1. < Chronic Pain

Swollen legs and feet

Posted by amkaloha @amkaloha, Sep 2, 2016

I have been struggling with chronic pain for over 10 years. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, have arthritis all over my body mostly in my knees, rotator cuff damage in both arms, neuropathy and recently diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica. I am tired all the time, from when I step out of bed in the morning and then many nights can't sleep an uninterrupted 6-7 hours. My skin is always itchy and sometimes breaks out in rashes. I am in constant pain and take tramadol 50 mg 2x a day for pain and methylprednisone 4mg for the PR. Recently my legs and feet have been swelling and I was given bumetanide 1mg for fluid. However, this does not bring the legs down much. I have to walk with a walker and find it very painful to go from room to room. My problem is that I do not know what kind of doctor to see to begin with. Cardiologist, neurologist, rhematologist, vascular, etc, etc!!! Could anyone point me in the right direction? I am a 76 year old woman and live in Florida. Thanks for any help. PS, I prefer to take natural remedies instead of drugs.

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elizamail | @elizamail | Oct 5, 2016

Thank you for your email. I went to a naturopath and she said my swollen ankles were coming from my kidneys and glands. I had been in hospital for 2 months and was sent home end of March. I had been tested for my liver and kidneys and the tests came back OK. But I knew something was not OK because I had smelly urine. I did not have any other symptoms, but after being tested in July, they discovered I had a bladder infection all of that time. After a month the infection came back. Now the Naturopath has given me natural medicine to try and improve my kidneys and I am going to a osteopath to try and help my glands. I have a Bakers cyst behind my knee and this was is preventing some of the flow down to my ankles. I can actually feel the lumps (swollen glands) at the back and above my ankles when the swelling bad. So much for having your kidneys tested through the usual way. My ankles are still not 100% but they are improving.

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2 replies
elizamail | @elizamail | Oct 5, 2016
In reply to @elizamail "Thank you for your email. I went to a naturopath and she said my swollen ankles..." + (show)
@elizamail

Thank you for your email. I went to a naturopath and she said my swollen ankles were coming from my kidneys and glands. I had been in hospital for 2 months and was sent home end of March. I had been tested for my liver and kidneys and the tests came back OK. But I knew something was not OK because I had smelly urine. I did not have any other symptoms, but after being tested in July, they discovered I had a bladder infection all of that time. After a month the infection came back. Now the Naturopath has given me natural medicine to try and improve my kidneys and I am going to a osteopath to try and help my glands. I have a Bakers cyst behind my knee and this was is preventing some of the flow down to my ankles. I can actually feel the lumps (swollen glands) at the back and above my ankles when the swelling bad. So much for having your kidneys tested through the usual way. My ankles are still not 100% but they are improving.

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I forgot to add, I also have nerve damage in the calf of one leg. Many years ago when I had traction for my back, the doctor was not a proper physio, (but apparently thought he was), and it left me with nerve damage leading from my ankle to the calf. I have had my back operated on now, (after 40 years) and the Back specialist says that the nerve will eventually right itself, after the pressure has been taken off. It has improved slightly (6 months after the operation)

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tbeckys | @tbeckys | Oct 5, 2016
In reply to @elizamail "Thank you for your email. I went to a naturopath and she said my swollen ankles..." + (show)
@elizamail

Thank you for your email. I went to a naturopath and she said my swollen ankles were coming from my kidneys and glands. I had been in hospital for 2 months and was sent home end of March. I had been tested for my liver and kidneys and the tests came back OK. But I knew something was not OK because I had smelly urine. I did not have any other symptoms, but after being tested in July, they discovered I had a bladder infection all of that time. After a month the infection came back. Now the Naturopath has given me natural medicine to try and improve my kidneys and I am going to a osteopath to try and help my glands. I have a Bakers cyst behind my knee and this was is preventing some of the flow down to my ankles. I can actually feel the lumps (swollen glands) at the back and above my ankles when the swelling bad. So much for having your kidneys tested through the usual way. My ankles are still not 100% but they are improving.

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I wish u all the best!

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tbeckys | @tbeckys | Oct 31, 2016
In reply to @johnbishop "Hello @amkaloha. I'm sorry to hear you are having problems with the pain associated with your..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Hello @amkaloha. I'm sorry to hear you are having problems with the pain associated with your PMR. I have had 2 episodes of PMR. I was in remission up until about a month ago. Both times prednisone (20 mg) was prescribed - first by a rheumatologist and this past flare up a month ago it was prescribed by my Mayo family doctor. Did a rheumatologist diagnose the PMR? The first time I was diagnosed in 2007, I was in extreme pain and my right leg was swollen badly. The joint in my right knee had fluid build up and they drained it and gave me a steroid shot in the knee of some kind that helped. If you haven't seen a rheumatologist recently it might be beneficial to setup an appointment to see if there may be something else going on.

