Swelling in the legs is also referred to as edema. It usually occurs in the calves, ankles and feet. The cause of the condition is an accumulation of excess fluid within the tissues of the legs. If an indentation occurs when pressure is applied to the swollen extremity with a finger, the condition is known as pitting edema. Other causes of swelling in the legs may be excess thickness of the skin layers caused by conditions such as eosinophilic fasciitis or scleroderma. In these cases, the swelling is referred to as non-pitting edema. Injury, inflammation or disease of the tissues or joints can also result in swelling of the legs. Standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time may also cause leg swelling. Edema caused by this or due to injury is not a cause for concern in the long term. These causes are also easily identifiable by the doctor. In certain cases, swelling in the legs could be indicative of more serious conditions such as a blood clot or a heart condition. As such it is important to seek medical consultation if edema occurs in the legs without any obvious cause. This is especially true if the swelling is accompanied by other symptoms such as chest pain and difficulties in breathing.
If the swelling has been occurring in the legs even after taking diuretics or water pills, then it is possible that the pills are not working in the proper manner. Diuretics are used to enable the body to eliminate excess sodium from the body. They are used in the treatment of conditions such as kidney or liver disease and certain heart conditions. High blood pressure is also treated with the use of certain diuretics. Swelling in the legs is usually also treated through the use of diuretics. As such if the swelling persists even after taking the pills, it is possible that the cause of the condition lies somewhere else or that the pills are not appropriate for you. You need to consult your doctor about this and if you have been taking the water pills without medical supervision, then you need to discontinue the medication at the earliest.
As mentioned before, the swelling in the legs could be arising due to various causes and you need to determine the exact cause before treatment can be started. Diuretics are used for several purposes besides water retention, and it could be that the swelling is being caused by factors other than accumulation of excess fluid in the legs.