I'm just really looking for any tips...I'm sure I'm not alone in this. My legs swell even though I wear compression Tubigrip all the time. As you see below, I get a deep crease from the swelling unless I cover that area with a pad under the Tubi. I wear the Tubi from ankle to knee and sometimes from the base of my toes to the knee...or all the fluid seems to be pushed to my arch.
So, my forum friends...any hot tips...lots of water?? Anything. I cannot take diuretics. Any advice would be helpful. The only thing I love to do is paint, and the more I sit, the worse....I have my feet elevated a bit.
Thanks, my forum friends...I wanted to get you before you went to bed.
I have swollen legs and feet as well. My legs are also painful to touch. A rheumatologist I saw said “oh you would expect that”. He never explained what “that” was unfortunately. I have had lymphatic drainage from a couple of people that did not work. I also have leg massage. One girl was brilliant but I lost contact over Covid, so I must start looking around again.
I had swollen legs some years ago - it persisted after cardiac problems were sorted out. I went to see a physio here about an exercise programe that didn't actually exist but we got talking and he suggested manual lymph drainage so I agreed to a session to see how I got on. He just worked on the worse side and as far as I remember it didn't involve much direct work on the leg, more on the trunk. Within a couple of days I could see a big improvement - in both legs. I didn't need a second session and it has never come back.
I've never heard lymph drainage....no surprise there. I do have some heart issues and I've had circulation issues for a few years. Armed with this new information when I see my GP on Monday, hopefully, he can send me in the right direction. It is always tricky when I bring up things to the doctor that he hasn't mentioned...got to watch that ego!!💖
It is often done for breast cancer patients when they have the lymph nodes removed in the axilla so it shouldn't be difficult to find someone to do it. Always worth a try
what you should Grammy particularly trying to keep the legs elevated. It’s easier said than done unless you’re doing nothing else - your painting will be hard to do with elevated legs. We have a low stool with a big cushion on it to bring the height up and for comfort for hubby for oedema in his legs - his is related to poor circulation because of heart problems. It allows him to use his desk top computer which he prefers. He does not have PMR.
Because he’s not very mobile due to a balance problem it feels like a losing battle because he can’t do standing exercises that would help.
He used to wear support stockings but they made his legs very sore. He’s had numerous hospital stays and was advised not to wear them in the end. Instead he religiously does simple daily exercises. It comprises sitting and lifting each leg individually (or together if you can manage it)and swirl your ankles circularly to the right then to the left up to ten times each leg and as often as you can. Start by doing five and build up. The swelling fluctuates for no apparent reason. They go very solid and more swollen even though he does the sitting exercises. He drinks at least 2 litres of fluid daily and is on a high dose diuretic which I know you can’t take.
Others might have different tips but I do sympathise with you as it isn’t comfortable to live with. 🌺
Ideally your legs should be higher than your heart but that is not easy!
Massage upwards towards your heart may help, also the bandage may be too tight so could do with being a size up!
I like the the self adherent adhesive cohesive bandages (Amazon) then they are not too tight but l think it’s important you talk to your Doctor for advice as you may need a diuretic to help.
Thanks, Angela, I hope to make headway with the doctor this coming week. My kidneys can't tolerate the diuretic anymore. I'm hoping Monday puts me on the road to some improvement.xx💖
Thanks~! and my blood work of 7/14 shows my CRP and SED RATE on the climb, quite a fair amount since 6/28. right now, my biggest fight is staying positive. 💖
Thanks...I'm not crying in my beer, everyone goes through these times on this roller coaster. Lots of amazing support on here 💖 to say nothing of the knowledge~!
I've been thinking of a few brews as a treatment option~!🍺🍺 Probably if I have enough.....I won't care if they are swollen. You have to laugh or.......😂🤣😄 sometimes you'd cry!!!
