Swelling

[WorriedUK01]

Posted about my situation on here in another thread but to summarise:

Last year RUQ pain

Normal bloods x2

Normal ultrasound x2

Swelling in right ankle only

This year :

RUQ pain

Normal bloods x2

Normal ultrasounds x2

Fibroscan 6.5kpa

Swelling in both ankles

By GP is telling me they don’t think it’s my liver. My albumin levels are normal and they said if the swelling was caused by the liver then these levels would be low, and these types of swelling are normally only seen in people with cirrhosis and that would have been picked up on either of the two ultrasounds , or indeed the ones last year. The GP also said I’d having some swelling around my liver in terms of fluid - which according to my ultrasound I don’t

Unfortunately though I can’t get the worry out of my head that this is liver related especially with the pain in my RUQ which has now gone since I stopped drinking in February.

With regards the swelling, is anyone else here who has experienced this with liver problems:

Does the swelling normally appear in one joint first and then the other later on or does it tend to affect both ankles at the same time?

Is the swelling over all the ankle (inner and outer) as mine is just on the outer side?

Is it painful when walking and worse after a hot bath?

Is the skin ever the swelling is present a redder colour than the rest of the skin?

Is the swelling worse at night and ok in the morning and is walking painful

Does the problem go away?

In terms of further tests, I think I have done all I can in tests of my liver without any other red flags. The ELF test I have read is mainly for NAFLD and I’ve done the FIB4 calculation using my past two blood tests and that’s fine.

Just I’m getting really down all this as I’ve had this pain and swelling now for well over a year with no explanation and given the RUQ pain preceded it, I can’t help but associate this with a liver condition given I used to drink too much.

My GP is now considering going down the Orthopaedic or Rheumatology route whereas I’m still wondering if there is more I can do liver wise. Some people mention the Fibrotest. Is this available in the U.K.?

I have spoken to the excellent helpline nurses but would be interested for any insight from members on here who may have a similar problem.

[AyrshireK]

You seem to have had just about every test going which is ruling out liver issues - clear bloods, clear ultrasounds, normal range fibroscan and as you say you've calculated Fib4 and it was ok.

Oedema in liver disease is a very late, decompensated cirrhosis symptom and does tend to go along with ascites and lowered albumin & you'd more than likely have many more symptoms of liver disease too not just oedema in isolation so with everything ruling liver issues out I think your issues do lie elsewhere as doctor is intimating.

There are more causes to swollen ankles than liver disease and it looks like your doctor is correct in looking elsewhere for the issue. nhs.uk/conditions/oedema/

Hope you get answers and referrrals soon.

Katie

[Hidden]

I think your doctor is correct

[Jaygee87]

If your issue was liver related I would have thought it would have been picked up by now. I have borderline cirrhosis and you've had more tests than me! Doctors know what they are looking for, but I think even if you had further tests I'm not sure you would be satisfied with the results...

[Ewife]

Hello,

My husband had swollen legs due to oedema and he had none of what you describe above. It was all over his legs, not around joints specifically. I think you could trust your Dr more, sounds like they've been very thorough. It's good that they're prepared to check the orthopaedic and rheumatology out.

Best wishes

[Kristian]

What Katie said, lol.

Eodema for me affected a larger area of my legs than just my ankles. It also didn't come with any pain. Given that all your liver tests and scans have come back clear I think your doc is right to look for other potential causes too. It certainly doesn't look like its your liver from my experience.

[TN-Nurse]

Amlodipine for high blood pressure can cause swelling in the ankles/legs. My husband had to be switched off his med and prescribed something different. You may want to consider any medication you are taking which may cause swelling. Best wishes.

[Dd4560]

GOUT?

[Alibaba80]

If it's a vascular problem in the liver like myself it will not show up on scans and bloodwork unfortunately