Edema is a condition wherein there is an abnormal collection of liquid substances beneath the skin and cavities of the body. There are two classifications of edema and these are bilateral or soft and unilateral or indurated edema. When the volume of interstitial liquid substance becomes very excessive and there are infections present, the liquid substance often leaks out accompanied by severe swelling and skin blisters.
What Causes Fluid To Leak Out Of Legs?
There are a lot of factors that contribute to the occurrence of edema in the legs including diseases and other conditions.
These factors include:
- Dysfunction of the lymphatic drainage system or medically termed as lymphorrhoea.
- Blood pressure in the lower limb capillaries is elevated. Excessive force in the blood vessels can also act as contributing factors. Deep vein thrombosis can damage or obstruct the blood vessels in the leg area which prevents it from maintaining equilibrium.
- Large wound and certain conditions of the skin that causes the formation of vesicles and papules. This is often more frequently observed in patients with diabetes.
- Infections can cause edema symptoms to leak out fluid from legs.These infections include cellulite and erysipelas. Both conditions causes redness and blisters where the fluid can leak out.
- Medications. Good examples of medications that can cause edema and eventually fluid leakage include steroids, estrogen, NSAIDs or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and calcium channel blockers.
- Liver and kidney disease often result in change in the composition and viscosity of the blood. This may also result in extrusion of fluid from blisters in the legs
- Venous insufficiency. In this condition, the blood does not return properly to the heart from the peripheral areas which will cause edema. Common peripheral areas that will experience edema when there is venous insufficiency include both legs of the body.
- Heart Failure. When the heart does not function well and will not pump blood properly, blood will accumulate and will cause leakage from its vessels and into tissues that surround it.
Treatment For Fluid Leaking Out Of Legs
Some of the treatment options include,
- Compression therapy like the use of compression stockings can help the fluid from leaking out from the blood vessels which can reduce the symptoms of edema and will eventually prevent fluid to leak from the legs. This home treatment can be partnered with proper body positioning such as leg elevation.
- Diuretics. This can help in properly draining excess fluids in the tissues of the legs and will control the symptoms of edema including leakage of fluids out of the skin of the legs. The use of diuretics should be carefully administered to prevent dehydration.
- Treatment options for edema usually will involve treating the underlying cause.
- Alginates and hydro-fiber bandages can help in managing the fluid leakage from the legs along with barrier creams that prevents the skin from rupturing or breaking down.
- Specialized therapeutic massages can help when the edema is caused by lymphatic failure.
- Potassium Permanganate. This is an antiseptic that can briefly offer remedy to the legs where fluids are leaking out.
My mother is 87 and both of her legs are swollen so bad that they have been leaking clear fluid for a week. She can sit/stand/walk but there is a puddle when her clothes are soaking wet. She has pain too. This has happened before but it was not as bad as this. Once they leak they reduce in size, the sores heal up and life is better for a little while. The doctor says she is in stage 3 of kidney disease/failure and her heart is not in great shape. She cries most of the time now because of this leg mess. She does not have any clots, went for that test this past month. The doctor really doesn’t seem to care or help with a solution anymore. She has been using Demadex and Aldactone but they don’t seem to work anymore, plus they are bad for the kidneys. She doesn’t eat much so salt is not an issue either. Her quality of life has gone at this point. What else can I do to help reduce swelling, leaking and pain? Should I use a compression?
Swelling in her legs is due to her kidney problem and heart problem. She can use compression techniques. Also reduce her salt intake. Ask the doctor how much water and liquid she should consume in a day. It is important as fluid restriction to certain extent after consulting the doctor may help in reducing the swelling of legs.
My mother is 83 she is suffering from lymphedema due to removal of lymph nodes 50 years ago. She is taking lymphatic therapy (massage and bandaging) since September 2012. She was operated for a broken femur in the same swollen leg in June of 2012. After 4 weeks of therapy, she noticed leakage of the skin which is called “leaky leg”. In all the years of therapy she never experienced this leakage. Is there a remedy for the leakage and what is the cause?
My grandma’s legs are swollen since many years. She is 78 and takes lasix as a diuretic, but it does not really help since few days. Yesterday her leg started leaking clean pus and blood. It is coming out of skin pores. Can someone tell me what might be the cause?
Swelling in legs is also called edema. Is your grandmother suffering from kidney or heart problems? Chronic kidney disease and heart problems can cause swelling in legs. A stage comes when the skin cannot stretch itself due to swelling and at this time the fluid starts leaking from the legs. You should consult a doctor to rule out both conditions. She may also have to restrict fluid intake, however, the exact amount of fluid that she has to take in a day can be recommended by the examining doctor only.
My mother is 101 years old. She has been healthy all her life. Now she is suffering from fluid retention in her legs and ankles. The fluid oozes out and her leg is bandaged up. She is also taking tablets for this problem. I also soak her feet in warm water mixed with Epsom salt and vinegar. Last year she suffered from cystitis. She had been taking Ural powder twice a day for the last 5 months. Is it possible that this medication is the cause of her deteriorating health?
Your mother needs to be treated for the underlying cause of edema in feet and ankle. Ural powder is used for reducing burning and stinging during urination which is common in cystitis. However, you have to talk to her doctor regarding its use in her case. There are many causes for edema in feet. One of the reasons is improper kidney function and cardiac ailment. Your mother needs more tests to rule out kidney disease and heart ailment. After examining her, the doctor will recommend certain tests to rule out both the problems. He may also recommend the amount of water that she has to consume after examining her. He may also prescribe medicine to increase urinary output. Since sodium retains fluid in the body, she should reduce intake of salt.
My Cat jumped up on me in the middle of night and scratched my left leg. When I woke in the morning, my bed was wet around my leg. I do suffer from severe edema of both legs and feet which I have since years. I cannot take water pills; they dehydrate me to the point of massive cramps throughout my whole body, despite taking the required Potassium supplements to counteract the cramping. My question is how do I stop this leakage?
The leakage is due to abrasion caused by your cats nail. In normal circumstances too, some amount of extracellular fluid is bound to come out from abrasion and scratch injury. Since you are having edema of feet, the leakage may be more. The best way to reduce the flow is to dress the injury regularly with sterilized gauze and cotton. Apply some antibacterial ointment over the affected area. Also consult your doctor because you may require antibiotics to prevent infection. Your doctor may also give a shot of tetanus toxoid and Rabies vaccine as a precautionary measure.