intravenous drug use….Septic thrombophlebitis

1. Redness, swelling and tenderness of the skin overlying a vein.
2. Pus draining from the vein.
3. Septic clots in the blood vessels of the lungs (pulmonary emboli)
4. Bloodstream infections (septicaemia).

What does severe edema look like?

Signs of edema include: Swelling or puffiness of the tissue directly under your skin, especially in your legs or arms. Stretched or shiny skin. Skin that retains a dimple (pits), after being pressed for several seconds.

What stage of heart failure is edema?

The symptoms of end-stage congestive heart failure include dyspnea, chronic cough or wheezing, edema, nausea or lack of appetite, a high heart rate, and confusion or impaired thinking. Learn about the hospice eligibility requirements for end-stage heart failure.

What are the effects of vein damage from IV drug use?

Vein damage from IV drug use has significant repercussions for health. Some conditions, such as a blood clot from IV drug use, can be fatal. Other issues may include: Collapsed Veins: When someone suffers a collapsed vein, blood cannot pass as it should through the body. Collapsed vein syndrome can be very painful and lead to deep vein thrombosis.

What happens if you inject blood into the femoral vein?

In the crease of the groin, the veins are shallow enough to tempt some intravenous drug users to use this location. This injection site is very dangerous. The femoral vein runs incredibly close to the femoral artery and the femoral nerve. If you hit the femoral artery, a large amount of frothy, bright red blood will rush into the barrel.

What are the long term effects of intravenous drug use?

Prolonged and frequent intravenous (IV) drug use may cause permanent damage to the veins at drug injection sites. People requiring regular medical care and people with substance abuse issues may be at risk for these conditions. Vein damage from IV drug use can lead to chronic venous disorders (CVD).

What are the dangers of Prolonged IV use?

A variety of emergency medical conditions may require first responders to administer drugs through IVs. These include things like hypoglycemia treatment. Prolonged and frequent intravenous (IV) drug use may cause permanent damage to the veins at drug injection sites.