What causes one leg to get bigger than the other?
There are many causes for swelling in the legs, but chances are if the swelling is only in one of your legs, that you are suffering from a condition called lymphedema. The symptoms of lymphedema can range from being minimal to severe, affecting the ability to perform daily activitie.
How do you fix leg imbalance?
How to Fix a Muscle Imbalance in Legs. To fix this muscle imbalance, you’ll need to strengthen your hips, glutes and quads. Regular squats, jump squats, lunges, and single leg dips on a stair are a great way to do this. Complete these exercises slowly, focusing on form by keeping your knees straight.
Why do I have one leg skinnier than the other?
Muscle atrophy is the wasting or thinning of muscle mass. It can be caused by disuse of your muscles or neurogenic conditions. Symptoms include a decrease in muscle mass, one limb being smaller than the other, and numbness, weakness and tingling in your limbs.
What does it mean when only one leg is swollen?
Experiencing one leg swelling can often be caused by a blood clot located in a deep vein, also known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Other common causes of a swollen shin or calf include trauma from an injury that can lead to bruises, fractures, or sprains.
Why is my one leg appearing slimmer than the other?
You may have muscle atrophy if: One of your arms or legs is noticeably smaller than the other. You’re experiencing marked weakness in one limb. You’ve been physically inactive for a very long time.
What causes lymphedema in one leg?
secondary lymphoedema – caused by damage to the lymphatic system or problems with the movement and drainage of fluid in the lymphatic system; it can be the result of a cancer treatment, an infection, injury, inflammation of the limb, or a lack of limb movement.
Should I be concerned if one leg is swollen?
Check with your doctor right away if you have swelling in one leg or any of these other symptoms: Leg pain, tenderness, or cramping. Skin that’s tinged red or blue. Skin that feels warm.
What does it mean when one leg is swollen and the other is not?
If the injury that caused the swelling was incurred from a sports injury or fall, then it makes sense as to why swelling may occur in only one leg. However, if it seems your swelling came out of nowhere and is only occurring in one leg, that could mean more serious vein issues.
Home Care
- Put your legs on pillows to raise them above your heart while lying down.
- Exercise your legs.
- Follow a low-salt diet, which may reduce fluid buildup and swelling.
- Wear support stockings (sold at most drugstores and medical supply stores).
- When traveling, take breaks often to stand up and move around.
What causes swelling in one leg only?
Sudden onset of swelling in one leg accompanied by pain in your calf muscle can be due to a blood clot (deep vein thrombosis, or DVT) in one of your leg veins. If this occurs, seek medical help immediately. Inadequate lymphatic system. Your body’s lymphatic system helps clear excess fluid from tissues.
Is swelling in one leg an emergency?
When to Seek Care for Swelling. You should seek emergency care if you have sudden, unexplained swelling in just one limb or if it occurs along with chest pain, trouble breathing, coughing up blood, fever, or skin that is red and warm to the touc.
When should leg swelling be a concern?
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.
What causes fluid retention in one leg?
Leg swelling caused by the retention of fluid in leg tissues is known as peripheral edema. It can be caused by a problem with the venous circulation system, the lymphatic system or the kidneys.
Can you have edema in only one leg?
Edema can also develop as a result of a blood clot in the deep veins of the lower leg (called deep vein thrombosis [DVT]). In this case, the edema is mostly limited to the feet or ankles and usually affects only one side (the left or right); other conditions that cause edema usually cause swelling of both legs.