If you notice that your ankles are swelling and your socks are leaving an impression above your ankles, don’t trivialise it! There are thousands of things that can cause swelling in your feet. Some of them are “harmless” and some require a lot of attention.
First things to do in case of swollen feet
If the oedema (swelling) is recent, the first thing you should do is find out what is causing it. If you want to be well, see a doctor as soon as possible and get it checked out!
Treatment can be effective if the cause of the swelling is identified. Treatment is most effective when the cause is the right one. There are many causes of swollen feet. Let’s look at these and how they differ.
The “simpler” causes of swollen feet
The cause of oedema (swelling) is obvious in some cases. For example, if you sprain your ankle, you know what is causing it and the swelling is temporary, i.e. it will go away on its own after a longer or shorter period of time (if there is no fracture)
Injuries
(strains, sprains, sprains, torn ligaments and broken bones) are almost invariably associated with swelling, and the cause can be twofold. On the one hand, small blood vessels that have ruptured during the injury may bleed and form a haematoma. Conversely, blood flow to the injury increases, serving a protective role by preventing potential pathogens from entering the body through the wound. This response involves sending a surge of white blood cells to the affected area. But the blood flow also brings with it substances that aid healing and regeneration. So the injury receives more fluid than usual, causing swelling.
Lack of exercise
(sitting or standing all day, long car, bus or plane journeys) can cause swelling in the feet even in healthy people. The edge of the sock creates a depression above the ankle. This is the easiest to eliminate – it disappears quickly with exercise, walking, jogging or cycling.
Arthritis
The area around the affected joint(s) is swollen, warm, painful, hard to move, and possibly red.
Rheumatoid arthritis
A common, autoimmune form of arthritis characterised by inflammation, swelling and pain in the joints.
Arthrosis
A painful condition resulting from wear and tear of the articular cartilage, which may be accompanied by swelling around the joint.
Gout
An acute attack of uric acid crystals, usually after heavy eating and drinking, with swollen and very painful joints in the feet (especially the thumb).
Splenic bursitis
A bursa is a slippery fluid-filled sac that acts as a pair between bone and muscle or tendon, aiding movement. Its inflammation causes swelling and pain, mostly in the back of the knee.
Infections (e.g., nasal folds, cellulitis)
When bacteria such as streptococcus or staphylococcus get into the skin. The skin becomes red, and hot and spreads rapidly to a larger area. It quickly becomes sensitive, painful and feverish.
General medical treatment
- The fracture should be fixed (plastered)
- in the case of an accidental injury, the swollen joint should be rested, iced, dressed (compression) and shelved
- in case of infection, it is important to start medical treatment (antibiotic therapy) as soon as possible
- in the case of a new inflammatory process, consult a doctor and, on the basis of the examination, be treated according to the disease
- if the pain or inflammation is old (arthritis, arthrosis), you should not rush to the doctor every time the pain increases, as this will not help. In these cases, you can treat your pain yourself using home physiotherapy methods, as discussed with your doctor. Consult your doctor about which method or combination of methods to use.
The “more serious” causes of leg swelling
While it’s pretty obvious what’s causing the swelling after an ankle sprain, there are a number of conditions that can be the first signs of swelling in the feet. These are the ones that should make you take the onset of oedema seriously and rule out the following with medical tests.
Drug side effect
Some prescription medications can have the unwanted side effect of swollen feet. Most commonly, heart drugs called calcium channel blockers (amlodipine, nifedipine) are responsible. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen and some diabetes drugs can also cause swollen feet. Hormonal drugs that contain estrogen or progesterone (such as contraceptives) and certain antidepressants have a well-established history of causing oedema.
Treatments for adverse drug reactions
- consult your doctor and ask him/her to substitute the drug with a different mechanism of action
- choose another method of contraception
Pregnancy and swollen feet
During the last trimester of pregnancy (the third trimester in medical jargon), the growing baby “latches on” to the blood vessels running near the uterus. This causes them to be squeezed, making it harder for blood to flow. This can result in swelling in the legs.
Consult your doctor, especially if the swelling extends beyond your legs and appears around your eyes, as this type of oedema may indicate a more severe condition.
Compression massage, a lymphatic massage machine, is perfectly safe to use. You can relieve swelling with a gentle 10-15 minute treatment (repeated up to 2-3 times a day).
