Edema causes

[kaypeeoh]

I'm re-reading Ahlskog's New Parkinson's Treatment book. There are a hundred pages on Orthostatic Hypotension but just a few pages on leg edema. I use an Omron blood pressure machine. It says my BP is generally around 115/75. Out of curiosity I wrapped the cuff around my calf. I got several readings, all quite high, such as 290/120.

If the Omron had diagnostic value for leg BP someone would have used it by now. For animals, you can't use the Sphygmnometer to register BP. Actually, I used one to test BP in a horse by wrapping the cuff around its tail base. But generally for other animals like a dog or cat, to get an accurate BP you have to inject a probe in the femoral artery and feed it all the way to the heart.

Getting back to the point, my BP is normal while my legs are quite swollen. The skin is stretched tight in the calves and thighs. There's no pain. Ahlskog mentions compression socks as treatment but that's merely cosmetic. The venous pressure makes fluid ooze from the vessels and soak into the muscles. There are diseases in dogs where fluid oozes from the abdominal vessels and fills the belly. I had a dog who did that and I needed to drain his belly every three months. It wasn't til he died naturally and I was able to do a necropsy (dog autopsy) that i found the root problem was mitral valve insufficiency. Another dog of mine had mitral insufficiency and eventually died of liver cirrhosis. At the end his liver was nothing but scar tissue from years of atherosclerosis.

There is a condition in runners where the legs swell but are extremely painful. Treatment is slicing the muscle to relieve pressure.

I have to got back to the neuro next week. I've had ultrasound the ruled out tumors causing elevated pressures so I believe the next step is a full-body MRI. I've had these before and being locked in the coffin-like structure didn't bother me.

I'm writing this to get a complete list of questions for the neuro.

[kaypeeoh]

"...There is a condition in runners where the legs swell but are extremely painful. Treatment is slicing the skin and muscle to relieve pressure...." The condition is called Compartment Syndrome.

[Kingsdaughter1]

I experienced edema in my feet/legs for the first time one week ago. I thought it was due to my starting of Amantadine two days prior to the edema appearing . Doctor said to discontinue the med & that edema should be gone in a couple of days. Unfortunately, the edema remained so neurologist said it could not be the med then and to go to my PCP. I did that yesterday and was put on a diuretic for three days.I started it this morning. My concern is the underlying cause was not discussed. I will be glad if swelling disappears but feel there is a cause that should be investigated.

[LeharLover62]

yes, hubby’s had leg edema from Amantadine also. And when he is severely constipated or bedridden sometimes. Good luck! I hope it’s something easy to fix like that.

It’s been a few years, so I don’t recall how long it took to clear up after stopping amantadine. After hospital discharged, pushing fluids and getting him up on his feet a lot clears it in a week or so.

[kaypeeoh in reply to LeharLover62]

I posted on this two years ago: TWO YEARS AGO!!!!; The post was titled, "How does PD lead to leg edema?" Back then I was taking Amantadine plus sinemet. My legs were so swollen I didn't have enough laces to tie a knot. Stopping the amantadine took care of a lot of the swelling; I can tie my shoe laces now but my feet and calves are still so swollen that they're shiny.

There were several responses saying the same thing about edema and amantadine.