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Published on: 3/17/2025

What Could Be Causing My Legs to Feel Both Hot and Swollen?

Hot and swollen legs may be caused by an internal problem like a blood clot or an inflammatory process, which should be checked by a healthcare provider.

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Explanation

When your leg feels both hot and swollen, it might be due to a condition that causes increased blood flow and fluid buildup in the tissues. The heat in your leg usually comes from increased blood flow, while swelling may indicate that fluid is accumulating because of blockage or irritation. One reason can be a blood clot in the deep veins of the leg, also known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). In DVT, the blocked clot can cause the leg to swell and feel warm to the touch. DVTs generally occur in one leg, although rarely it can present in both legs. In other cases, inflammation or infection of the tissues can lead to similar symptoms. Other causes of leg swelling may be infection of the legs, congestive heart failure, cirrhosis, and kidney disease. Less common conditions such as certain lymphomas have been reported to present with unilateral leg swelling, though these are rare. It is important to monitor any other signs you may have, like severe pain, redness, or changes in color, as these could mean the problem is serious. If the symptoms worsen or you become concerned, it is a good idea to speak with a healthcare provider to discuss your symptoms and undergo any necessary tests for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.

(References)

  • Posner C, Owen M, Melhem N, Vidyarthi M, Low D, Renfrew I, MacCallum P, Chowdhury TA. An acutely swollen leg. Clin Med (Lond). 2010 Oct;10(5):484-6. doi: 10.7861/clinmedicine.10-5-484. PMID: 21117384; PMCID: PMC4952413.

  • Elgendy IY, Lo MC. Unilateral lower extremity swelling as a rare presentation of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. BMJ Case Rep. 2014 Jan 15;2014:bcr2013202424. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2013-202424. PMID: 24431414; PMCID: PMC3902765.

  • Goodliffe JM, Ormerod JO, Beale A, Ramcharitar S. An under-diagnosed cause of leg swelling. BMJ Case Rep. 2013 May 24;2013:bcr2013009538. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2013-009538. PMID: 23709549; PMCID: PMC3669842.

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