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Visceral Dilatation and Chronic Venous Insufficiency
A varicocele most often develops slowly in people who do sedentary work or do little exercise.
The feeling of “heavy feet” is the first sign of varicose veins. The veins slowly dilate, thicken and become tortuous. Blood in the veins becomes stagnant, i.e. it does not flow back towards the heart. Tightening pain and leg swelling appear. The first warning sign is when your socks “kick in”.
Vein insufficiency, if neglected, can lead to serious complications such as deep vein thrombosis or venous ulceration (a wound that does not heal)
Tips that could help
- Wear compression stockings to slow the growth of oedema
- Work every half an hour, exercise your legs thoroughly, walk around, stretch your leg muscles
- Exercise regularly! You need at least 45 minutes of walking, slow jogging, and cycling every day to keep your muscles refreshed, your veins and lymphatic circulation flowing and your symptoms reduced
- If you are unable to move for some reason, use a muscle stimulator. The device creates contractions in the leg muscles similar to walking effectively improving circulation in the leg and helping reduce oedema.
- You can also use a lymphatic massage machine, a 15-20 minute treatment to “squeeze” stagnant blood and mucus out of the limb, quickly eliminating the feeling of heavy feet.
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Deep Vein Thrombosis and Varicose Veins
One of the first symptoms of thrombophlebitis (superficial vein inflammation) and thrombosis (deep vein inflammation) is swollen feet (especially the shin). As a layman, you can’t tell which one you have, so seek medical attention immediately. In any case, if you notice a painful swelling on your leg, over which the skin is warm, reddened or blue.
In superficial varicose veins (thrombophlebitis), a blood clot forms in the veins near the surface of the skin. This is less risky than deep vein thrombosis. In the latter, a clot forms in a deep vein between the leg muscles.
Treatments for acute thrombosis or varicose veins
- Do not do any exercise – if there is a clot, muscle movement can push the clot further and this can lead to an embolism
- if you experience any of these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately – preferably call an ambulance, but on no account walk!
- Do not attempt any home mechanical treatment for these conditions, as they may result in an increase in symptoms! Treatment in this case can only be medical.
- you will only have to wait about 3 months after the acute phase has started when the permanent and permanent condition after acute deep vein thrombosis occurs.
Post-thrombotic state
While you shouldn’t treat acute thrombosis, it’s essential to address symptoms that arise 3-4 months after thrombosis.
Thrombosis is the blockage of a blood vessel by a blood clot. Over a few weeks, this clot transforms, adheres tightly to the vein wall, is partially absorbed.
In the vast majority of cases, there is no full recovery after thrombosis, i.e. residual symptoms are expected. The main symptoms are persistent swelling, tightness, brownish-purple-reddish discolouration of the skin, and dryness of the skin.
If you want to avoid serious complications such as lymphoedema, wounds, and ulcers, you need to treat them regularly.
The main remedy is regular daily walking and cycling.
This can be supplemented by electrical stimulation of the leg muscles or compression massage.
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Lymphatic Massage solutions for post-thrombotic state.
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- 4 air chamber cuffs for legs, arms, hips
- for mild to moderate lymphoedema
- handling pressure identical in all air compartments
- 4 treatment programmes
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Sickness
Oedema can be caused by heart disease. The heart’s contractions are weak, so it can’t circulate blood around the body properly, causing fluid to slowly build up in the legs. Common symptoms of congestive heart failure include difficulty breathing, feeling tired and having a dry cough.
Oedema of cardiac origin requires medical treatment.
How to help yourself
- Wear compression stockings to slow down the growth of edema
- exercise regularly to suit your performance. Walking or slow cycling will stimulate the muscles to move blood and lymph circulation, reducing swelling
- If you are no longer able to move and don’t have a pacemaker, use a muscle stimulator. The device creates contractions in the leg muscles similar to walking and is effective in improving circulation in the leg and helping to reduce oedema.
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Disease
In kidney disease, the kidneys do not function properly, so water and waste products remain in the body. The fluid builds up and causes swelling in the legs and even the arms.
Symptoms of kidney disease may include fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, thirst, and bleeding.
If you suspect you have an STI, do not self-medicate and seek medical advice as soon as possible. There is no home medical device that can be used for kidney disease.
Once all the causes of leg swelling listed so far have been ruled out, you are “left with nothing” but nerve dysfunction.