The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides health care at little or no charge to more than 5 million veterans annually.
There are many potential causes of foot, leg, and ankle swelling. In most cases, swelling occurs as a result of certain lifestyle factors, such as: Being overweight: Excess body mass can decrease blood circulation, causing fluid to build up in the feet, legs, and ankles.
Inflammation of the knee and ankle joints may also be perceived as leg pains and these may be caused by osteoarthritis or gout. Less common causes of leg pain include infection of the bone (osteomyelitis), infection of soft tissues (cellulitis), benign tumors (osteoma), and cancer (osteosarcoma).