Seeking relief from swelling

[Amnibo]

I have primary progressive, and have had purple ankles and feet for a few years. I recently am experiencing food and ankle swelling, and it gets so bad it's painful. I understand it's caused by the lack of mobility causing lymphatic fluid to collect. Has anyone experienced anything similar, and what besides elevation helps?

[rstockard]

I have experienced the same. I am told by my Dr. it is because of lack of mobility, elevation is the answer. Feet have to be lifted higher than your heart.

[Amnibo in reply to rstockard]

Elevation does not work for me, and it hurts my lower back.

[BUZZ1397]

My spouse, an MS patient since 2000 also has purple ankle foot and knee on her affected side, right. In addition, she has cold hands and feet bilateral. As you know a person with MS does better when they remain cool so we keep her environment cool. However, that exacerbates the cold hands/feet issue as you might see. So I try to keep her feet in warm socks and slippers and do warming treatments of the right foot and lower leg using a warming pad that we heat up a bit in a microwave. In addition we do passive movement of the right leg in a way we learned from the PT a long time ago. Those things helped to keep the swelling and discoloration from becoming a threat for tissue loss. More recently a Rheumatologist was referred and they started my spouse on a blood pressure medicine that is also useful. The Rx is for people with Reynauds phenomenon, which a lot of MS patients also experience. The purpling and coldness are symptomatic of Reynauds. The b/p Rx is helping some but it is not as essential as the warming and movements, which are the primary way, I think to prevent tissue loss. But if you experience higher than normal blood pressure and have cold extremities I'd recommend asking your primary physician to consider referring your purple foot/ankle problem to a rheumatologist that could analyze what is happening and determine if treatment for Reynauds is appropriate. And get some help to do warming of you affected extremities, and if they can to perform movement of your leg and ankle joints to improve the circulation.

[Shannon_xray]

I was diagnosed with PPMS December 2015. Your post is interesting because I have swelling in my hands and feet that just started occurring in the last week. I also have Raynaud's phenomena, which I've had for years. What is interesting is I am still working full time as an X-ray tech. So the swelling isn't my mobility.

[AngieRowe]

I get purple red feet and hands that hurt. I have been diagnosed with Paynauds. I understand that many people with MS have Raynauds. You might want to get checked to see if it is Raynauds or heart.

[Nani5]

I found lympadema pumps helpful . Some places rent them. Nani5