Swollen ankles

[Jamie345]

I have very swollen ankles the skin is drawn tight, I have bad pain in my groin so my walking ability has been really bad confined at home for nearly a week now, but I did do a walk to my local shop 5 minutes away it was really hard I came home and cooked a meal but after I just sat in the chair, what I'm asking help for is the the swelling due to my sitting down too long or caused by the steroids or the condition GC/polymyalgia I'm on 40mg until my appointment to see rheumy on the 11/12/17

[SnazzyD]

Hello,

Is this swelling new? If so, you definitely should go to a GP to be checked in the meantime. Swelling can be due to a number of things, some of which need treatment sooner rather than later. Also, do you have much salt in your diet? It doesn’t take much at all to make me swell up since being on steroids especially when I was taking over 30mg.

[SheffieldJane]

Groin pain making it hard to walk was my worst pre- diagnosis symptom with PMR. Perhaps you need a higher dose of Prednisalone to get on top of the inflammation. Are you able to put your feet up, that might help with the swelling but I agree with SnazzyD that symptom warrants the doctor's attention.

[Soraya_PMR]

I had groin pain before starting steroids, and any time my dose gets too low. Are you on high enough dose?

Ankle swelling probably not connected. (No lumpy/bumpy bits in your groin?) I agree GP check would be a good idea, causes are so various.

[Marilyn1959]

I agree with the others Jamie. Whilst I too had groin pain pre diagnosis 15mgs of pred sorted it, so I would have thought your 40mgs should have resolved it if it was associated with PMR pain. 40mgs is a high dose for PMR normally the dose is between 15mgs and 25mgs, with higher doses given for GCA. I Have not experienced swollen feet or ankles but again 40mgs should have sorted it if PMR related. I would advise GP visit too.

[Woodiesmum]

Hi I am having the same problem of swollen ankles . But just started this month and I have been on pred since a year gone Oct last year .

I am fed up now as I feel like a balloon ready to pop x

[Ronnie101]

I too had swollen ankles with high dose pred. They've been ok since reducing the dose.

Also had groin pain. Turned out it was a hernia. I suspect that also might have been pred linked, as I understand it can make tendon/muscles susceptible to damage.

[Hidden]

Keep them raised once you have checked with gp. I find sitting or standing make them swell. So I always sit with them raised and then have a wander round every so often.

[Klah]

I am almost 4 years with PMR. I have had a painful left foot for the past 3 years, some knee, groin issues. Hard to figure it all out at any given time...is it PMR, is it the prednisone, is it sitting too long, standing too long?? Sometimes it is good to give it some time...ice the swelling, elevate the leg, treat it on its own. Sounds to me like you did too much, are in a flare, and still walked to the shop. A typical PMR patient😊....find a book, a movie...REST...then rest some more🌸

[nymima01]

Swollen ankles are usually associated with heart problems. For this the doctors usually order Lasix. Perhaps a trip to the cardiologist is in order just to be in the safe side.

[BirmLiz]

Hi Jamie345,

In the 14 weeks it took to get a Rheumatology appointment after my symptoms started, every night at 8 pm precisely I would feel my ankles start to swell (really upsetting as my ankles are the only thin, delicate bit of me!). When I started pred, it stopped almost overnight. I think that PMR affects us all differently so although for me it was definitely a symptom, if you are at all worried get it checked out - we don't need any more stress!

Hope you can get this sorted and be pain free quickly.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Something called RS3PE can be found alongside PMR and leads to swollen hands and feet and PMR itself can also cause it. I had swollen ankles - at times it would spread up my legs and it felt as if they were going to burst, especially if I ate salty food or it was hot. And no, it wasn't heart problems. But it did improve a lot after a while on pred.

However - what you describe does require a doctor's input and asap. You've obviously left it for a week already.

[Grants148]

Hi Jamie 345 ,l suffered quite a lot from swollen feet and ankles.it even broke the straps on a pair of sandals when my feet swelled up.l also suffer from a lot of swelling above each knee,some days are worse than others.l get a lot of pain and stiffness in my knees and legs on a bad day.when l mentioned this to a doctor he passed it off as the steroids being the cause.l have found that as l have lowered the dose of preds my ankles and feet are a lot better,but not the fluid above each knee. I intend to mention this again to my GP, l have recently seen a cardiologist about a different matter and l think the ecg l had was ok,l think you should see your doctor anyway just to find out what is causing your swelling,l wish you all the best,please let us know how you get on.