Tag: Unilateral Leg Swelling

When One Leg Swells: Why Dr. Polly Kokinos is Santa Clara County’s Go-To Expert for May-Thurner Syndrome

Posted on by Michael Kokinos

Swelling in one leg should never be ignored. It’s not normal — and it’s not something a pair of compression socks can fix. More often than not, it’s a red flag. One of the most underdiagnosed causes? A condition called May-Thurner Syndrome (MTS), also known as iliac vein compression.

Dr. Polly Kokinos, a board-certified vascular surgeon with elite training from Columbia, UCSF, and Washington University, is the physician that primary care doctors, cardiologists, and even other vascular specialists turn to when they suspect something more serious is at play. She’s not just a vein doctor. She’s where the buck stops.

What Is May-Thurner Syndrome?

May-Thurner Syndrome occurs when the right iliac artery compresses the left iliac vein against the spine, restricting blood flow out of the left leg. This leads to swelling, pain, heaviness, and in some cases, deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

It often goes undiagnosed because surface ultrasounds can’t see into the pelvis — which is where the problem lies. Only a vascular surgeon with advanced imaging capability and specialized training can make this diagnosis accurately.

Symptoms That Mean It’s Time to Call Dr. Kokinos

– Swelling in one leg (usually the left)
– Aching or heaviness after walking or standing
– Skin discoloration or visible pelvic veins
– Previous DVT or unexplained leg pain
– History of misdiagnosed or recurring leg swelling

Why Experience — and Board Certification — Matter

Many providers advertising vein care are not board-certified vascular surgeons. Some have no hospital privileges and refer out complex cases they’re not equipped to treat.

Dr. Kokinos is different:
– She has performed thousands of advanced venous interventions.
– She does not refer out — she diagnoses and treats MTS herself.
– She holds active hospital privileges across Santa Clara County.
– Her training gives her the ability to recognize what most miss.

What patients are saying about Dr Kokinos

🗣️ Patient Testimonial 1:

“My experience with South Bay Vascular, and Dr. Kokinos, was outstanding. Since my procedure, I have had ZERO of any of the symptoms I had been experiencing: no swelling, no ankle pain, no varicose vein, and no clots. Could not be happier!”
— SBVC Patient ​southbayvascular.com

🗣️ Patient Testimonial 2:

“Highly recommend this place for vascular surgery. Dr. Kokinos knows her stuff, spends extra time before and after the surgery, double checks everything with…”
— Yelp Reviewer ​Yelp+1MapQuest+1

Dr. Polly Kokinos: The Physician Other Physicians Trust

Whether you’re a busy professional, a mom, or a retiree, you deserve answers. If your leg swelling has been dismissed or misdiagnosed, now is the time to get the clarity you deserve — from the physician who sees what others don’t.

Call (408) 376-3626 today to schedule your advanced vascular consultation.

Confident Legs. Confident Life. Trust your legs to Dr. Polly Kokinos — the valley’s most trusted name in vascular care.

HOW CAN A SWOLLEN LEG BE RELATED TO CANCER?

Posted on by Angelica Rodezno

How Can A Swollen Leg Be Related To Cancer? Many people know that leg swelling is a normal part of pregnancy. Or that if your heart or kidneys are not working properly, then fluid can “back up “ into your legs and cause swelling. Unfortunately, one problem that most people do not associate with leg swelling is cancer. This is unfortunate, because many people have leg swelling, most specifically an unprovoked deep venous thrombosis causing that swelling, as the first sign of their cancer. What does that mean?

Deep venous thrombosis (DVT), or a blood clot in one of the deep veins in the leg, is very common in the United States. This usually presents as unilateral leg (when only one leg swells) swelling, especially of the calf and ankle. As many as 900,000 people a year are diagnosed with a DVT and about 100,000 of them DIE of either the DVT or a pulmonary embolus (PE). A pulmonary embolus is when the blood clot travels to the lung and causes the death of a part of the lung. Most of the time, a DVT is provoked, or has a cause. Common reasons for a DVT include long car or plane rides, having orthopedic or other surgery, being on bedrest or being very sedentary, being on birth control pills, or having unusual proteins in the blood that cause one to clot more easily.

Sometimes, however, a patient develops a blood clot without having a history of one of these things. When that happens, it is VERY important to be worked up for the possibility of a hidden cancer. This is because studies have shown that if someone develops a DVT with none of the “normal” risk factors, the chance of diagnosing cancer in that patient is one in ten in the first year after the DVT.

It is therefore very important that if you are told you have a DVT, that you be screened for cancer. This can be done simply with a thorough history and physical, some lab work, and possibly some Xrays, depending on your history. It is important NOT to just go to the urgent care, be told you have a blood clot, and just take your blood thinners. Please go see a vascular surgeon who can both manage the medication for you blood clot, follow it up with ultrasounds, and do the proper work-up to ensure that it is not the sign of something bad.
South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Center specializes in the treatment of DVT and Swollen Legs. If you or anyone you know suffers from blood clots (DVT’s) or swollen legs, please call our office to schedule a consultation at 408-376-3626