When does edema need a doctor?

Swollen ankles or legs are easy to put off. The harder question is when the swelling stops being a nuisance and becomes something to have looked at.

The sign to act on

On this point, my.clevelandclinic.org states: "It’s very important to see a healthcare provider if you experience swelling in multiple places in your body or body parts." So swelling that shows up in more than one place is the sign this source treats as important to act on.

More on compression, venous insufficiency and lymphedema

The same publisher covers compression therapy and chronic venous insufficiency. Separately, vascular.org from the Society for Vascular Surgery has a page on lymphedema.

What to ask before treatment

If you live in Mokena or New Lenox Township, note where the swelling appears before your visit, and ask the clinician what they think is causing it.