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Suggest Treatment For Swelling In The Ankles
Question: I am taking Warfarin. My INR was 4.8 on Thursday so I didn't take my usual Warfarin dosages. I just started taking potassium and furosemide to reduce swelling in my ankles. I also recently started on a blood pressure med and a beta blocker. The ankle swelling was reduced greatly last week, but this morning, my right ankle and lower calf is swollen and discolored (like bruising). This is new. Should I be seen by someone?
Brief Answer:
yes
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
there are some concerns due to warfarin that have to be clarified by visiting your doctor (or the ER). If warfarin is higher than normal then the patient may bleed for more time and bleed after a minor injury (internal bleeding is possible without any visual sign). Therefore it is possible that the high INR caused a bleeding tendency and a minor injury caused bleeding inside your calf. Another scenario involves a low INR (as you didn't take warfarin after you found out about the high INR). A low INR may raise concern for thrombotic or embolic events in predisposed individuals. You haven't mentioned the reason you were taking warfarin but I guess it's atrial fibrillation... Unilateral leg swelling may be caused by various disorders. DVT (deep vein thrombosis) is one of them and is very serious. In the slightest suspicion of such an event, investigation is required to confirm or exclude it.
Taking everything into account I believe that the first scenario is more likely than the second one. If you don't have any symptoms besides the swelling and bruising then the injury is unlikely to be very serious but your doctor has to assess it.
I hope you find my comments helpful!
Kind Regards!
yes
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
there are some concerns due to warfarin that have to be clarified by visiting your doctor (or the ER). If warfarin is higher than normal then the patient may bleed for more time and bleed after a minor injury (internal bleeding is possible without any visual sign). Therefore it is possible that the high INR caused a bleeding tendency and a minor injury caused bleeding inside your calf. Another scenario involves a low INR (as you didn't take warfarin after you found out about the high INR). A low INR may raise concern for thrombotic or embolic events in predisposed individuals. You haven't mentioned the reason you were taking warfarin but I guess it's atrial fibrillation... Unilateral leg swelling may be caused by various disorders. DVT (deep vein thrombosis) is one of them and is very serious. In the slightest suspicion of such an event, investigation is required to confirm or exclude it.
Taking everything into account I believe that the first scenario is more likely than the second one. If you don't have any symptoms besides the swelling and bruising then the injury is unlikely to be very serious but your doctor has to assess it.
I hope you find my comments helpful!
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you. My one concern is, he does take the warfarin due to two separate incidences of pulmonary emboli that originated in his leg. I'm thinking he should go to the ER to be evaluated.
Brief Answer:
I agree
Detailed Answer:
You're welcome!
Having pulmonary embolism twice is too much... He'd better visit the ER to exclude a new incidence of DVT that may lead to embolism again...
Best wishes!
I agree
Detailed Answer:
You're welcome!
Having pulmonary embolism twice is too much... He'd better visit the ER to exclude a new incidence of DVT that may lead to embolism again...
Best wishes!
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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