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What Causes Swollen Lower Legs Along With Hyper Pigmentation?
Question: Dear Doctor,
One of my relative, is 62 years and his weight is 120 Kg. He has not got Diabetics or BP. But his legs below the knees, got swollen and became very hard and the colour has also changed to Black. The skin is very rough. This is the fourth time he is having this problem. He has taken scan and the blood flow is normal in his legs. When he takes the medicine, this problem goes after some time. Pl. clarify whats this problem and how to prevent this from coming again.
One of my relative, is 62 years and his weight is 120 Kg. He has not got Diabetics or BP. But his legs below the knees, got swollen and became very hard and the colour has also changed to Black. The skin is very rough. This is the fourth time he is having this problem. He has taken scan and the blood flow is normal in his legs. When he takes the medicine, this problem goes after some time. Pl. clarify whats this problem and how to prevent this from coming again.
Brief Answer:
Lymphodema is very likely
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
This is reminding me of a case that I attended recently where the person had lymphoedema. Being overweight, old age and the muscles of the calf do not pump of the lymph effectively leading to swelling of the spaces. This will be further inhabitated by fibroblasts and the skin becomes thich tough and dry.
In your relatives case he is obese and may not be active in walking. He may have arthritis that could contribute to being sedentary.
The best thing for your relative is to meet a vascular surgeon in your area. He requires compression therapy and it has stocking to be worn all throughout the day except while sleeping. He should also walk so that the muscles will act like pumps to out the lymph. The followup exams will reveal more things. The therapy will take one to two years. But my opinion is compression stockings and some medicines should do the trick for him.
The skin has to be massaged every day so that should not be left to dry otherwise secondary infections can start leading cellulitis in this age.
Hope this is clear.
Lymphodema is very likely
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
This is reminding me of a case that I attended recently where the person had lymphoedema. Being overweight, old age and the muscles of the calf do not pump of the lymph effectively leading to swelling of the spaces. This will be further inhabitated by fibroblasts and the skin becomes thich tough and dry.
In your relatives case he is obese and may not be active in walking. He may have arthritis that could contribute to being sedentary.
The best thing for your relative is to meet a vascular surgeon in your area. He requires compression therapy and it has stocking to be worn all throughout the day except while sleeping. He should also walk so that the muscles will act like pumps to out the lymph. The followup exams will reveal more things. The therapy will take one to two years. But my opinion is compression stockings and some medicines should do the trick for him.
The skin has to be massaged every day so that should not be left to dry otherwise secondary infections can start leading cellulitis in this age.
Hope this is clear.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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