HELP!!!! I'm not Diabetic, but both legs/feet are swollen....why?!
Question: HELP!!!! I'm not Diabetic, but both legs/feet are swollen!.!.!.!.why!?
I have been in a wheelchair since last september!. now all of a sudden my feet and legs are swollen so bad that they feel like they are going to burst!. My shins are bright red, and just today, they have started to bleed for no reason!. How serious is this and should i just relax and put my feet up til it goes away!?
They have been this way for a week now, and its hard enough for me to walk around my little room when they aren't swollen!.
Any suggestions as to what it could be!?
krystanWww@Answer-Health@Com
They have been this way for a week now, and its hard enough for me to walk around my little room when they aren't swollen!.
Any suggestions as to what it could be!?
krystanWww@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
Krystan, I am a clinical Pharmacist and saw your question!. From what you are describing, this could be a case of DVT (blood clot in the calf!. It is more likely if it is just one leg and it is very painful!. This would constitute an emergency and you should go to ER immediately as the clot may travel to the brain or heart and this could be life-threatening!.
Since you are wheelchair bound and this is sudden, it may be a vascular occlusion of some kind if not an outright DVT!.
Now I do not want to panic you but this IS a possibility, not seeing you to do an assessment!. Since the swelling is now causing a bursting of vessels, this sounds like a urgent medical situation!.
Call 911 and get a ride to ER!. 911 rides get seen sooner than walk-ins/wheel-ins!. You do need to be seen asap!.
Take care, get better soon,
Dr!.Nostrum, Pharm!.D!. (clinical pharmacist)
**********
Hello Krystan, first let me correct the previous person: pitting edema is a diagnostic sign of 'third-spacing', a major cause is usually cardiovasular, or the liver!. In Congestive Heart Failure, the heart is not strong enough to pump the blood circulation, and the veins start to leak out fluid into the surrounding tissue, however the lymphatics are not the cause or problem!.
Elevating your legs would be a good thing to do right now, that way the excess blood & fluid can be helped by gravity to flow back up to the heart!. Since the symptoms began after you were wheelchair bound, it sounds like the circulatory system is being impeded!. That is what a DVT or vascular occlusion is, same difference!.
Without further information and a physical assessment, any answers here are wild speculations and anything but suggesting immediate medical care would be irresponsible!.
Have you seen the doctor yet!? I would not wait any longer for Yahoo Answers, lol!. I recommend an immediate visit to urgent care, ER or your private doctor!. Why are you waiting!?Www@Answer-Health@Com
Since you are wheelchair bound and this is sudden, it may be a vascular occlusion of some kind if not an outright DVT!.
Now I do not want to panic you but this IS a possibility, not seeing you to do an assessment!. Since the swelling is now causing a bursting of vessels, this sounds like a urgent medical situation!.
Call 911 and get a ride to ER!. 911 rides get seen sooner than walk-ins/wheel-ins!. You do need to be seen asap!.
Take care, get better soon,
Dr!.Nostrum, Pharm!.D!. (clinical pharmacist)
**********
Hello Krystan, first let me correct the previous person: pitting edema is a diagnostic sign of 'third-spacing', a major cause is usually cardiovasular, or the liver!. In Congestive Heart Failure, the heart is not strong enough to pump the blood circulation, and the veins start to leak out fluid into the surrounding tissue, however the lymphatics are not the cause or problem!.
Elevating your legs would be a good thing to do right now, that way the excess blood & fluid can be helped by gravity to flow back up to the heart!. Since the symptoms began after you were wheelchair bound, it sounds like the circulatory system is being impeded!. That is what a DVT or vascular occlusion is, same difference!.
Without further information and a physical assessment, any answers here are wild speculations and anything but suggesting immediate medical care would be irresponsible!.
Have you seen the doctor yet!? I would not wait any longer for Yahoo Answers, lol!. I recommend an immediate visit to urgent care, ER or your private doctor!. Why are you waiting!?Www@Answer-Health@Com
Unfortunately you did not state how old you are!.
If you pressed your skin in the lower extremities, does it make marks (pitting edema)!?
Bilateral swelling of the legs with pitting edema is suggestive of CHF (congestive heart failure) or renal failure!.
If the the swelling do not make marks when you pressed your finger, then it may suggest lymphatic obstruction!.
Either way, you need to check with your doctor specially if you are an elderly, which I suspect you are!.
Good luck!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
If you pressed your skin in the lower extremities, does it make marks (pitting edema)!?
Bilateral swelling of the legs with pitting edema is suggestive of CHF (congestive heart failure) or renal failure!.
If the the swelling do not make marks when you pressed your finger, then it may suggest lymphatic obstruction!.
Either way, you need to check with your doctor specially if you are an elderly, which I suspect you are!.
Good luck!.Www@Answer-Health@Com