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What Causes Swelling In Calf Muscles And Ankles Post A Knee Replacement Surgery?
Question: My Mother had knee replacement on Oct. 8th, 2015. Her bowels never woke up for 4 weeks and finally her regular physician found out what was wrong from not eating and throwing up for 4 weeks. After that was found and fixed now she has had excessive swelling in the calf and ankles useally 3 inches everyday and she looses around 8lbs of fluid every night. We have therapy going and also the stockings. She tells me it is very painful and she has not taken any pain meds since the end of Oct. Please adivse if there is anything else we can do or why the swelling still so bad. Her ankles also tingles painfully at night. Thanks for any help you can give.
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Brief Answer:
peripheral neuropathy may be causing tingling
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
Swelling of both legs can be due to:(1) heart disease- heart failure can cause swelling of both legs, this can be assessed by an ECG , echo
There would normally history of risk factors such as: high blood pressure, diabetes high cholesterol, smoking
(2) liver disease
(3)kidney disease
(4)side effect of medication eg amlodipine a blood pressure medication causes swelling, so you consider checking the meds that she is using
(5)low protein levels
Blood tests for liver function, kidney function and protein levels can check to see if any of these is a problem.
Tingling may be due to the fluid accumulation or due to peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy refers to abnormal nerve function .
There are different causes such as: (1)diabetes
(2)trauma or arthritis in the spine affecting the nerves going to the area
(3)vitamin b12 or folate deficiency
(4)Liver or kidney disease can also cause tingling
(5)exposure to toxins
(6)idiopathic- cause not found out
(7)some hormonal or autoimmune diseases
In summary: (1) blood tests for the liver, kidney, vitamin b12, folate, diabetes should be done for both problems
(2)x rays or other imaging of the spine may be needed to check to see if the nerves are being compressed causing tingling
Additional investigations may depend on initial findings.
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
peripheral neuropathy may be causing tingling
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
Swelling of both legs can be due to:(1) heart disease- heart failure can cause swelling of both legs, this can be assessed by an ECG , echo
There would normally history of risk factors such as: high blood pressure, diabetes high cholesterol, smoking
(2) liver disease
(3)kidney disease
(4)side effect of medication eg amlodipine a blood pressure medication causes swelling, so you consider checking the meds that she is using
(5)low protein levels
Blood tests for liver function, kidney function and protein levels can check to see if any of these is a problem.
Tingling may be due to the fluid accumulation or due to peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy refers to abnormal nerve function .
There are different causes such as: (1)diabetes
(2)trauma or arthritis in the spine affecting the nerves going to the area
(3)vitamin b12 or folate deficiency
(4)Liver or kidney disease can also cause tingling
(5)exposure to toxins
(6)idiopathic- cause not found out
(7)some hormonal or autoimmune diseases
In summary: (1) blood tests for the liver, kidney, vitamin b12, folate, diabetes should be done for both problems
(2)x rays or other imaging of the spine may be needed to check to see if the nerves are being compressed causing tingling
Additional investigations may depend on initial findings.
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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