Internal swelling is often a side effect of a medication or the result of a serious injury. You should seek immediate medical attention if you experience rapid, unexplainable swelling, especially if you also experience unexplained weight gain and pain.
These include:
- itching.
- vomiting.
- flatulence.
- pain in the affected area.
In this post
When should you worry about swelling?
If your swelling is chronic, or lasts longer than 2-3 weeks, you should see your doctor. Your doctor will be able to recommend medication, exercise or therapy to resolve the swelling. Remember, swelling is the body’s reaction to an injury; if the swelling is still present, so is the injury.
What happens if you leave swelling untreated?
If left untreated, edema can lead to increasingly painful swelling, stiffness, difficulty walking, stretched or itchy skin, skin ulcers, scarring, and decreased blood circulation.
Can swelling be life threatening?
Ascites and peripheral edema can be uncomfortable and can be a sign of a more serious condition. Pulmonary edema, which makes it difficult to breathe and can be life threatening, is a symptom of heart failure and is discussed in more detail separately.
What is abnormal swelling?
Abnormal buildup of fluid in the ankles, feet, and legs can cause swelling. This fluid buildup and swelling is called edema. The abnormal buildup of fluid in the body is called edema. Edema is commonly seen in the feet and ankles, because of the effect of gravity, swelling is particularly noticeable in these locations.
What helps swelling go down?
Lifestyle and home remedies
- Movement. Moving and using the muscles in the part of your body affected by edema, especially your legs, may help pump the excess fluid back toward your heart.
- Elevation.
- Massage.
- Compression.
- Protection.
- Reduce salt intake.
Will swelling go away on its own?
Mild swelling will usually go away on its own. Home treatment may help relieve symptoms. Swelling and pain are very common with injuries. When you have swelling, you should look for other symptoms of injury that may need to be evaluated by your doctor.
How long should swelling last?
Phase 2: Inflammation (swelling)
Inflammation starts within the first hour or two after injury, peaks within 1-3 days but lasts at least a couple of weeks. This phase is when you will experience swelling and some heat around your injury. This is entirely normal and a natural part of your body’s tissue healing process.
Does swelling mean healing?
While most people become alarmed when the body shows signs of swelling, it’s important to remember that this is a natural part of the healing process. When swelling occurs, it’s just the body requesting reinforcements to speed up the healing process.
When should you go to the hospital for swollen feet and legs?
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.
Where does the fluid from swelling come from?
Edema occurs when tiny blood vessels in your body (capillaries) leak fluid. The fluid builds up in surrounding tissues, leading to swelling.
What causes fluid build up?
Some of the many common causes of fluid retention include: Gravity – standing up for long periods of time allows fluid to ‘pool’ in the tissues of the lower leg. Hot weather – the body tends to be less efficient at removing fluid from tissues during the summer months. Burns – including sunburn.
Can swelling cause permanent damage?
Swelling is the body’s response to injury. It can sometimes be treated with medication and rest. Brain swelling can be very difficult to treat. It can also cause irreversible damage.
Why does swelling hurt?
Why Does Swelling Occur? After an injury, the body identifies the injured area and sends many white blood cells to the area to start the healing work. This reaction is also associated with extra blood flow to the area, which can cause heat and redness. This increased fluid in the area causes swelling and thus pain.
Where does swelling go?
Swelling can happen anywhere on your body but most often affects your feet, ankles and legs. Symptoms of swelling include: An area of your body is larger than it was a day ago. The skin over the swollen area looks stretched and shiny.
What do doctors prescribe for swelling?
NSAIDs work like corticosteroids (also called steroids), without many of the side effects of steroids. Steroids are man-made drugs that are similar to cortisone, a naturally-occurring hormone. Like cortisone, NSAIDs reduce pain and inflammation that often come with joint and muscle diseases and injuries.
What naturally reduces swelling?
Inflammation (swelling), which is part of the body’s natural healing system, helps fight injury and infection.
Follow these six tips for reducing inflammation in your body:
- Load up on anti-inflammatory foods.
- Cut back or eliminate inflammatory foods.
- Control blood sugar.
- Make time to exercise.
- Lose weight.
- Manage stress.
What is best medicine for swelling?
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or naproxen may help ease swelling and pain. Acetaminophen might also fight pain. Some doctors say magnesium is a good mineral to add to your diet to help with painful swelling.
Does swelling mean infection?
More Swelling: Similar to redness around the wound, swelling in the affected area indicates that the body’s immune system is working. But if the swelling continues even after 3-5 days, with no signs of it reducing, it indicates an infection.
Does ice help swelling after 3 days?
Leaving ice on an injury for too long can cause more harm than good. Because ice constricts the blood vessels, it can reduce the blood flow to the injured area and slow the healing process. Ice should not be needed after the first 24 hours unless your doctor recommends it to reduce active swelling or to relieve pain.
What does inflammation pain feel like?
It often shows up as redness, swelling, warmth, and pain in the affected area. Chronic inflammation refers to long-term inflammation. Over time, chronic inflammation can cause the immune system to attack healthy cells and tissue, resulting in autoimmune issues.