Legs and Ankles

[VivienneStephenson]

Thank you all for you advice regarding the swelling in my legs and ankles. My GP confirmed that it caused by steroids. He advised taking water tablets but as I have waterworks problems anyway I was reluctant to take them. Now I am ensuring I get my legs raised for at least 10 minutes 2-4 times a day and using a circulation boosting machine every morning and things appear to be improving. I am now reduced my dosage to 7mg a day of prednisonol for 2 weeks and have stffened up In my shoulders. What do you think I should do?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

From what dose did you reduce? And when did the stiffness appear?

[isabella2015]

Vivienne, I had swelling of my llegs and ankles, also have waterworks problem, not nearly so much as I take the water tablets and some others so as to have more control, they work and I try to remember to keep my legs up, have raised my bed up at the feet end and have less swelling I too am on 7 preds. and as for my memory!! I think I can only put that down to old age. Good luck with everything.

[1Purplecrow]

Hi Viv, have you considered compression stockings? I still had a pair, from an earlier surgery, and found they helped when I had a similar issue..

. also serious attention to my sodium intake helped..and I do love my salt😜

Kind regards, Jerri

[jinasc]

Old adage, when you sit down put your feet on the mantelpiece.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to jinasc]

Just 'cos you have long legs!!! I could barely reach the top of the fireguard...

[sazzyb]

Vivienne, I had swollen legs / ankles for some years, nothing helped, not water tablets, not elevation etc. etc. Was finally diagnosed with lymphoedema at the beginning of the year. I had 6 treatments at the clinic over a period of weeks and now wear compression knee socks. Everything is back to normal, I can get into my boots again and all my shoes fit too, for me it's a miracle, never thought it would happen especially as I have problems with my waterworks too. I'm glad your efforts seem to be working.

[Marijo1951]

I recently posted about my swollen legs and ankles (healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk..., and PMRpro replied mentioning the benefits of cutting salt and carbs in the diet. Since then - only 3 weeks ago - I've avoided sugar and 'white' carbs (white bread, white rice, white pasta, potatoes etc) and cut down on salt. My feet and ankles went back to normal almost immediately. I haven't taken any medication and, although I did plan to see the GP about it, I haven't needed to. So I'll take the opportunity to thank PMRpro for the excellent advice and I hope it helps you too.

[VivienneStephenson]

To PMRpro

The stiffness and pain commenced when I was taking 8mg of statin and worsened when I reduced to 7mg on 29 October. The pain is not intense more accurately described as discomfort.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to VivienneStephenson]

Statin? or Pred? My answer is based on it being pred!!!!

I'd say the 8mg was barely holding things and the 7mg is simply a tad too low for the activity of the underlying autoimmune disorder that causes the symptoms. At present at least, it doesn't mean you won't get lower, just not yet.

By the way - someone mentioned lymphoedema. I don't have that - but I did have swollen ankles some time back and I happened to go to a local physiotherapist about a local scheme there was supposed to be for shared costs for exercise programmes. Nothing of any use to me - but he did examine me and suggested we try a session of manual lymph drainage. I agreed. He only did one leg specifically, the worse of the two, Within 3 days both ankles had gone down dramatically and have never gone back up for more than a few hours since. They always go up if we eat out more than a couple of days in a row - too much salt!

[VivienneStephenson in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you all for your friendly advice. Yes I meant steroid not statin. You were quite correct PMRpro I think I should have stayed at the higher dose. I guess I am just too anxious to get back to normality quickly. I shall stay on 7mg for the time being until there are definite signs of improvement. I have arranged to see my consultant next week and will discuss with them my swollen legs and ankles. I found it very interesting what you said regarding lymphoedema. I'll keep you al posted.

Vivienne

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to VivienneStephenson]

My concept of normality includes pred - the lowest dose of pred that lets me feel normal/well.