Tubugrip is terrible for oedematous legs and you need graded compression. By this I mean you need something that is shaped to the leg so that the correct compression is delivered throughout the limb. Tubigrip is a tube and your leg is not shaped like tube, the same all the way up. Ideally you need a Doppler scan of your legs to see how good your blood supply is and then the appropriate level of compression applied. Just getting a tight thing can be damaging to blood supply and the valves in the veins that stop back flow and even cause ulcers. Next best is getting some over the counter class 1 (lightest tightness if you can’t get a Doppler check) support stockings after measuring your legs. The pharmacist should be able to give guidance on this. In any case you need to keep your legs elevated.
Lots of good points, Snazzy. At one point, I did have an ulcer a few years ago, maybe a year; who can keep track anymore. I did purchase some wrap compression with velcro straps...is that what you mean...I'll try to find them. They have not turned up since the move to Indiana. They were recommended by the doctor at the wound clinic and I had not thought of them. On the left side, I have had both a hip replacement and then revision in 2017...so flexibility with compression hose is not my strong point. That is why I've loved the Tubi...but not if it is detrimental. Thanks 💖
Do you mean difficulty with the contortions needed fo put them on? If so, have you tried the application aids, like a glorified plastic bag?When one applies any sort of strapping where the pressure is adjustable, it is important to know what is correct for you. I haven’t read whether you have any diagnosed lymphoedema. Clinics normally advise the correct way for you.
Whatever you do, if your leg looks like a string of sausages go back to the drawing board but better still get some professional advice.
Yes, it really isn't a matter of contortions...after the hip revision 'I can't get down there anymore'. I do have an appliance for socks but it doesn't work with the compression hose. That was one reason I liked the Tubi....it fits my left leg...tubular... but my right is more like a drumstick. Answers coming....hopefully.
In despair with swollen ankles caused by poor circulation and having to wear compression socks full time, I tried one of those machines which give electrical muscle stimulation to improve circulation. I hesitated because the best one is very expensive but I was desperate. It has taken weeks of daily use but it works for me. I no longer have to sit with my feet up for extended periods, I can walk comfortably and I have normal sized ankles. I now only wear compression socks if I have to sit for extended periods of time. (In the US this particular machine is advertised on TV by Jerry Mather and in the UK by Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langford). I really don’t want to sound like a publicity agent for the company concerned but I am astonished how well it has worked for me.
I very rarely eat carbs during the day but if I wake and want a snack it is crackers or toast. Truthfully, I don't think I eat properly overall. I'm never hungry. I have to REMEMBER to eat and often will just have a bag of frozen vegetable...always have yogurt and fresh berries in the am....not too much protein there. When I focus...I'll have yogurt and poached egg, veggies for lunch, and fish and veggies for the evening meal....but I'm just not hungry. But...good advice. Don't feel like preparing it much either at the moment, that will change.💖
It is interesting where it has gone from - my wrists look different and you know the deep channels formed by bra staps? They've gone too - and my bag slips off my shoulder!!! The swimring seems smaller too - all the same as 7 years ago when I lost 35lbs altogether.
I'll be back later today but didn't want to forget.....what is a swimring? Is that a tube you wear in the water? I just love learning the King's English~!!
If you like and can tolerate health wise - I once lived off bananas, milk, avocados, water cress, beetroot, cold smoked mackerel and cheese for about 6 months. No prep, no cooking 😉
Hi, Poor you, it looks painful. Try raising the foot of your bed, I done this for my husband when his legs kept swelling, I just used a couple of books. Hope it helps a little.
I do have an adjustable bed and always raise the head for better breathing....last night I raised the foot as well...NEVER thought of it. When I woke, my legs were perfectly normal size. Even areas that seem 'congested' and swelled were down. Thanks for shaking my head a bit...💖 I've been up and down for 5 hours already and they look pretty darn good.🤞🏻🤞🏻
I HAVE THE SAME TROUBLE..AND MY RIGHT LEG LOOKS JUST LIKE YOURS. I AM GETTING A MEDICAL PUMP DELIVERED SOON, THEY ALREADY MEASURED MY LEG. SO I WILL BE ABLE TO USE IT EVERY DAY FOR AN HOUR AT HOME!! MY VASCULAR SURGEON ORDERED IT FOR ME!!! GOOD LUCK YOU HAVE TO JUMP THRU HOOPS TO BE APPROVED BY MEDICARE!!!