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My legs and feet swell so bad I have to use a wheelchair to get around as the pain is excruciating. The Dr., told me the swelling is due to Diabetes and Rheumatoid Arthritis. I wear compression boots ( they can be bought over the counter at any drugstore) and these help some with the swelling. When first diagnosed 25+ years ago they gave me a lot of Prednisone and it did help. I had a flare up of Gout and the Dr., gave me Prednisone and I became allergic to it and ended in the hospital for 3 days. He said at anytime our bodies can reject any drug although we've taken it in the past!
If you or anyone finds out anymore about why their feet are swelling please contact me!
Thanks to all!

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tbeckys | @tbeckys | Oct 31, 2016
In reply to @bessygo " I have peripheral neuropathy  from my neck to my hand . Severe pain all the time..." + (show)
@bessygo

 I have peripheral neuropathy  from my neck to my hand . Severe pain all the time and waiting for one more conductive nerve study test to be done hopefully this week. this has been a nightmare and also bed ridden because if I stand up my arm fills up and doesn't drain properly.The pain medication I"m on makes nauseous. i've been suffering since 2012 progressively , i'm just praying that Dr. Murray MD. fixes the problem after this KMG nerve conduction nerve test . Everyone at the clinic is in my prayers and are in pray chains all over the world.    

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I'm due to have nerve conduction studies.... could u tell me how bad the process is and how bad it hurts?

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elizamail | @elizamail | Oct 31, 2016

I have just been watching a video about thyroiditis. I suffer from swollen ankles - (mainly in hot weather or flying) - but he said that your thyroid can cause this but it needs to be monitored, not by an ordinary Doctor who doesn't take the three main tests, like TSH, T3 and T4, but by a specialist in thyroid functions. You can hear more about if you do a search on the internet for Thyroid Connection Summit | Dr. Amy Myers;

O am just off to the doctor now with my information from these videos.

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1 reply
jomama80 | @jomama80 | Oct 31, 2016
In reply to @elizamail "I have just been watching a video about thyroiditis. I suffer from swollen ankles - (mainly..." + (show)
@elizamail

I have just been watching a video about thyroiditis. I suffer from swollen ankles - (mainly in hot weather or flying) - but he said that your thyroid can cause this but it needs to be monitored, not by an ordinary Doctor who doesn't take the three main tests, like TSH, T3 and T4, but by a specialist in thyroid functions. You can hear more about if you do a search on the internet for Thyroid Connection Summit | Dr. Amy Myers;

O am just off to the doctor now with my information from these videos.

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<br><br><br><br><br><br>I am going bald and have been told it was because I had so much anesthesia <br>for 2 operations in a month.  It is NOT my thyroid.  I was told to <br>take prenatal vitamins and they would help.  Has anyone any other <br>suggestions???<br><br><br> <br>

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elizamail | @elizamail | Oct 31, 2016

I had two operations within 2 months and my hair started to fall out. After about 2 months it stopped and my hair is OK now.

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jomama80 | @jomama80 | Nov 1, 2016

Thanks Eliza.. My daughter told me to start taking prenatal vitamins!!!!!At 80?????The pharmasistt will be hysterical...!!!!

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Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Nov 1, 2016
In reply to @bessygo " I have peripheral neuropathy  from my neck to my hand . Severe pain all the time..." + (show)
@bessygo

 I have peripheral neuropathy  from my neck to my hand . Severe pain all the time and waiting for one more conductive nerve study test to be done hopefully this week. this has been a nightmare and also bed ridden because if I stand up my arm fills up and doesn't drain properly.The pain medication I"m on makes nauseous. i've been suffering since 2012 progressively , i'm just praying that Dr. Murray MD. fixes the problem after this KMG nerve conduction nerve test . Everyone at the clinic is in my prayers and are in pray chains all over the world.    

Jump to this post

Hello @tbeckys, the nerve conduction test is not as bad as it sounds. I had an EMG last March and it was relatively painless. On a scale of 0 to 10 for me I would give it a 0 since the short bursts don't bother me if I know they are coming. There are couple of times you may feel a small jolt but the folks running the tests will prepare you and let you know when to expect a little shock. The whole process was less than 30 minutes or so if I remember correctly. Mayo Clinic is really good at running these tests.

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