Edema in Both Legs - What could it be? Please Help. - Foot Problems Message Board

RiAnne · 03-18-2009, 05:53 PM

I have edema in my both feet, ankles, calves, and sometimes all the way up to my thighs. I literally woke up in the morning 31 days ago with this problem. When it 1st popped up, there was no pain. After three weeks there began to be pain in the inside of my ankles. It is also pitting in my feet and ankles. I haven't noticed pitting in my calves or thighs. I've been to the doctor. She's run tests and said that it is not the following -
- thyroid problem
- heart problem
- kidney problem
- blood clots
- pregnancy
- electrolites

I'm in my 20s. Never had any leg, feet or ankle injuries. My blood pressure is low. I'm not overweight. I take allergy shots once a week. I take allergy medicine occasionally but I hadn't taken it in months when the edema popped up. I'm allergic to things like cats, pollen, dust; things like that. I take a Women's One a Day vitamin almost every day (when I remember to take it). Elevation of my legs helps a little but as soon as I get back on my feet the swelling comes right back. Diuretics don't help at all. Just make me have to pee constantly for about 2 hours. I don't eat an abnormal amount of salt. I tried not eating for 36 hours (only drank water); just to figure out if the swelling would go down (trying to rule out a problem in my diet). The swelling didn't go down at all.

I am just tired of racking my brain trying to figure out what this could be. Does anyone have any ideas? Do you think the doctor may have missed something?

K_Lana · 03-18-2009, 06:55 PM

You may never know the cause. My son, who is almost 17 now, has had lyphodema in his right leg/foot since he was about 10. We think it may have started from a broken toe or some injury in soccer. We have had every test on it. He has done some PT with wrapping of the leg with many ace bandages, etc. That helped but he never kept it up. He wears a pressure sock when it gets bad, but he doesn't really care, which is a shame because his foot is especially huge. No cause has been found except that he probably damaged a lymphatic site somewhere.
It really sucks because I wanted to find some way to make it better, but there really isn't that much out there. YOu can find PT's who specialize in lymphodema wraps and lymphatic massage. That did help him some too.
Good luck. It is a frustrating condition and very few people are out there that know much about it.

RiAnne · 03-19-2009, 08:07 PM

That is a shame. Thanks for your help.

habebe · 03-19-2009, 08:29 PM

I have a electric heater at work that I use in order to keep warm on those chilly office mornings and for some reason the heat causes my feet and ankles to swell right up! Do you use an electric blanket at night? Usually edema has more to do with too much sodium in your body if you have not otherwised caused direct injury to those areas which does not seem what you are talking about.

Try to increase your water in take and eliminate sodas. I found eating a bunch of radishes quite a natural directic. (makes you pee).

The over the counter directics never have worked for me. I was shocked how well a handful of radishes will have you at the bathroom quite a lot as if you drank gallons of water.

sarkin · 03-20-2009, 06:09 AM

Hi RiAnne,

You are too young to have to deal with lower extremity edema like this! I would not settle with a doc stating that they don't know what it is. If your primary can't tell you, perhaps he/she can direct you to someone who can.

My initial thought was Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD) or some type of lymphatic disorder. You are peeing so much on the water pills b/c they are working, but it is probably a pain to go so much. When elevating your feet, to be really effective, they have to be above your heart.

Good luck. You are your own medical advocate so don't give up on getting an answer

Have a blessed day.

Sarah