I HAVE HAD EDEMA FOR OVER 4 MONTHS NOW FROM A MEDICATION I TOOK FOR MY BACK. I WENT TO MY FAMILY DOCTOR AND HE WRAPPED MY LEGS FOR 2 DAYS. WHEN THE BANDAGES CAME OFF I LOST 3 INCHES IN MY CALVES AND 7 LBS OF WATER AND MY FEET AND ANKLES LOOKED NORMAL. THAT WAS GREAT BUT AS SOON AS I WENT BACK TO WORK SITTING ALL DAY MY LEGS, FEET AND ANKLES ARE ALL SWOLLEN AGAIN AND MY RIGHT LEGS JUST ACHES ALL DAY. I TRY TO GET UP AND WALK AROUND FOR A WHILE BUT I CANT BECAUSE MY JOB IS TO ANSWER THE PHONE. IF SOMEONE KNOWS A SPECIAL KIND OF DOCTOR WHO DEALS WITH THIS PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I CANT SPEND THE REST OF MY LIFE WRAPPED UP IN BANDAGES. I STILL CANT GET INTO MY SHOES . PLEASE HELP !!!!!
I'm so sorry I wish I had a answer for you. I deal with the same issue but its my left leg only is that odd? Been doing it now for 2 years. Only goes down when I lay down at nite. My doctor thought it was because of my thyroid but been on medication for thyroid now for about 2 years and according to blood work its normal range now and my doc says he has no idea why it swells!! Hope you find relief.
ISNT THERE A SPECIAL DOCTOR HOW KNOWS ABOUT EDEMA? MY FAMILY DOCTOR DOESNT SEEM TO KNOW MUCH AND WRAPPING MY LEGS IS OK EXCEPT WHEN I GO BACK TO WORK AND SIT ALL DAY IT STARTS UP AGAIN. MINE GOES DOWN SOME AT NIGHT BUT NOT MUCH. THERE MUST BE AN ANSWER.
You have to wear compression stockings!! Didn't your Dr tell you that? His compression bandages worked so the stockings should work for you. And can't he change the medication for your back that's causing it? Do you take a water pill? Let us know!! Ladyjack51
Donna38794,
Sounds like Lymphoedema which is what I have. Sadly, there's not alot of Dr's that know alot about it or how to treat it. Has he mentioned this possibility? Ladyjack51
YES I TAKE LASIX 40 MG DAILY AND I DID HAVE COMPRESSION STOCKINGS BUT THEY CUT ME BELOW THE KNEE SO HE IS GIVING ME A RX FOR THE COMPRESSION STOCKINGS THAT GO ABOVE THE KNEE. AFTER I WORE THE STOCKINGS THE FIRST DAY AFTER I TOOK THEM OFF BOTH MY ANKLES WERE SWOLLEN UP. I THOUGHT THE STOCKINGS WERE SUPPOSED TO KEEP THE SWELLING DOWN. AM I GOING TO HAVE TO WEAR THESE STOCKING THE REST OF MY LIFE? I READ ON LINE THAT A VASCULAR SURGEON CAN HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM. I DONT THINK MY FAMILY DOCTOR KNOWS MUCH ABOUT EDEMA. IT WAS A PAIN SPECIALIST THAT GAVE ME THE MEDICINE THAT CAUSED THE EDEMA NOT MY FAMILY DOCTOR. I STILL HAVE THE BACK PROBLEMS BUT I AM DEALING WITH THIS EDEMA PROBLEM RIGHT NOW. THANKS FOR YOU HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM. IT IS GOOD TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE WHO KNOWS WHAT I AM GOING THRU.
