Leg swelling caused by a blood clot or vascular conditions can be treated simply with anti-inflammatory medication, pain medication, leg elevation and warm compresses to reduce swelling. More severe cases may require a hospital visit with more targeted drugs, like blood thinners, to help dissolve the clot or antibiotics to cure infection. In these cases, follow-up treatment for several months will be required to monitor ongoing drug treatment.
For conditions affecting deeper veins in the legs, treatment will depend on the seriousness of the condition. It may require:
- Antibiotics to kill infection
- Surgery to remove the vein or bypass the clot and a transplant blood vessel
- A filter placement in the abdomen’s main vein to prevent clots in the legs from dislodging and traveling to the lungs which can be life threatening