|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 327
|
Some of you will remember that following my new knee op last year I ended up back in hospital with suspected dvt. It turned out not to be dvt (although they gave me the jab, just in case!) but my ankle and lower leg is continuously swollen, getting more so as the day progresses, and it's worse now the weather's turned cold. I really just want someone to say that it's a normal aspect of RA. I have mentioned it to my rheumy, by the way, but you know what they're like, they concentrate on one thing you say and don't necessarily follow up on the other things you mention.
Anthea
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/7/2009 Posts: 89
|
Hi Anthea, is it both your ankles? During the summer both mine were swollen, since then my left one played up for a couple of weeks and now it's started again. Skin feels very tight as if could split. Looking through my diary there were no changes to my meds at the time, GP gave me a steriod jab and that settled things down. Hope you feel better soon, Kathleen
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/8/2010 Posts: 914
|
Hi Anthea, I had a similar thing to Kathleen two years ago when on holiday in the Canary Islands. It was a couple of days after flying, I noticed my feet and ankles so swollen it was as though the skin would split. I was quite alarmed at the time but was advised to sit with my feet up and after a couple of days it subsided. I was wondering if you may be suffering from fluid retention my neighbour used to get lower leg and ankle pain due to this. May be worth checking. Take care Lorna
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 327
|
Thanks for the replies Although both ankles are swollen it's much worse on the right and yes, I know what you both mean about it feeling as though the skin will split. My foot's swollen as well and I can't do my boots up when I go out! I think it's gradually been getting worse, I don't remember it being this swollen during the summer. I may give the surgery a ring later. Anthea x
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,157 Location: Huddersfield
|
Hi Anthea,
You should go to your GP and see what he thinks. Sit with your feet up as much as possible. Hope it settles down soon.
Love, Doreen xx
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009 Posts: 1,524 Location: W. Yorkshire
|
Yes you should definitely let your GP have a look Anthea. YES I'VE CHANGED, PAIN DOES THAT TO PEOPLE.
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/20/2010 Posts: 1,749 Location: Somerset
|
Hello Anthea
Yes def see your GP it may be that you are retaining fluid
I have dreadful problems in hot weather and yes they feel that they will just split. Horrid and most uncomfortable and not even nice to look at/
Sorry you have this hopefully GP will sort you
Rose
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,006 Location: Timperley
|
Hi Anthea
Just wondering whether you are on tabs for BP? If so, certain combos can cause fluid retention in the legs and feet (as I know from my own experience). I do think a trip to the GP is on the cards, though. Take care
Love Jeanxxx
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 327
|
Thanks for the replies.
ah, Jean, you may have hit the nail on the head there because yes, I'm on bp tablets. Anyway I've got an appointment with the gp tomorrow so we'll see what he can come up with, it's such a pain, literally and also because I'm having trouble finding footwear to fit!
Anthea x
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,006 Location: Timperley
|
How did you get on, Anthea? Hope all is well xxxx
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 327
|
I thought the doc would just say 'oh, it's the medication, can't do anything about that' but instead he fired lots of questions at me, listened to my back and prodded my tummy and has now sent me for blood tests. Basically he's checking for liver problems but I think it's going to end up with them just saying that everything's fine and they can't do anything about it because it's all down to the meds. We'll see.
Anthea x
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/20/2010 Posts: 1,749 Location: Somerset
|
Hello Anthea
Glad you went to the Docs. Good rest while you wait for the blood tests. You should get them within 5 days
Have as good a week end as you can#
Rose
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,006 Location: Timperley
|
Glad you have been checked out Anthea. Let us know how it goes. Love Jeanxxxxx
|
|
Rank: Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/7/2009 Posts: 21
|
If it is any help, I also suffer from swollen ankles which is blamed on an ankle operation eighteen months ago.
I was told by my rheumatologist to go to the doctor and he would probably prescribe a diuretic since it was just water retention.
Not wanting to take more drugs I made some enquiries and found that Ground Dandelion Root capsules which are a natural medicine do the same thing. They are available from Boots or a Health Food Shop.
It's an old remedy, the old fashioned English name for dandelion was "PISS A BED", in French pissenlit, same thing. I know it doesn't sound very niice but they work for me. One word of warning they are capsules so you need to swallow them, if they dont get down in the stomach they taste foul, don't take without a long drink or before a meal. They seem to work for me.
I still put my legs up when possible as an added aid to reducing the swelling.
Hope this helps. Clive
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/7/2009 Posts: 89
|
Hi Anthea,how are you doing? saw my GP yesterday re- my swollen ankle and leg. She sent me to A&E with a letter asking them to check out DVT. Blood test came back negetive so as you can imagine I was relieved. All they could tell me was to go back to my GP for pain relief and possibly a scan. Rang my rheumy nurse when I got home and left a message on her phone giving her all the info, she was very good and rang me today suggested it could be Bakers Syndrome, fluid retention or a result of walking badly due to my painful hip. Hope your getting on ok with your ankle/leg and feeling better.... we can do without this at this time of year, or any time really!! Kathleen x
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 327
|
I 'phoned following the blood tests and was told they were fine apart from showing 'mild anaemia'. Today I finally got round to seeing the gp (needed to 'round up' results from my last two visits). Basically he's said it's fluid retention so I'm on Bendrafluorazide (yes, I know the spelling's wrong) despite my telling him that I'd been on them before and had to come off them (my current gp has only been there since August). Oh, well, at least I lost a bit of weight while I was taking them :-)
|
|
|
|