I have a friend whose ankle and feet are swollen but she feels no pain. I told her to go get it checked out, but she told me it has happened before and not to worry. What could this be a sign of? (Infection, etc.) I'm hoping somebody knows or has dealt with something like this before so I can get an answer to this. Some people are just too stubborn to go to the doctor, so Clutchfans help me out. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
Swollen feet and legs, referred to medically as edema, occur when fluid is retained in the spaces between body cells. Edema typically affects the feet, ankles and lower legs, but can also impact any area of the body, causing systemic symptoms. Causes: Edema can be caused by a serious condition of the kidney, heart, liver or blood vessels, but many other factors can contribute to its onset, including: Eating a poor diet high in salt and carbohydrates Abusing laxatives Abusing diuretics Abusing drugs Taking birth control or hormone replacement therapy pills Pregnancy and PMS Sodium retention Varicose veins and history of phlebitis Allergic reactions Neuromuscular disorders Trauma Symptoms: Initially, the feet and legs will appear swollen as the day progresses, but after a period of time, the swelling will set in first thing in the morning and continue to worsen throughout the day. Long-term edema causes pitting: When you press on the swollen area for a few seconds, you will notice an indentation in that area. Continued swelling can cause skin ulcerations. Over time, other symptoms will develop: High blood pressure Headaches Increased urination Palpitations Swollen hands and/or wrists Puffy eyes Weight gain Relief and Prevention: The hallmark of treatment is to reduce the swelling, and the first line of defense: leg elevation. Elevate legs above the level of the heart, which puts minimal pressure on the backs of the knees and thighs and lower back. Just sitting in a reclining chair in front of the TV is a great way to elevate your legs. Many products, for use at home or at work, can also help reduce swelling. Other aids include: Leg wedges to elevate the feet while sleeping. Support socks and stocking, either over-the-counter or customer-made. Support socks and stockings come in various gradients depending on the pressure needed, and various lengths depending on the level of the edema. Proper fitting shoes and socks. Go out to buy new shoes in the afternoon to get the best fit. Techniques to help decrease swelling: Increase muscle activity with walking. Avoid standing in place for long period of time. Avoid sitting with the feet dependent. Limit salt intake. Do not abuse diuretics, but a short-term course may be helpful. Do not abuse laxatives. Drink plenty of water. Avoid contraceptive pills and hormone replacement therapy if possible. Use a compressions pump to help fluid return to the blood vessels. If the edema persists or continues to worsen, please consult your physician. http://www.footsmart.com/HealthCondition.aspx?ailmentId=95
It could be something as simple as too much salt in the diet... but it also could be something as serious as a kidney disorder. Just let her go to her PCP, and have them do a simple blood/urine test to rule out the more serious disorders.
I was thinking more hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. It can also be a sign of undiagnosed diabetes. A number of the listed items in Achilleus' post are usually associated with a generalised edema, including swelling in the fingers, etc.
Wait a minute. Is she going to trust a bunch of us geeks on the InterWebs before she trusts or goes to a doctor? DUDE. My diagnosis is that if she doesn't go to the doctor, she can die. It's that bad, man. Don't want to reach amputation or nothing like that...
No, I talked her into going. I emailed her the link that Achilleus sent me, and that struck some fear into her.
how old is she and what are here medical problems? Is the edema pitting (i.e. when you press on the leg does the skin sink in?) or is it swollen and tense? How often does it occur? Has she been sick recently (i.e. cold symptoms)?
She's in her early 40's. I don't think the edema is pitting, it's swollen and tense and she feels no pain. She had it once or twice in the past 10 years. No cold symptoms. I told her to drink more water and stay away from the salt for a couple days per Achilleus's link. She says the swelling has come down since drinking more water. She'll still go to the doctor just to make sure it's nothing life threathening.
Its unusual to have painless bilateral lower extremity edema that is not pitting. In her case it could be a variety of causes. A majority of the time the causes are benign so I would not be too worried, but she definitely needs a complete workup.
the apocalypse. (seriously?? this thread has been here for about 24 hours, and i'm the first to post this??? i'm a little disappointed in you all.)
