Swollen feet and ankles: I've been... - Fibromyalgia Acti...

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Swollen feet and ankles

Gulfstream_Maggie profile image

I've been suffering with swollen fett and/or ankles for years. Making the usual excuses - its down to the heat, I've been on my feet for too long, etc

Doctor actually put me on Ferusomide tablets for a while. Made me use the toilet more frequently but that's about it. My feet/ankles continued to swell.

My partner and I have been doing some research and it appears it may be down to lymphodema. We're trying the massage techniques and will se what happens.

Anyone else suffering with this?

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Gulfstream_Maggie profile image
Gulfstream_Maggie
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7 Replies
Dizzytwo profile image
DizzytwoModerator

Hello, I also get swollen feet and ankles. Mine is due in part to the BP meds and bad circulation. At least its one thing I cant blame fibro for.

Momo

Yassytina profile image
YassytinaFMA UK Volunteer

Hi there, I’ve had my BP meds doubled and now found my ankles are swelling once I’ve been on my feet , Ive read it’s a side effect . xx

CM1EDSUK profile image
CM1EDSUK

You're absolutely correct in that lymphoedema can be helped by lymphatic massage techniques; I speak as a retired physio.

However I would suggest you go back to your GP to ask whether they think you actually have lymphoedema (or another in the practice if this is plausible, & you don't think your GP looked into the cause of your swollen feet & ankles fully).

Primary lymphoedema isn't common, & tho it might be that, you could potentially be wasting even more time in finding out what the problem actually is.

I do think it's best to be guided by a GP who knows your medical history.

As an aside, when I fractured my hip a few years ago, my leg on that side was swollen from buttock to ankle. Once I got home, what helped was lying on my sofa & raising my leg up (it has to be higher than your heart) & initially just circling my ankle one way then the other, & pulling my foot up at a right angle to my lower leg several times a day. You could perhaps try this in the meanwhile (it does take time, but perhaps may help before you're able to talk to a GP). Hope this may help.

onebigvoice profile image
onebigvoice in reply to CM1EDSUK

This is what I did when I had bad circulation, all round my lower legs have a red rash which is due to this but has allowed my legs to return to some sort of normal size.

onebigvoice profile image
onebigvoice

Yes mine is down to bad circulation and became swollen , almost half the size again. at night could not sleep either. What I did was sleep on my back and and place cushions under my legs so that they were elevated, sort of "L" shaped, or support under the bottom of the legs by placing them on the arm of the settee. This allows the blood to drain down the legs again.

I still do this every now and again as its the best night of sleep ever, for me, as I also suffer from sleep aponia.

Circulation tests and blood pressure tests all confirm this including swelling under the foot which restricts walking as my toes do not touch the floor when stood up. Try this and I hope this works for you.

Fibrofog profile image
Fibrofog

Let us know how that goes as I also have swollen ankles and have for years. I used to blame it on the heat. But it's like that all year round. X

I do, Gulfstream, but mine is wierd. My legs get so puffed it becomes difficult to move. But my ankles do not swell so badly. Actually, the water is spread evenly around the body. The first time I took Ferusomide I lost 5kgs in 9 days. But then it stopped and the water came back. I tried the lymphedema clinic but was told I don't have it. All my life, from age 12 I've had it. It came at puberty, lasted until I was 16 then went away and came back when I was pregnant then went away but then it kept coming back for a year and disappeared for four years until June 2018. I ballooned from 72kg to 82, in 2 weeks, the largest I had gained so far. I was 51 then. I went on a protein diet to contain it. (I don't lose weight no matter what I do. It goes on its own. Then I wee like mad and sweat at night to the point where I have to change night dresses.) Then went to 86kg when I got covid in 2020. Now I am 90kgs after coming off the protein diet as my gut was messed up. I am worried it will not go away this time because of menopause. I have stopped weighing myself, I eat only vegetarian, nuts, fruit, vegetables, rarely some brown bread, but I have accepted that I am not in control of this body. All I'll do is eat right.

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