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What I Can Do To Reduce This Swelling After Having Injured My Left Ankle?
Question: I have injured my left ankle, so it is swollen, but have been having issues where both feet, ankles and lower legs are quite swollen. Calves feel "tight". Doctor put me on Hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg, trying to pull the fluid off. This helped a small amount, but after working all day (a lot of sitting, some walking), legs are swollen. The swelling does go down if I put my feet up, and if I ice the ankles the swelling comes right down. Exercise helps also.
Any suggestions as to what I can do to reduce this swelling?
Any suggestions as to what I can do to reduce this swelling?
Brief Answer:
elevation, stronger diuretic, need to find exact cause
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Determining the exact cause would be helpful. The general treatment for swelling includes elevation of the legs at intervals during the day, compression stockings if related to venous disease, a stronger diuretic such as lasix.
Specific treatment depends on the cause.
Swelling of both lower limbs can be due to different possible causes such as:
(1) Venous disease - the presence of varicose veins /distended veins in the legs.
Treated with compression stockings and elevating the legs at points during the day.
In severe cases, surgery is needed
(2) Side effect of medication eg the blood pressure medication , amlodipine, causes swelling
(3) Infection- in most persons, infection, particularly cellulitis, tends to affect one leg not both.
Treated with a course of antibiotics
(4) Heart disease- this may occur if there is long history of high blood pressure or other conditions that may place a strain in the heart. An ECG and echo would show how the heart is working.
If related to heart failure then additional medication would be needed. The diuretic, hydrochlorothiazide would need to be switched to a stronger diuretic.
Fluid intake also needs monitoring
(5) Liver or kidney disease can both cause swelling. Blood tests would assess both of these areas.
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions.
elevation, stronger diuretic, need to find exact cause
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Determining the exact cause would be helpful. The general treatment for swelling includes elevation of the legs at intervals during the day, compression stockings if related to venous disease, a stronger diuretic such as lasix.
Specific treatment depends on the cause.
Swelling of both lower limbs can be due to different possible causes such as:
(1) Venous disease - the presence of varicose veins /distended veins in the legs.
Treated with compression stockings and elevating the legs at points during the day.
In severe cases, surgery is needed
(2) Side effect of medication eg the blood pressure medication , amlodipine, causes swelling
(3) Infection- in most persons, infection, particularly cellulitis, tends to affect one leg not both.
Treated with a course of antibiotics
(4) Heart disease- this may occur if there is long history of high blood pressure or other conditions that may place a strain in the heart. An ECG and echo would show how the heart is working.
If related to heart failure then additional medication would be needed. The diuretic, hydrochlorothiazide would need to be switched to a stronger diuretic.
Fluid intake also needs monitoring
(5) Liver or kidney disease can both cause swelling. Blood tests would assess both of these areas.
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions.
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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