[KittyLady]

Had an awesome time with my kids and grandkids for my sons HS graduation. I have just one problem now... Im swelling massively in my legs and feet. Not sure whats happening. Never had this happen before. Im wondering if its from all the walking I had to do. Not sure if its MS related, but I dont eat alot of salt and no processed foods. Maybe I didnt drink enough water in 95 degree heat??? Legs and feet hurt so bad from the swelling, I cant walk on them and my feet are burning! Socks and shoes hurt to wear. When we get home Im spending the next week with my feet and legs elevated!

[Erin524]

I drink water when my feet get all puffy from things like steroids or medications. Especially when I have steroids.

ETA:

oh, and I should mention, drinking the water stimulates your kidneys into making you go potty, and when you go potty, that pulls some of the edema out.

If the edema is really really bad, like making your skin hurt or weep fluid, or making you feel sick, go see a doctor, because it might be something more than just an MS thing or a reaction to a med.

The meds that make me get edema are gabapentin (neurontin) and Lyrica. I cant take that stuff at all. Swell up like a balloon, or a big sponge.

I just discovered that baclofen also kind of makes me swell up a bit...not to the point that neurontin or Lyrica do tho. I just quit baclofen a couple of weeks ago, and about a week after being off the stuff I realized that all of a sudden I was shedding off some edema in my feet and hands and back. Had to have been from the baclofen.

[Erika]

Stress and exhaustion, as well as the meds mentioned can cause edema. All of these seem to disturb electrolyte (body salts) balance due to acidity. Excess sugars and starches in the diet are also a common cause of acidity when the body is under stress. A fairly easy way to find out if it is that and to help get the electrolytes back in balance is to provide extra potassium.

High potassium foods and beverages are dark green leafy vegetables, pineapple and juice, oranges and juice, tomatoes, tomato juice and paste, bananas.

An available supplement is cream of tartar (potassium tartrate). 1 teaspoon provides 500mg of potassium which is around 20% of the RDA. Mix it into a glass of water or juice and drink it on an empty stomach through a straw; as the stuff does not dissolve easily and will sink to the bottom of the glass. Taking potassium in this way will provide a diuretc effect.
Most people can take 2-3 of these doses/day for a few days with no problems. The exception would be for those with kidney dysfunction and it is not recommended for them.

Hope that you feel better soon.

[Snoopy]

It's important to see your doctor if the edema continues. There are medical conditions that can cause edema and it would be a good idea to rule out those medical conditions.

I dealt with edem on a daily/nightly basis for quite a few years (nothing helped). There was not a medical reason for the edema. I normally drank 60oz of water daily. Several months ago I became more thristy and have been drinking 80 to 100oz a water daily.

Not long after the fluid intake increased my edema disappeared and has never come back. Even though I thought 60oz of water was good, it apparently wasn't good enough.

Since I had such a drastic increase in thirst I saw my Doctor as that could be a sign of Diabetes. I do not have diabetes and my PCP told me the amount of water I am drinking is not excessive.

[lefthanded]

Originally Posted by Snoopy

It's important to see your doctor if the edema continues. There are medical conditions that can cause edema and it would be a good idea to rule out those medical conditions.

I dealt with edem on a daily/nightly basis for quite a few years (nothing helped). There was not a medical reason for the edema. I normally drank 60oz of water daily. Several months ago I became more thristy and have been drinking 80 to 100oz a water daily.

Not long after the fluid intake increased my edema disappeared and has never come back. Even though I thought 60oz of water was good, it apparently wasn't good enough.

Since I had such a drastic increase in thirst I saw my Doctor as that could be a sign of Diabetes. I do not have diabetes and my PCP told me the amount of water I am drinking is not excessive.

My MS doc explained to me that the swelling is due to the nerves not signaling the veins and lymph system to pump the fluids back up so they can be eliminated. I use a combination of compression socks (moderate compression, as the really snug ones are too much of a struggle to get into!), increased fluid intake, and elevation . . . but none of it works very well. Exercise will help, because it will cause your heart to pump more, but most of us hurt too much to walk on our sausage-feet.

A drop in barometric pressure, or a low system moving in can also trigger more problems with swelling, because low atmospheric pressure allows tissues to swell more. Ask anyone with arthritis . . . that's why it flares when rain is imminent!

Aggravating as heck, this is the one issue I had hoped I could resolve, since there is no cure for any other of the zillion issues I deal with daily. Between the pain and the swelling, there isn't a pair of shoes anywhere that I can walk in anymore. If you have ever worn rock-climbing shoes, that is what even the best fitting shoes feel like now . . .

[KittyLady]

Thank you all for your responses. My swelling increased my weight by 5 pounds! I have spent the last few days basically in bed with my feet and legs elevated and increased my water intake and Im glad and proud to say that the swelling in my arms, hands, legs and feet are almost gone!! Yippy!!! Im almost back to normal. Ive lost 2 pounds of water weight so far and Im feeling much better!! A few more pounds and I'll be back to normal again!

[Judy2]

Awww "lefty", I'm right there with you. Everyday the swelling is obscene with big lumps like hard blisters all over the lower legs. At least they aren't weeping now, but they just seem to stay there and a couple have grown. Looks like aliens are coming out of my legs. And the falling barometer......pain level goes up a couple points. Having both MS and fibro, I can tell about twelve hours ahead when a storm is on the way, even in the vicinity. Wish there was something to help with that pain!!!

KL: I'm really glad your swelling is subsiding and hope it doesn't come back again. Sounds like you might have pushed it a little with all the walking in the heat. Glad you're feeling better!

Here's to less pain and ugly swelling for all of us!