How serious are weeping legs?
Weeping legs do not usually happen suddenly. There are often symptoms or warning signs that our body has already sent us that may have gone unchecked, leading to weeping legs. It usually starts with some level of swelling or edema, which can occur anywhere in the body but is most common in the arms and legs. This could start as tired, heavy legs, puffiness of the tissue right under the skin, stretched "tight" skin, or skin that looks pitted or holds a dimple after it has been pressed for a few seconds. (mayoclinic.org/edema) Most of these symptoms are also common, but just because they happen commonly does not mean they are normal.
There are several reasons why one may experience swelling/edema. It could be because of medication we are taking or a medical condition. Medical conditions that can cause this include Congestive Heart Failure, kidney disease, liver disease, or very commonly, venous insufficiency. Venous insufficiency is when the veins are no longer efficiently pushing blood through our body.
When swelling or edema is present and untreated, it can cause complications. While these complications may be common, they are not normal and should be taken seriously. The sooner we look after these symptoms, the more options we have access to and the better the outcome.
Swelling or edema is fluid pooling in the feet and legs because it cannot move through the system as it should. If it stays in the feet and legs too long and cannot move up where the body can excrete it, sweat it out, or absorb it, it can become infected. This infection is known as Cellulitis. It often starts as a red rash which can become hot, painful, and possibly swollen. This rash can turn into little blisters on the surface of the skin which burst open causing the skin to weep. Cellulitis has the potential to make you very sick and may even require hospitalization. While the infection will likely be treated with antibiotics, the weeping, swelling, and discoloration of the skin may still be present for weeks after the infection has cleared. Unfortunately, after one infection, your skin is also more susceptible to recurring infections creating this vicious cycle of cellulitis and edema.
Proper education/information, new research, and treatment, including compression stockings, can lower the incidence of recurring cellulitis and reduce edema.
If you or a loved one is experiencing swelling or weeping in their legs, please know that this may be common but it is NOT normal. Seek medical advice from your physician and have a conversation with a Certified Compression Fitter.
NOTE: This post is not intended to diagnose or be construed as medical advice. It is intended to provide some basic information to start a conversation with your health provider. Ask your physician or member of your health care team before starting, stopping or making any changes to your health care plan. All opinions are my own.
Compression Garments at a strength of 20mmHg or higher are considered medical-grade compression and must be prescribed by a doctor. They are used for the treatment of various medical conditions and should be used under the supervision of a doctor.
