My friend: Male, 44 yrs old, 6 2 , 185 lbs. normal BP & temp. smoker: pack.5/day. (I think he has rapid heartbeat but I m not in medical field.) Has rales and rhonchi. Problem: Has what appears to be pitting edema? in one mid-calf. Sudden onset 3 weeks ago as he was walking 5 miles and hadn t walked that much in a while. Had cramping at that time. Worse when he points his toes. Gets occassional cramping still. Swelling in ankle/calf/maybe upper foot. Swelling hasn t resided and I can see a small red spot with inconsistent edges that is warm but not hot to the touch. When he wears a sock the swelling is reduced within the sock area so then the calf hangs over where sock was. Has what I would call a cankle . He also has had for a long time small varicose veins, all little ones all over and around both ankles. Some blue but all small and skin a bit red poched on both ankles/lower calves. How does he get rid of swelling and is the red spot an infection?