Which Doctor to Consult for Leg Swelling

When most people experience leg swelling for the first time, they often have no idea where to turn or who to reach out to for help. In most cases, you’ll want to contact your primary care physician so they can refer you to a specialist that has more experience with swollen legs.

If your primary care physician wants to investigate any further, they might send you to one of the following:

• A vascular surgeon with an emphasis on blood vessels
• A cardiovascular doctor with an emphasis on heart health
• A hematologist with an emphasis on the liver
• A nephrologist with an emphasis on the kidney
• An orthopedic surgeon with an emphasis on musculoskeletal disorders
• A lymphologist with an emphasis on the lymphatic system

Matching you with the right doctor is essential to ensuring you receive the right diagnosis and treatment. That’s why it’s best to see your primary care doctor first and foremost – that way they can point you in the right direction. Plus, your primary care physician will want to know.

When to Seek Emergency Medical Care

In some cases, leg swelling is a medical emergency and requires immediate medical assistance to ensure the problem doesn’t worsen. Like most medical conditions, early detection is often the best form of prevention and waiting generally only leads to more disappointment.

For example, you should seek emergency medical care if:

• Your swollen legs are accompanied by chest pain and/or are coughing up blood.
• Your swollen legs are accompanied by shortness of breath and difficulty breathing.
• Your leg swelling is accompanied by fainting or dizziness.
• The swelling occurs suddenly and without a reasonable explanation.
• The swelling is a result of an injury – sports injury, car accident, a fall.
• The swelling is only happening in one of your legs.
• Your swollen legs are accompanied by cool, pale skin.

When you arrive at the emergency room or urgent care facility, they’ll immediately want to ask you some questions and get a better look at the swelling. They’ll likely want to take some tests and might give you some medication to relieve any pain while they determine the cause of it.

When to Schedule a Doctor’s Appointment

While some cases of leg swelling can be treated at home and some require immediate medical care, others might require a doctor’s visit – albeit not right away. These cases aren’t as serious as the ones described above, but they still require a closer look from a trained professional.

For example, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor if:

• At-home treatments for leg swelling aren’t working
• You have periods of extreme inactivity or lack of movement
• You believe the leg swelling is a result of obesity or being overweight
• You sit or stand for long periods of time
• You sprain your ankle or injure your leg and want a second opinion
• The leg pain is getting worse or doesn’t seem to be going away
• Your leg swelling started when you began taking a new medication
• You failed to reduce swelling and can't find the right treatment

The main difference between a doctor visit and the emergency room visit is a majority of the tests will be done at a later date – whereas emergency rooms run a lot of the tests right away. It might take some time before you find a solution, but it won’t come with the hefty bill from the ER.

Are You Worried About Your Swollen Legs?

Have you experienced sudden, prolonged, or chronic leg swelling? Have at-home treatments for leg swelling failed thus far? Are you worried that your swollen legs are a sign of something much worse? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of those questions, contact Dr. Shaun Jang, MD today.

At Good Samaritan LV, you’ll be blown away by the expertise our welcoming staff provide. We take a human-based approach to treating each patient, ensuring their unique needs are met long-term. Together, we can help you live a happier, healthier, and more meaningful lifestyle.

If you’d like to learn more about our practice, philosophy, and/or services that can help you find real, practical, and effective solutions to your leg swelling. Once we determine the cause of the leg swelling, we can help you recover and heal from it so you can regain control in your life.