Swelling
 

According to my doctor all my leg swelling is due to the MS. I gained 3lbs overnight the other night and freaked out and called my doc who said as long as I'm not having difficulty breathing or having chest pains, she'd see me in her office in 2 days. I spent that day and the next with my legs elevated and drinking like a fish. I lost 2lbs and I can feel the swelling coming back, like it never really fully went away. Does anyone else have this aweful swelling??

My legs have been swelling. Saw the physiatrist yesterday, and he said that it's because I'm not very active at all. I started an exercise program about two and a half weeks ago. My dad is a patient at the cardiac center that's run by the hospital that he used to work at. Found out by accident that they'll take non-patients into their prevention program. (my dad is in the cardiac rehab program).

So, I started their exercise program. The physiatrist said it might help to lower the swelling to do some exercises. He said doing just about anything I could would help. Told me doing heel raises helps the circulation in the legs. More active you are, the better it should be. If I notice any improvements, I'll update. I hate the swollen ankles. Not sure if the sensation of my upper legs being swollen is real or not, since my legs don't really look swollen at the knees. But my knees keep banging into each other like they might be swollen. I think it's the weak and fumbly muscles. Hoping it goes away soon.

Are you able to do exercises?

Hi KL..:). My legs used to swell, but not so much anymore. I'd like to think that my
lesser salt intake and my daily exercises/stretches, have helped me there.

After these past few days of keeping my legs up I've lost those 3 pounds but now I've got chest pains. Thank goodness I'm going to the doc today. As far as exercise, I try by walking and that makes the swelling worse. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong or not. I'll find out today.

i have had that problem with mostly 1 leg. most of the swelling (edema) is in 1 foot/ankle and can move up to my calf.

elevating the leg can help. also get a pair of compression hose (not too tight) from a medical supply store and wear them during the day. it can help a lot.

it's probably water weight unless you might have some blood vessels in your leg where the valves don't work well.

your dr will probably also evaluate whether your heart functioning is at fault.
do you have high blood pressure?

i bet it's something very mild. in the end the compression hose helped me the most.

Hi KittyLady,

I had dealt with my feet and legs swelling for quite awhile, there was not an underlying health problems which could account for the swelling.

Exercise would only give minimal relief, excluding salt/sodium did not seem to make any difference and putting my feet up did nothing.

For reasons unrelated to the swelling I started increasing my water intake. I went from 60 to 64 oz of water a day to 80 to 100 oz a day. It didn't take long for the swelling to completely resolve :eek: That was about 3 or 4 years ago and I still keep my water intake at 80 to 100oz of water a day and I have never had a problem with swelling.

Hope all goes well at your Drs. appointment :hug:

That is great to know Snoops.:hug:

I use these compression stockings called EdemaWear. http://www.compressiondynamics.com/edemawear.php

My aunt that lives across the street from us introduced me and my parents to the EdemaWear. She worked with the doctor that developed them. They were invented here in Omaha. I love the EdemaWear. First started wearing them when I hurt my knee a few years ago. Then realized that when I'm wearing them, it can help some of the neurological pain from numbness sometimes. Not sure how it does that. I think it distracts me from the neuro pain.

So, I tend to wear them when I have extra annoying numbness, and when the swelling is really bad.

My dad had to wear the EdemaWear when he was in the hospital earlier this year, because his edema had gotten so bad, that his legs had doubled in size. He was so full of fluid, his legs were visibly leaking fluid, and his skin was peeling in places.

The EdemaWear is a heck of a lot more comfortable than the other compression stockings I've tried. It feels good enough that I'd wear it for fun...as long as I'm wearing long pants. I don't like people thinking that I'm wearing fishnets. (it looks similar to fishnet stockings)

Thanks everyone. I didn't get a chance to talk to my Dr for long about the edema. I got rushed to the ER from the doc's office. I had an infected gallbladder with stones and a hernia. For the edema doc has me on a water pill. Other than that, I'm concentrating on healing from my surgery.

Holy ME-OW, Kitty Lady. Get well soon!

KL...OUCH!! Heal soon please!!!:hug:

Take care, KittyLady.

Hope your doing better soon :hug:

Heal well and quickly - glad they figured out the chest pain was your gallbladder

As for compression hose- they can be ugly, hot and crazy expensive. Hope these tips help-

I purchase mine from footsmart (catalog, phone and online). They have athletic type socks, pantyhose type, trouser socks and traditional compression styles, in assorted lengths & widths.

They wash well, and are very durable (I wash them in a net lingerie bag and hang mine to dry). I use the trouser socks style in knee length. I really like that they have plain, silky look and patterned versions. They have different colors, (navy, grey, black, tan etc) I can look like every other woman in slacks.


*not a salesman for them, just have spent loads of money elsewhere needlessly. They have very good cust svc and I have used them for years

wiggle your feet and toes, pumping feet and sitting with legs up helps (make a habit of that). Any exercise helps - even if you are sitting just pump your arms or bend forward/back. Swimming or pool exercise is wonderful - especially for those of us with limited mobility.

Check your sodium intake, especially in hidden places like packaged & fast food and condiments.

If you are prescribed a water pill/diuretic I suggest staying home the first few days to see how quickly & often you need to 'go' - especially if you have limited mobility. Try to get on a fairly regular schedule of voiding to help train your bladder. Trust me, you don't want to find yourself in the back of walmart when you have to 'go'...:eek:

hope this helps - sorry so long

FYI- Nordstroms also sells socks and tights for support/compression that look good. For example the diamond patterned trouser support socks are 3 for $36.00
I order online as no store is close to me.

*FYI-the Jobst stockings/compression hose now are now often referred to as 'support socks' or 'support tights' - call it the baby boomer influence ;)

KittyLady, it's great that you're back here posting only days after your surgery! Keep up the good work!

Is it possible that the gallstone problem might have contributed to the leg swelling? Maybe the swelling will calm down now that you've had the surgery--?

I've had swelling for many years but it's been all over the body. I've kept it under control with a very unusual dosage of a thiazide diuretic, which may be what is called a water pill also.

In the last 10 years though my legs have been swelling anyway, and a PT recommended elevating the legs for 15 minutes twice a day. I've been managing with once a day on that but they're still swollen slightly at night.

I'm particularly glad that heel raises have been recommended (Erin's post in this thread), and it was a great link, explaining just how to do them right.

I've been doing heel raises regularly but now realize I should be doing more of them and holding them longer. :)

Feel better soon, KittyLady.:grouphug: