Hello,
Your friend is alcoholic and has pitting edema in the ankle and legs. His legs are swollen, he has difficulty in walking and does not feel them. Your friend is suggested to quit any alcoholic drinks and addictions if any. He should take restricted amount of salt as it may cause retention of water causing swelling and pitting edema. He should cut on sugar and control blood
glucose level at all cost as he has history of being diabetic. He needs to be in strict diet control.
Since he can't feel his legs, he is advised to get clinically examined by a GP, get blood work, CBC,
urinalysis and imaging tests done. He should get Liver function tests, nerve conduction velocity test, T3, T4, TSH, blood glucose (F and PP), kidney function tests, USG, CT / MRI of liver and kidney done. He should get tested for
varicose veins and
deep vein thrombosis,
venous insufficiency,
thrombophlebitis, etc., done.
He will be treated accordingly, He is advised to take liver tonics, take food that is good for the liver and take boiled water after it gets cool. He should avoid refined flour,
trans fat, red meat, full fat dairy products, packaged food, fried food, oily and spicy food, etc. He should take fully boiled food, boiled vegetables. He should not take raw fruits and vegetable, it should be boiled before consumption.
He should be at rest but do stretch exercises and walking under a physical therapist. Being in strict diet control will be helpful for him to recover, he should get repeat liver function tests after 50 days, the reports should show better result. He should continue to lead a healthy life and maintain healthy eating habits.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Nupur K., General & Family Physician