Savelegs.com

Do you have tender, soft knots or winding veins in the calf or leg that are worse after standing for long hours ?

These are likely to be VARICOSE VEINS, weak- walled veins that balloon out with the pressure of standing.

Is there a visible bruise or swelling of the calf ?

A partial or complete TEAR of the Achilles tendon will cause pain and difficulty pointing the foot down. A TORN CALF MUSCLE might produce some bruises.
A MUSCLE PULL or STRAIN will cause pain in the calf muscle without any bruises or swelling.

Swelling in the calf should always be checked. Use an anti- inflammatory medicine for comfort. Rest is important until it's comfortable to walk on the leg.

Do you have a fever, a red tender area or a red streak up your leg ?
These are all signs of infection.

Do you have thickened and painful areas of skin over the toes or anywhere else on your feet ?

These are usually CORNS AND CALLUSES - which appear wherever there is extra pressure. They may be inherited or caused by ill-fitting shoes.

Never treat by cutting yourself (bathroom surgery), as it is easy to get them infected. Commercially available corn caps and other preparations are not recommended. These can usually be treated conservatively.

Do you have pain in the back of the calf along with swelling of the calf and leg ?

Your pain and swelling may be from a clot in the
deep veins, DEEP VENOUS THROMBOSIS.

Do you have a swelling at the base of the big toe that sticks out ?

That would be a BUNION - a bony lump that gradually develops on the big toe joint over many years. Bunions can sometimes be very painful and at other times exhibit no pain at all. Your doctor may be able to alleviate the problem using pads and dressings but in severe cases a corrective operation may be required.

Do your calves ache after walking, and is the pain relieved with rest ?

Your muscles may not be getting enough blood because of hardening/blocks of the arteries.

Have your legs darkened especially around the ankles & shin ? Do you get recurrent bouts of infection or ulcers in the legs in these areas ?

Have you been getting recurrent ECZEMA for many years which has not been cured inspite of multiple visits to the skin specialist.

Do you have marked swelling of your feet and lower legs ?

You may have EDEMA from heart failure, kidney disease or blockage of blood returning towards the heart

Do you have a toenail, which appears to be abnormally shaped and repeatedly keeps getting infected and discharging pus or a watery discharge tinged with blood ?
You might have an INGROWING TOE NAIL.

Do you have Heel pain in the mornings on arising-becoming less painful as you begin to walk and the pain dissipates ?

This is the commonest complaint. It is called Plantar Fascitis, to which the heel bone 'responds' by developing a bony growth right in the centre of the heel -the “HEEL SPUR”.

Do you have an ulcer, eczema or blackened/darkened area on any part of the leg, which does not heal or keeps coming back again and again ?
You might have a peripheral venous or arterial problem which must be evaluated and in most cases is treatable.