How to reduce foot and ankle swelling?
- resting
- wearing an ankle brace
- applying ice in a thin piece of cloth for no more than 20 minutes
- applying a compression wrap
- elevating the foot above the waist
What causes ankle and feet swelling, what should I do?
What Causes Swollen Feet?
- Edema. Edema comes from extra fluid that’s trapped in the tissues throughout your body. ...
- Alcohol Consumption. Drinking alcohol can cause swelling in the feet and ankles that generally goes away as your body processes the alcohol and removes it from your system.
- Pregnancy Complications (Preeclampsia) Swollen feet during pregnancy is fairly common. ...
Why is your ankle still swollen after months of recovery?
- Your ankle is extremely painful or is bruised.
- Your ankle can’t move or the ankle joint bends abnormally.
- You have a numb or tingling feeling in your hurt ankle or foot.
- You are unable to walk, stand or put weight on your injured foot.
- Your injured ankle has not improved for one week.
How to reduce swelling after foot surgery [7 simple tips]?
Method 3 Method 3 of 3: Preventing Swelling
- Protect your skin to prevent infections when you are doing chores. ...
- Put on sunscreen and bug repellent when you go outside. Sunburns and bug bites can increase your risk of a skin infection, which may lead to swelling.
- Avoid any blood draws or injections in the first few weeks after surgery. ...
How do you get rid of swollen feet and ankles fast?
Here are 10 to try.Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water per day. ... Buy compression socks. ... Soak in a cool Epsom salt bath for about 15 to 20 minutes. ... Elevate your feet, preferably above your heart. ... Get moving! ... Magnesium supplements can be helpful for some people. ... Make some dietary changes. ... Lose weight if you're overweight.More items...
How do I get rid of fluid in my ankles and feet?
Home CarePut your legs on pillows to raise them above your heart while lying down.Exercise your legs. ... Follow a low-salt diet, which may reduce fluid buildup and swelling.Wear support stockings (sold at most drugstores and medical supply stores).When traveling, take breaks often to stand up and move around.More items...
How do you make swelling go down fast?
Applying an ice-pack or cold compress to an injury is the fastest way to deal with immediate swelling. It helps reduce swelling by restricting blood flow to the area and slowing down cellular metabolism. Cold therapy systems and ice baths are other methods you can use to apply cold to the area.
What medicine can I take for swollen feet and ankles?
Common Drugs to Treat Ankle SwellingThiazide diuretics - relax the blood vessels.Loop diuretics - used in cases of heart failure.Potassium-sparing diuretics - keeps potassium in the body.
What foods to avoid when you have swollen feet?
To reduce swelling all over your body, podiatrist, Dr. Paul Ross near Rockville, MD recommends that you avoid fast food, potato chips and packaged sweets. Watch out for sneaky sources of sodium like condiments, sauces and canned food. Fruits and veggies are a staple of a bloat-free diet.
Will water pills help swollen feet?
The first thing your doctor may try are diuretics, or water pills. This may not be the best treatment particularly if the swelling is not due to too much volume. “Often, using counter pressure, or wearing compression stockings, to help push fluid out of the legs is the most effective treatment,” says Dr.
What medicine makes swelling go down?
Take Over-the-Counter Medicines Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or naproxen may help ease swelling and pain. Acetaminophen might also fight pain.
Does Vicks help with swollen feet?
Another ingredient of Vick's VapoRub — eucalyptus oil — contains a natural chemical called 1,8-cineole. This compound gives it antibacterial and antiviral properties. It also has anti-inflammatory properties. This means it may help soothe pain and reduce swelling.
What medications cause swollen feet?
Medications that may cause the feet to swell include:hormones, such as estrogen and testosterone.calcium-channel blockers that help control blood pressure.steroids, both androgenic and anabolic, and corticosteroids.antidepressants.nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.medication to help manage diabetes.
How do you get rid of fluid on the ankle?
Home CarePut your legs on pillows to raise them above your heart while lying down.Exercise your legs. ... Follow a low-salt diet, which may reduce fluid buildup and swelling.Wear support stockings (sold at most drugstores and medical supply stores).When traveling, take breaks often to stand up and move around.More items...•
When should I be concerned about swollen feet and ankles?
If you experience severe swelling or swelling accompanied by other symptoms such as abdominal pain, headaches, infrequent urination, nausea and vomiting, or vision changes, call your doctor immediately.
What is the main cause of swollen ankles?
Common causes of swollen ankles, feet and legs eating too much salty food. being overweight. being pregnant. taking certain medicines – such as some blood pressure medicines, contraceptive pills, hormone therapy, antidepressants or steroids.
How to get rid of swollen feet?