Thanks so much~! I go to the doctor on Monday, GP, and I'm really going to pursue the matter. I've gotten lots of good advice and suggestions. He may suggest I see my cardiologist?? but after him, I'd check with my rheumatologist. He is candid about who is a good doctor and who is not. I appreciate the head-up about Medicare...I'm categorized as 'Catastrophic' and really haven't had too bad a time getting a reimbursement. I'm not too fond of the label, but it has helped with the $$$. Be well, and let me know how it goes.💖
I AM ALSO AN 80 YEAR OLD GAL, I HAVE PMR AND DO NOT THINK WE DESERVED THIS AT OUR STAGE OF LIFE!!! I LIVE IN BAKERSFIELD CA, AND WITH THE HEAT WE ARE HAVING MY LEG IS DRIVING ME NUTS ( IT DOESN'T HAVE FAR TO GO)!! TAKE CARE I AM NOW TAPERING AND I AM AT 10 MG. OF PRED A MONTH, A SLOW TAPER I WILL HOPEFULLY GO DOWN LATER THIS MONTH TO 9MG.
You've got to love the 80's!!! It is character building!! You've just got to say...OK, Heat, you win and relax. Those temps must be awful...be safe and I wish you the best tapering. It seems like going slow is the secret. Hopefully, I can start again next month...we shall see.
Raise your legs above your hips for drainage to work, your ridge on your lower leg I presume is where the tubigrip finished is just stopping the flow of fluid. You need a full length tubigrip to your groins where the lymph glands can remove the excess fluid. Have you any one who can massage, when you’ve your legs raised, pushing from your ankles upwards as that helps the fluid up to the groin quicker and greatly reduces swelling. Hope this helps as it’s worked very well with odeama patients I’ve worked with.
Another useful tool is to put deep pillows under your mattress across the full width and then your legs will always be elevated when in bed amd works well. Put the a good 12” from the bottom of the bed and usually 2 or 4 demoing on double or single bed work best
Thanks so much, after 2013Mayo mention elevating the foot of my bed yesterday, I did..it just had never dawned on me. DUH! I can't believe how normal my legs looked in the am. The groove that you see in my leg is not from the end of the Tubi...I wear it from the base of my toes to my knee. I have to put a pad in that are to avoid a really deep groove. The area above the indentation swells. After the results of raising the bed...when I see the doctor tomorrow armed with pictures...I'm hoping I get a script for massage and also need some it in my lower back, can only stand a short while. So much wonderful knowledge and suggestions I can present to the doctor....he usually (GP) just says..."oh well, you are on a lot of steroids" and never suggest doing something constructive.~!! I'm sure I'm not his favorite patient...and he's not my favorite at the moment either.💖 I love the backbone the forum has given me too.
Aw glad some of my ramblings may have helped you. Anything that constricts your leg like padding, top of tubigrip etc will stop the fluid draining and your leg will swell above tje constriction. When tubigrip rolls down it doubles it’s compression effectiveness each time it doubles thickness. Dint know if that makes sense. Basically keep it one layer as I’ve found it does tends to roll down on legs unless you’re carful. Good luck at your GPs xxxx.
If you can elevate your legs (ideally above heart level) before wrapping them, you will have better results. If there is swelling already when you wrap, it will remain. I think the tube you are using in not the best for compression. Here are some exercises: m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzTmi...
Iie flat on your back with bum up against the wall or headboard if on the bed with legs extended up resting on the wall with soles pointing up to the ceiling-works for the fluid on my knees 😉
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