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Suggest Treatment For Swelling In The Calf Muscles And Ankles
Question: My mother who is 89 has just noticed the swelling of her left calf below her knee. She commonly has swollen ankles. What suggestions do you have to reduce the swelling
Brief Answer:
she'd better check this swelling with her doctor
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
although bilateral leg swelling is common in old individuals, unilateral leg swelling may sometimes be caused by serious disorders. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is one of them which requires immediate investigation and treatment (if confirmed). Clues to help diagnose DVT include warmth over the involved area, engorged veins (more than in the other leg), sometimes low grade fever and pain may be present.
If it's her commonly occurring swelling then elevation of the legs is the first thing to try. If elevation is not enough and the swelling is causing problems or is too large to ignore then a diuretic may help. Furosemide is very commonly used for this purpose, although I wouldn't recommend using it without her doctor's consent. The best way to treat swollen legs depends on the cause...
I hope you find my comments helpful!
Kind Regards!
she'd better check this swelling with her doctor
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
although bilateral leg swelling is common in old individuals, unilateral leg swelling may sometimes be caused by serious disorders. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is one of them which requires immediate investigation and treatment (if confirmed). Clues to help diagnose DVT include warmth over the involved area, engorged veins (more than in the other leg), sometimes low grade fever and pain may be present.
If it's her commonly occurring swelling then elevation of the legs is the first thing to try. If elevation is not enough and the swelling is causing problems or is too large to ignore then a diuretic may help. Furosemide is very commonly used for this purpose, although I wouldn't recommend using it without her doctor's consent. The best way to treat swollen legs depends on the cause...
I hope you find my comments helpful!
Kind Regards!
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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