Swollen leg

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Day 6 and my left foot and leg are very swollen is this normal? Other than that I have nothing wrong with me . Taking it all very slowly, just little walks but often, last night I managed to sit on a stool and wash the pots. Have cut down on the pain-killers as I don't need them. Just wondering why my foot and leg is swollen,

2

Hi Gill mine was swollen for about 10-14 days and then settled. Fluid retention I believe as it was less so in the mornings

Xx

3

Good Morning Gill, I also had swelling of the leg and my foot looked like an elephant foor for about a week - week and a half. I kept it iced, elevated it on 4-5 pillows. Don't know why my swelled up except perhaps since we're walking of hobbling around on it during those first weeks it just swells up. I also had those TED stockings on they gave me it helped but I hated them

4

it is normal Gillcat - it is the fluid going down from hip to foot - looks scary huh? I was told that it could take a couple of weeks to go down - i just had to make sure that I had no  pain or fever ... keep it elevated - don't do too much though ... amazing that you are going on little walks already .... have you watched the video on youtube yet?  after I watched it it made so much more sense to me and I had deep respect for my body and her ability to heal .... only watch when you are ready for it - it can be disturbing for the sqeamish .... take care and be gentle with yourself .... 

5

Hi Gill

Mine was swollen too..... as mine was 9 months ago i can't remember how long it was swollen for but i think its normal....you sound to be doing ok ...roy

6

Hi Gill

I also had a swollen leg on Day 5-6.  It's quite alarming, isn't it ?!  I just rested more and did loads more ankle pumps (where you waggle your feet backwards and forwards when you are lying down) and it went down, almost as quickly as it came up.  I read on this Forum that people recommended ice-packs too, but I just hate anything cold, so waited to see if the rest and foot pumps worked.  They did.  Hope your swelling goes down soon.

Regards

Cheryl 

7

Hi Gill,

Its normal and can last anything from a few days to a number of weeks, its often worse if cement has not been used and called lymphoedema. For me its was very painful and my left leg looked like it belonged to an elephant!

Keeping your leg elevated helps but a foot stool is not as effective as lying on your bed with your leg on a pillow as for optimum drainage your limb needs to be above your heart.

Ice packs put on for 10mins each hour also help (a bag of frozen peas works well and moulds round your knee/ankle) remember to mark the bag and not eat them as the will defrost and need re-freezing often. Foot pumps and frequent walking between resting is important to minimise stiffness.

Any redness, severe pain, breathlessness or feverish symptoms needs checking out by a doctor, I presume you are taking antocoag drugs.

Best wishes for your recovery, Dot xx

8

Hi Gillcat, I had my op last weds and yesterday my leg was twice the size of the other so I spent the day inbed with it raised on 2 cushions and it gone down a lot today. Putting up on a stool didn't work for me, Sitting for to long is not good so try reclining in bed with a little walk every hour. Hope it gets better soon hugs

9

Yes, it is quite normal and I think everyone gets some swelling, some lasts longer than others.  I had swelling for at least 3-4 weeks, then bruising in different places at different times.  It does help to lie down with your feet higher than your chest for an hour every day.  Mine used to go down in the mornings but come up during the day, but you do have to move about a bit to keep the circulation going and keep on with the ankle pumps, it all helps.

10

Dear Gill,

try to lye down with a pillow under your leg and do "foot pump";

Let us know how you are getting on,I hope it's getting better soon!

Ella

11

Thnk you all for your sound advice, I think I was a bit down this morning because I thought it would be gone by the time I got up Anyway I have taken it even easier today. Just pottered round the house and this afternoon I lay on the bed and elevated my feet on pillows, lasted for 30 mins and then had to go to the toilet peed for England  but felt a lot better afterwards so that is what I will do tomorrow too. Other than than I am doing foot pumps, all the excersises I am supposed to do, and a lot of knitting  Feeling great again now.

12

Well done Gill it is s slow process. I am into week 10 and overdone it today by walking six and a half miles. Had a comical moment when we came across a locked gate. No way was I retracing my steps back down the hill so decided to crawl through the wooden slats oh dear the perils of being short no way was my bad leg going to reach the ground so there I was straddled with a fit of the giggles. Realised the only way was to put good leg first. This will go down as my most inelegant moment. No it will not turn up on UTube as I am the photographer.

Keep cheerful xx

13

LOL Ann  -- no hidden cameras then? 6 1/2 miles, wow .... I am 10 weeks now too  and not nearly as far as you are ... take care - big hug