Hi patty42962,
They DO make compression stockings with the feet and toes in them...it's important that you get some and take the water pill but potassium as well so your muscles don't cramp up. You are blessed that you can still get a stocking on...my leg is too big. You didn't mention lymphoedema and that is my issue. If you had that then yes it would be for life. But you seem to already know that your's is caused by a pain medication, which I have never heard of that before, but anyway....so why don't you just change medications??? Clearly this one is irritating your lymphatic system so why doesn't he change it?? A vascular surgeon is only gonna help you if this is a poor circulation issue-veinous insufficiency problem with your veins...not something induced by pain meds. Just FYI before you waste your money. If your Dr doesn't know much about edema, he needs to refer you to a specialist. All this sounds like it's more than a pain med, but I'm just going by what you say. No thanks needed sweetie...to share and discuss and vent is why we come here. Let me know!!! Ladyjack51
I STOPPED THE MEDICATION THAT WE THINK STARTED THIS. I NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM AND THIS IS A SIDE EFFECT OF THAT MEDICATION AND THE PAIN SPECIALIST SAID IT DOES DO THIS TO SOME PEOPLE. I JUST DONT TAKE ANY MEDICATION FOR MY BACK. I DO TAKE POTASSIUM WITH THE LASIX AND I ALSO DRINK A BOTTLE OF DIET POWERADE A DAY FOR THE ELECTROLITES. I ALSO JUST GOT A NEW PAIR OF COMPRESSIONS STOCKING TODAY. MY PROBLEM WAS I HAVE SHORT LEGS AND IT USED TO CUT ME UNDER MY KNEE AFTER WEARING THEM FOR A WHILE. THE NEW ONES I JUST GOT ARE MADE FOR SHORTER LEGS. I WILL TRY THEM LATER TODAY. THE DOCTOR DID SAY I HAVE A VEINOUS PROBLEM WHERE SOME LIQUID IN MY VAINS OR SOMETHING IS LEAKING INTO MY LEGS WITH IS CAUSING THE SWELLING. THEY DID A TEST TWICE WHERE THEY TOOK MY BLOOD PRESSURE ON MY ARM AND ALSO MY LEGS AND THEY WERE GOOD. I ALSO HAD A ULTRASOUND ON MY LEGS AND I DONT HAVE BLOOD CLOTS EITHER. I WILL BE GOING TO SEE A WEIGHT DOCTOR IN A MONTH OR SO AND MAYBE HE CAN HELP AND POSSIBLEY I MIGHT HAVE THE LAPBAND SURGERY. I REALLY NEED TO LOOSE WEIGHT BECAUSE WHEN I WENT ON INSULIN 3 YEARS AGO I HAVE GAINED OVER 40 LBS. I GUESS YOU FIX ONE PROBLEM AND START ANOTHER. I AM ALMOST 59 AND I AM SURE NOT ENJOYING MY GOLDEN YEARS MUCH. THE DOCTOR ALSO IS GIVING ME A RX FOR STOCKINGS THAT GO OVER YOUR KNEE. I'M NOT SURE HOW THEY ARE GOING TO STAY UP BUT WE WILL SEE. TALK WITH YOU SOON.
Patty42962,
OK, Sounds like you've had some of the tests I had but I dad even more and I'm telling you again it sounds like lymphedema. And again you haven't mentioned it...I'm extremely surprised your Dr would say you have veinous leakage (????) but not realize it's probably lymphedema...especially if you are heavy. The extra weight on the lymph glands in your groin area can get closed off and so the trash fluid in your body pools in your legs. Please bring it up to him....you need to at least be seen by a lymphoedema therapist...and there aren't many but the hospital's usually have at least one person who does it and your Dr should know how to refer you to them. Let me know... ladyjack51
THE BIGGEST PROBLEM I HAVE IS I SIT ALL DAY AT WORK. AFTER I HAD MY LEGS WRAPPED I WAS GOOD UNTIL THE FIRST DAY I WENT BACK TO WORK THEN THE SWELLING AND PAIN STARTED ALL OVER AGAIN. I WOULD NEED TO NOT WORK IN ORDER FOR THIS TO GO AWAY FOR THE MOST PART. THE DOCTOR SAYS TO KEEP YOUR FEET UP BUT HOW DO YOU DO THAT AT WORK??? I AM GOING TO LOOK UP LYMHEDEMA ON LINE TODAY AND SEE WHAT THAT IS. I PUT ON MY NEW COMPRESSION STOCKINGS THIS MORNING , THE SHORTER ONES. I HOPE THEY DONT CUT ME BELOW THE KNEE. I MUST SAY YOU KNOW ALOT ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND YOU HAVE HELPED ME ALOT. HOW DID YOU GET THIS LYMPHEDEMA??? BY THE WAY MY NAME IS PATTY. I FEEL LIKE I KNOW YOU BUT ONLY AS ladyjack51.
Patty42962,
My name is Gina...thanks for asking. I have some medical background plus I have poor veinous insuffiency myself, which turned into lymphoedema probably bc I also am heavy and worked at a desk for years which helped to close off those major lymph glands in the groin. You really need to bring this up to your Dr, the lymphedema, so you can be treated accordingly. If you dont...your leg will get bigger and that fluid can't go anywhere so it begins to leak thru the skin and makes sores and then you have cellulitis which can become a big wound that has to be treated first. It's really an awful thing. You have to stay in those stockings. Let me know sweetie! Gina
GINA SO FAR THESE SHORTER STOCKINGS ARE DOING JUST FINE. THEY ARE NOT CUTTING ME UNDER MY KNEE. I BUY THEM ON LINE AT A PLACE CALLED 'LEG RESCUE'. THEY SELL LARGE SIZES FOR FLUFFY PEOPLE LIKE OURSELVES. I WILL TALK TO MY DOCTOR ABOUT LYMPHEDEMA, BECAUSE I DONT WANT IT TO GET WORSE. ARE YOU STILL WORKING NOW? I HOPE THIS SITTING ALL DAY IS NOT MAKING IT WORSE. WHEN I GET HOME I HAVE THIS FOAM WEDGE THAT I PUT UNDER MY LEGS WHEN I AM ON MY LAZY BOY CHAIR. IT REALLY HELPS THE SWELLING. GINA WHAT STATE DO YOU LIVE IN? ARE YOU THE ONE WHO SAID YOU HAD LAPBAND SURGERY I REALLY CANT WAIT TO GET THIS WEIGHT OFF. I'M SURE THAT WILL TAKE CARE OF SEVERAL OF MY PROBLEMS.