Massage your feet. Massage can be great for swollen feet and can also promote relaxation. Massage (or have someone massage them for you!) your feet toward your heart with firm strokes and some pressure. This can help move the fluid out of the area and reduce swelling. 10.
How to reduce swelling in feet while pregnant?
If you’re looking to reduce foot swelling while pregnant, try elevating your feet several times a day as well. Aim for about 20 minutes at a time, even on an ottoman or a chair. Try to avoid standing for long periods of time and stay off your feet when you can. 5. Get moving!
Why do my feet swell?
Painless swelling of the feet or ankles is common and can happen for a variety of reasons. Causes of swollen feet can include: staying on your feet too long. ill-fitting shoes. pregnancy.
How to reduce swelling in the body?
Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water per day. Though it might seem counterintuitive, getting enough fluids actually helps reduce swelling. When your body isn’t hydrated enough, it holds onto the fluid it does have. This contributes to swelling.
Does weight loss cause swelling in feet?
This can result in being more sedentary — which can also cause fluid buildup in the feet. Losing weight can help ease the strain on your feet and possibly reduce foot swelling as well.
Does Epsom salt help with muscle pain?
Epsom salt ( magnesium sulfate) may not only help with muscle pain. It may also reduce swelling and inflammation. The theory is that Epsom salt draws out toxins and increases relaxation.
Treatment
There are some home remedies that may help alleviate some of the symptoms associated with swollen feet and ankles.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
If you have experienced swelling in your feet and ankles for more than one month, you should see a healthcare provider to have an examination and evaluation to diagnose any underlying causes.
Summary
Swelling in the ankles can result from a variety of different causes and can be managed at home through the use of compression stockings, elevation, monitoring sodium and water intake, diuretic supplements, lymphatic drainage massage, Epsom salts, and changing your medication.
A Word From Verywell
Other than avoiding injury, swelling in the ankles is best prevented by staying active and exercising regularly to maintain good circulation. If you sit or stand for long periods of time, it is helpful to take periodic breaks to walk, which allows the leg muscles to contract and improve blood flow.
Why do my ankles swell?
12 causes of swollen ankles. There are many different causes of swollen ankles. In most cases, swelling is due to injury or edema. The term edema means swelling due to the accumulation of excess fluid. It is particularly common in the lower leg, ankles, and feet.
Why does my foot swell?
A person may experience inflammation due to an injury on the ankle or foot. People who sustain an injury to the foot or ankle may experience inflammation in that area, causing it to appear swollen. An ankle sprain is one of the most common foot injuries.
What is the swelling of the arm called?
Lymphedema is a type of swelling that affects the soft tissues in the arms or legs, including the ankles. It is due to a buildup of a fluid called lymph. This is mainly composed of white blood cells, which help fight infection.
What is it called when your limbs are swollen after a DVT?
If these veins do not increase in size, the limb may remain swollen. Persistent pain and swelling after a DVT is called post-thrombotic syndrome. People who experience a DVT should consider: elevating the affected limb.
What is the most common type of edema?
The most common type of edema is from chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). CVI is a condition that affects the valves in the leg veins. These valves usually make sure that blood flows toward the heart. In CVI, however, the valves malfunction and allow some of the blood to flow backward and pool in the lower legs and ankles.
What is it called when you elevate your foot above your waist?
elevating the foot above the waist. 2. Cellulitis. Bacterial infections in the skin are called cellulitis. People with diabetes are particularly prone to this type of infection. Cellulitis can cause a range of symptoms, including redness, warm skin, and swelling that spreads rapidly.
Does heart failure cause edema?
This may lead to a buildup of fluid in tissues, including the legs and ankles. Heart failure also affects the kidneys, reducing their ability to remove salt and water from the body. This further contributes to edema. Although there is no cure for heart failure, there are many different treatment options.
How to reduce swelling in ankles?
This can help reduce ankle swelling if you have a sedentary lifestyle or if your swollen feet and ankles are due to aging. 10. 2. Raise your legs. Another effective way to reduce fluid retention in your legs and ankles is to raise your legs above the level of your heart.
How to stop swelling in feet?
4. Compression socks. Compression stockings can help to reduce foot swelling if you have to sit or stand for long periods of time. In fact, compression socks help also to prevent swollen ankles and feet and can make going about your daily activities much easier.
Why do my ankles swell up?
According to doctors from the Cleveland Clinic, edema around the feet and ankles happens because gravity pulls fluid down to your feet.
What to do if your legs swell after sitting for a long time?
Usually, if your legs or ankles swell after standing a lot or sitting for extended periods of time, there is nothing to worry about. However, if swelling at the bottom part of either of your legs is accompanied by other symptoms, you should see a doctor.
