what kind of doctor to see for swollen feet and ankles

Getty

It's not unusual to have swollen ankles, especially if yous're older or you are on your feet for long periods. But how can you tell if a swollen ankle is a sign of something serious or a minor problem you tin can deal with at home? And what is the difference between edema caused by heart affliction and swelling caused by a sprain? Learn about what causes bloated ankles, and what to exercise if y'all have ankle pain and swelling.

Mutual Causes of Swollen Ankles

Some causes for bloated ankles are quite common and tin can be due to lifestyle. Other causes may be more traumatic or serious.

Swelling can besides look and feel unlike depending on the cause. For example, edema, which is the accumulation of fluid in the body'southward tissues, looks puffy. If you press your finger into a spot with edema, so remove the finger, the indentation volition stay at that place for a few seconds earlier the peel rebounds. Other types of swelling, such as from a sprain, don't take that few seconds of delay.

Here are some of the about common causes of swollen ankles:

• Standing for long periods. Leg movement usually encourages blood apportionment, but continuing for too long tin cause the blood in your legs to flow more than slowly than usual.

• Sitting without moving your legs for long periods. This may happen if you sit down at your desk for too long; spotter TV for hours; or travel by car, plane or railroad train. If you sit down all the same for a long time or you lot cantankerous your legs while sitting, the blood flow may ho-hum downwardly, resulting in edema.

• As well much salt (sodium) in your nutrition. Consuming excess sodium tin cause edema in your ankles.

• Sprains, strains, and fractures. If you injure your ankle and take a sprain, strain, or cleaved os, you volition likely see your ankle swell up speedily. This swelling is your trunk's inflammatory reaction to the injury.

• Pregnancy. The force per unit area from the infant on the claret vessels that drain blood from the lower office of your body can cause swelling in the ankles.

• Preeclampsia. Significant women are at risk of developing preeclampsia, a condition that causes high blood pressure and can also cause organ damage and death if not diagnosed and treated quickly. Swollen ankles are one sign of preeclampsia.

• Lymphedema. Lymph is a colorless fluid that circulates through your body in the lymphatic organisation. The lymph can get trapped if your lymph nodes are blocked or damaged. People who take had cancer are at risk of developing lymphedema. The location of the blocked or damaged lymph node determines where the fluid volition accrue and cause swelling. If the lymph nodes in your leg are blocked, this could cause swollen ankles.

• Heart illness. If your heart can't pump claret finer, blood may finish upward pooling in the lowest part of your body—your anxiety and legs.

• Kidney affliction. Kidneys that don't work properly may not help your body rid itself of extra or backlog fluids, which can and so accumulate in your feet and legs.

• Liver disease. Liver affliction affects your entire torso. Albumin is a protein made in the liver. If your albumin levels are too low, blood moves from the veins to the tissues surrounding them, causing edema.

• Venous insufficiency. Your veins return blood to the heart after the blood has circulated to the rest of your trunk. If the veins are damaged, they tin't help push the blood back to the heart.

• Blood clots, or deep vein thrombosis (DVT). A blood clot in your leg tin can slow claret menstruation to your human foot and talocrural joint, resulting in swelling.

• Medication side effects. Some medications, particularly those for high blood pressure, could cause ankle swelling equally a side outcome.

When to See a Physician for Swollen Ankles

When the cause is pocket-size or temporary, swollen ankles are often treatable at dwelling, but there are some cases when they need to exist treated by a doctor. In these situations, bloated ankles could be a sign of a serious disease.

If your swollen ankles occur along with shortness of jiff or chest hurting, call 911. This could be a sign of serious heart disease or heart failure. If your talocrural joint is swollen post-obit a trauma, like a fall or a motor vehicle accident, yous should be seen in an emergency room to dominion out a fracture or other serious injury.

You may non need to telephone call 911, but you should contact your doctor immediately or visit an urgent care dispensary if you have new or increasing talocrural joint swelling and:

• You have a history of heart disease.

• Yous have a history of kidney disease.

• You are significant and the swelling has gotten worse or appeared suddenly.

• Y'all have a fever.

Who to See for Swollen Ankles

For more serious causes of bloated ankles, yous volition be seen by an emergency room md who will make up one's mind if y'all should be treated right abroad or if you demand to exist referred to a specialist, like a cardiologist or nephrologist (kidney specialist).

In cases when your symptoms don't indicate an emergency, you lot would likely see your family doctor. If yous already have a cardiologist or nephrologist, or if you are significant and have an OB/Gyn, you could see these specialists.

Your doc will examine you to check for swelling beyond your ankles and for any other symptoms. He or she volition ask for more than details most your symptoms, such as what makes the swelling amend or worse, and whether your ankles are more swollen at whatever particular fourth dimension of the day.

Y'all may be sent for tests, including claret and urine tests, chest x-rays, or an electrocardiogram (ECG). Your dr. may also enquire for a Doppler ultrasound of your leg veins. This would indicate if there are any claret clots.

If your family doctor or obstetrician believes the swelling or edema may be caused by heart, kidney or liver disease, you may be referred to a specialist. If the swelling is caused past varicose veins (venous insufficiency), you may exist referred to a vascular surgeon.

Treatment for swollen ankles depends entirely on the cause. If it is caused by a fracture or sprain, the talocrural joint will exist immobilized to allow it to heal. If it is acquired past centre, liver, or kidney illness, you will be treated for the diseases, which then may issue in the edema going downwards. A common medication given to people with ankle edema is a diuretic—a h2o pill. These medications crusade you to urinate more often than usual to eliminate backlog fluid from your body.

Swollen Ankle Treatment at Home

If you oasis't injured your ankle seriously or yous don't have reason to believe there's a serious crusade for the swelling, you may want to endeavor some at-domicile treatments earlier calling your doctor, including:

• Elevate your legs. While in bed or sitting comfortably, enhance your legs with pillows or a human foot rest.

• Move your legs. If continuing or sitting for long periods, movement your legs as much equally you can to help your blood pump back upwardly to your centre.

• Wear compression socks or support stockings. The pressure level from these socks or stockings helps promote blood flow in your legs.

• Swallow a healthy diet, low in salt. Excess sodium tin cause fluid memory that leads to swelling.

• Avoid wearing tight clothing, other than well-fitting compression or support socks. (Compression socks should exist snug to your leg, but if they leave a mark on your skin from the elastic, they are too tight. Information technology's wise to have a health professional measure and prescribe compression stockings.)

For about people, swollen ankles are not serious, but in the cases when they are, it's important to go prompt medical intendance. Pay attention to your symptoms and phone call your doc when in incertitude.

colethavervist1955.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.healthgrades.com/right-care/bones-joints-and-muscles/when-to-see-a-doctor-for-swollen-ankles

Share this post