I live in Dallas, Texas Patty. And I have to laugh....I have been having a full conversation with you about the lapband surgery. Are you on pain meds or something that is messing with your concentration bc you have had me repeat myself on several things...I'm not mad, I'm just concerned bc you don't seem to be fully reading what I reply to you.
I'm really glad the stockings are helping. They don't seem to make any large enough for my leg...so I'm supposed to go to lymphoedema treatment where they literally rub the fluid up out of my leg every day until it gets small enough to get stockings on. Thats IF I can get there everyday....not easy for me to do.
No, I had to stop working 4 years ago bc of my leg. I have my second disability hearing this coming week so pray that they approve me this time! I need all the prayer I can get!
And YES.....sitting all day does make your swelling worse...whether it's poor circulation, or lymphedema, or your heart, or whatever it is...you potentially cutting off the circulation on the back of your legs when sitting unless you get a foot rest to raise your legs a bit under the desk. However, I found those didn't work for me after awhile bc it's the lymph glands in the groin area that are getting closed off by my belly when sitting. I didn't realize that at the time....but it does. Keep me posted Patty...where do you live?
NO I AM NOT ON PAIN MEDS AT ALL. I THOUGHT IT WAS YOU THAT WAS TELLING ME ABOUT LAPBAND BUT THIS OTHER LADY NAMED DONNA ALSO WAS TALKING TO ME AND I WASNT SURE IF IT WAS HER OR YOU WHO HAD BEEN TALKING WITH ME ABOUT LAPBAND. I GOT IT NOW GINA. I LIVE IN PALMDALE CALIFORNIA. HOW DO YOU LIKE TEXAS. WHEN I WAS AROUND 7 OR 8 YEARS OLD MY FATHER WAS GOING TO MOVE US TO TEXAS FOR HIS JOB . WE MUST HAVE GONE IN THE SUMMER BECAUSE AS SOON AS MY MOTHER GOT OUT OF THE CAR SHE SAID WE ARE GOING RIGHT BACK TO CALFORNIA. IT WAS SO HUMID SHE COULDNT STAND IT. IS IT HUMID WHERE YOU LIVE?
What was the medication ? was it Omeprazole ???
Hope you don't mind me jumping in, but your "Hanging Belly " may be the
answer to my mother''s onslaught of fat feet, ankles .legs She is 97 and
has always had legs like a Greyhound. She recently moved into a care
home .where sitting a lot appears to be obligatory.. Her swellings came
and I thought it was a medication that a doctor .in his wisdom .decided that she ought to take. which I knew she didn't, consequently the
swelling started .Even though she is built like a racing snake ,she
does have a large stomach, probably the food sh e now has to eat.
Having read your idea, I will put it forward to the doctor ,
Hi jacqueline...
Alot has happened since I last posted on here but I ran across this between you and I and wanted to ask what you found out with your mom? Yes...sitting with the pressure of a big belly laying on the top of the thighs and groin is not a good thing. That is what cut off my lymphatic system and poor veinous insuffiency in that leg too. Let me know....
Ladyjack51
No it was maloxicam 15 mg. It was supposed to be a non steroid ant- inflamatory. It did nothing for my back , but caused me to get this edema. Even though i havented taken the medicine in months this edema isnt reversing itself. I guess it doesnt.Was Omeprazole what caused you to get edema????
@patty42962, I hope you are getting better. My brother had an operation for his gallbladder and was put on antibiotic and strong pain killers, after 5 days when he completed the doses he developed swollen ankles and gradually getting bad as the swelling affecting both his legs now. Wonder how are you doing now? Did your edema improve? Did it progress from small swelling or started bad and gradually improved? Sorry for too many questions, I am just very worried about my brother' situation. Thanks a lot.
I am about the same. My legs,ankles, and feet swell alot when I am working because my feet are under the desk all day and I dont get to move around much. I bought these velcro wraps on line that I put on both my legs for about 8 hours a day and the swelling really goes down. One day my calves were swollen up to 23 inches and after 8 hours of the wraps they went down to 18 1/2 inches. I couldnt believe how much water i had in those legs. I also take Lasix 20 mg every day which helps take the water out of my body. What happens after around 3 hours you have to adjust them because they get loose because the swelling is going down. They cost around 110.00 per leg but well worth the money. I can let you know where i got them if you like. Sometimes I wear them to work , but I need my husband to tighten them up for me so I usually wear them at home. When I sit all day my legs just ache all day. They are real tight and it feels so good while they are on. After taking them off I try to keep my legs up as much as possible and then wear compression stockings to keep the swelling down. I still dont know what else to do with this. I need to see a vascular surgeon to see what they think. My family doctor doesnt know alot about this other than wrap them up all the time. I got this from a medication called Myloxicam 15 mg. I was taking that for 3 months for my back pain and this I found out was one of the side effects. The doctor said not alot of people get this from that medication but I was the lucky one I guess. Let me know if you want to know about the wraps.