How to stop swelling in ankles from sitting?
If you have swollen ankles and feet from standing or sitting for too long, you should get up every so often and walk around. This helps to stimulate your circulation and prevent too much fluid accumulating in your ankles.
Why does salt cause edema?
Having too much salt in your diet can cause edema because it makes it harder for your body to get rid of excess fluid. This fluid usually builds up around your ankles and feet causing swelling and puffiness.
What is the best way to relax your legs and feet?
Soaking in Epsom salts is a great way to relax and relieve aching muscles in your legs and feet. There is some anecdotal evidence that having a foot bath in Epsom salts could also relieve swelling in your ankles.
How to reduce swelling in ankle?
To reduce the swelling from a foot or ankle injury, rest to avoid walking on the injured ankle or foot, use ice packs, wrap the foot or ankle with compression bandage, and elevate the foot on a stool or pillow. If swelling and pain is severe or doesn't improve with home treatment, see your doctor.
What to do if you have swelling in one leg?
If you have swelling in one leg, along with pain, low-grade fever, and possibly a change in color of the affected leg, call your doctor immediately. Treatment with blood thinners may be necessary. Learn more about deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Heart, liver, or kidney disease.
Why do my ankles swell in the evening?
Ankles that swell in the evening could be a sign of retaining salt and water because of right-sided heart failure. Kidney disease can also cause foot and ankle swelling.
Why do my ankles swell?
Swelling of the ankles and feet is often an early symptom of venous insufficiency, a condition in which blood inadequately moves up the veins from the legs and feet up to the heart. Normally, the veins keep blood flowing upward with one-way valves.
What causes swelling in the ankle during pregnancy?
Learn more about managing a high-risk pregnancy. Foot or ankle injury. An injury to the foot or ankle can lead to swelling. The most common is a sprained ankle, which occurs when an injury or misstep causes the ligaments that hold the ankle in place to be stretched beyond their normal range. To reduce the swelling from a foot or ankle injury, rest ...
What causes fluid to accumulate in the feet and ankles?
Gravity causes fluid to accumulate more in the feet and ankles, but fluid can also accumulate in the abdomen and chest. If your swelling is accompanied by other symptoms, including fatigue, loss of appetite, and weight gain, see your doctor right away. If you feel short of breath or have chest pain, pressure, or tightness, call 911.
Can NSAIDs cause swelling?
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ( NSAIDs) Diabetes medications. If you suspect swelling may be related to a drug you are taking, speak to your doctor. Although the benefits of the drug may be worth enduring some swelling, more severe swelling could make it necessary to change the medication or its dosage.
How to treat a swollen leg?
Use the R.I.C.E. Method 1 Rest. If movement is painful at first, rest your legs and stay off them as much as you can until you’re able to move without pain. 2 Ice. Keep an ice pack on your legs for about 20 minutes every hour over the first 3 days after symptoms start. Avoid using heat, as it may make swelling worse. 3 Compression. Wrap an elastic bandage around your legs or wear compression stockings, which use pressure to keep swelling down. 4 Elevation. Keep your legs raised above the level of your heart for 30 minutes, three or four times per day, so that gravity can help move fluids out and toward the rest of your body.
What to do if your leg is swollen?
When to See Your Doctor. Sometimes, the best thing to do is to get medical help or have a specialist check your leg pain and swelling. In general, if your symptoms start severely, suddenly, more often than usual, or for no clear reason, they may be signs of something more serious.
How to stop swelling in legs after a symtom?
Avoid using heat, as it may make swelling worse. Compression. Wrap an elastic bandage around your legs or wear compression stockings, which use pressure to keep swelling down. Elevation.
What is the best medicine for swelling?
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ( NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or naproxen may help ease swelling and pain. Acetaminophen might also fight pain. Some doctors say magnesium is a good mineral to add to your diet to help with painful swelling.
How to help swelling in legs?
These tips will help with leg pain and swelling whenever you have to lie down or stay seated for long periods of time, such as when you’re sleeping, traveling, or working at a desk: Don’t wear tight clothing, especially around your thighs. Wear compression stockings that are approved by your doctor.
How to stop swelling in the back of the leg?
Get up and stretch as often you can during the day. Focus on extending your knees as well as flexing your ankles to help with blood circulation. This may help pump extra fluid away from your legs and back toward your heart.
How to get fluid out of your legs?
Try Massage. If you can’t visit a massage therapist and don’t have any tools, you can still do massage on your own at home. Rub or stroke your legs upward, in the direction of your heart. Make sure the pressure is firm but not painful. This can help move excess fluid out of that area.
