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My 93yo Mother Is Experiencing Bilateral Swelling Feet/ankles Causing Pain
Question: My 93yo mother is experiencing bilateral swelling feet/ankles causing pain and walking difficulties; what is causing the swelling? Mom's been independent until now. Regarding her condition: She was already given a diuretic which has not helped; She is on a blood thinner due to episodes of mini-strokes several years ago and was told her heart muscle has minor thickening due to age; and had a broken femur below the hip one year ago causing ongoing knee pain; has osteoporosis or penia, not sure. Thank you.
My 93yo mother is experiencing bilateral swelling feet/ankles causing pain and walking difficulties; what is causing the swelling? Mom's been independent until now. Regarding her condition: She was already given a diuretic which has not helped; She is on a blood thinner due to episodes of mini-strokes several years ago and was told her heart muscle has minor thickening due to age; and had a broken femur below the hip one year ago causing ongoing knee pain; has osteoporosis or penia, not sure. Thank you.
Brief Answer:
Chronic venous disease is the most likely diagnosis.
Detailed Answer:
Hello, I'm Dr. Branch, thanks for using Ask a Doctor. The most common cause of chronic bilateral lower extremity swelling is chronic venous disease. There are other causes, such as heart failure, and pulmonary hypertension (often related to sleep apnea), but if there was no improvement with a diuretic, that would make those causes less likely. However, if she had not had testing for this yet, I would suggest checking her urine and blood for any signs of kidney, liver, or thyroid disease, and then probably get an echocardiogram to make sure there is not heart failure or pulmonary hypertension.
If no other cause is apparent, and the legs have the appearance of having venous disease (darkening, thickening, or ulcers), she can be considered to have chronic venous disease. The main treatment for this is leg elevation and compression stockings. If those measures aren't successful, then there are some medications that might be considered to help with the swelling, such as oxerutin or escin (horse chestnut seed extract).
I hope that helps and gives you some things to discuss with her doctor about. Please let me know if you have any questions about any of that, I would be glad to discuss it with you further.
Chronic venous disease is the most likely diagnosis.
Detailed Answer:
Hello, I'm Dr. Branch, thanks for using Ask a Doctor. The most common cause of chronic bilateral lower extremity swelling is chronic venous disease. There are other causes, such as heart failure, and pulmonary hypertension (often related to sleep apnea), but if there was no improvement with a diuretic, that would make those causes less likely. However, if she had not had testing for this yet, I would suggest checking her urine and blood for any signs of kidney, liver, or thyroid disease, and then probably get an echocardiogram to make sure there is not heart failure or pulmonary hypertension.
If no other cause is apparent, and the legs have the appearance of having venous disease (darkening, thickening, or ulcers), she can be considered to have chronic venous disease. The main treatment for this is leg elevation and compression stockings. If those measures aren't successful, then there are some medications that might be considered to help with the swelling, such as oxerutin or escin (horse chestnut seed extract).
I hope that helps and gives you some things to discuss with her doctor about. Please let me know if you have any questions about any of that, I would be glad to discuss it with you further.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Brief Answer:
Chronic venous disease is the most likely diagnosis.
Detailed Answer:
Hello, I'm Dr. Branch, thanks for using Ask a Doctor. The most common cause of chronic bilateral lower extremity swelling is chronic venous disease. There are other causes, such as heart failure, and pulmonary hypertension (often related to sleep apnea), but if there was no improvement with a diuretic, that would make those causes less likely. However, if she had not had testing for this yet, I would suggest checking her urine and blood for any signs of kidney, liver, or thyroid disease, and then probably get an echocardiogram to make sure there is not heart failure or pulmonary hypertension.
If no other cause is apparent, and the legs have the appearance of having venous disease (darkening, thickening, or ulcers), she can be considered to have chronic venous disease. The main treatment for this is leg elevation and compression stockings. If those measures aren't successful, then there are some medications that might be considered to help with the swelling, such as oxerutin or escin (horse chestnut seed extract).
I hope that helps and gives you some things to discuss with her doctor about. Please let me know if you have any questions about any of that, I would be glad to discuss it with you further.
Chronic venous disease is the most likely diagnosis.
Detailed Answer:
Hello, I'm Dr. Branch, thanks for using Ask a Doctor. The most common cause of chronic bilateral lower extremity swelling is chronic venous disease. There are other causes, such as heart failure, and pulmonary hypertension (often related to sleep apnea), but if there was no improvement with a diuretic, that would make those causes less likely. However, if she had not had testing for this yet, I would suggest checking her urine and blood for any signs of kidney, liver, or thyroid disease, and then probably get an echocardiogram to make sure there is not heart failure or pulmonary hypertension.
If no other cause is apparent, and the legs have the appearance of having venous disease (darkening, thickening, or ulcers), she can be considered to have chronic venous disease. The main treatment for this is leg elevation and compression stockings. If those measures aren't successful, then there are some medications that might be considered to help with the swelling, such as oxerutin or escin (horse chestnut seed extract).
I hope that helps and gives you some things to discuss with her doctor about. Please let me know if you have any questions about any of that, I would be glad to discuss it with you further.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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