Swelling After An Operation

Swelling can occur for many reasons; often, swelling in the legs is not worrying or concerning and can be treated easily.

Having an operation can be a worrying time for anyone and swelling is a normal part of operations due to the unavoidable impact of cutting into leg tissues or internal workings. When you’ve had an operation, swelling could indicate something more serious, but you should always contact your doctor or specialist if you’re concerned.

Warning signs

After an operation, it is normal to have a certain amount of swelling in the area affected. However, there are many causes of swelling that are warning signs of more serious problems that should be identified as early as possible to get the best treatment. Here are the most important signs to keep your eye out for after having an operation:

The Lungs

After any surgery and the period of bed rest, there is a risk to the lungs. This could be due to the lack of air movement in and out of the lungs; this then increases the risk of getting chest infections or Pneumonia. A sign of swelling in the lower limbs is because the body struggles to remove excess fluid from the tissues back into the circulatory system. Medical professionals will particularly lookout for this is in the first few days after an operation, but it can occur some weeks afterward, too.

Water Infections

After an operation, it is common to have a catheter inserted into your bladder if you are unable to get out of bed and initially cannot take yourself to the bathroom. This also leads to generalised swelling in the legs. The swelling itself will not be particularly painful but may make your legs feel achy. It’s suggested that you should keep yourself well hydrated by drinking water regularly and if you notice signs of a water infection, then contact a medical professional or doctor.

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

Blood clots in veins, known as Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), can occur after surgery and are usually caused due to a lack of movement and bed rest. It means that your muscles are not pumping enough blood around the body effectively. The area where you have the welling might feel tight and hotter than normal. If the swelling occurs and becomes painful, then you need to seek medical attention.

Wound Infections

The skin acts as a physical barrier to infections getting into our bodies. When you have an operation, that barrier is cut. Obviously, it’s done professionally and in the cleanest way possible, but there is a small risk that you could contract a bug. The signs of a wound being infected include swelling in the area, but also increased redness or feeling unwell.

Swelling can be a concern, but it does not typically result in further pain after an operation. If you do receive more pain or swelling that is getting worse or uncomfortable, you should try to contact your surgeon or a medical professional for treatment and advice.