“Is swollen feet and ankles a serious condtion?”
I've had swollen feet and ankles since 2012. They don't bother me, except I'm unable to wear my shoes. I'm also afraid of falling due to my bad balance, which I've had for over 50 years. I've been considering medication for my swollen feet and ankles. I feel supplements would be better, as I do not want to take anything with side effects. What is your opinion?
8 Answers
Hi! I would see a podiatrist, your primary and a vascular doctor to find the cause of the swelling. This can range from being too sedentary to circulation or cardiac issues or even lymphedema. Once you know the cause, treatment can begin.
Swollen feet can be a sign of a serious condition which is why it is important to have a thorough evaluation by a podiatric physician. It could be due to a vascular condition such as peripheral vascular disease. It is better to detect these pathologies early because they can be progressive and may be harder to reverse as time goes on.
Trent Brookshier DPM
Trent Brookshier DPM
Hello, Thank you for your question. We you have to evaluate you and take foot x-rays if needed. Please call our office 973-817-9577 or on our portal drtotten.com.
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It could be related to a heart condition or a liver condition
Swollen feet, legs, and ankles are usually from a medical issue called Venous Insufficiency. This issue, when severe, can cause blistering, and open wounds, and those may become infected and cause cellulitis. This infective process can spread and you could even become septic. You may have a more serious cardiac issue called congestive heart failure (CHF). You should have the problem evaluated by a cardiologist or a vein specialist. The appropriate medication would be a diuretic (water pill). Other treatments may be compression stockings, but you must be careful with the stockings if you have CHF, as they could exacerbate the problem. There are even minor office procedures that might help reduce the swelling. Your balance issues may be more complicated. You may need a neurologist to evaluate that issue.
As we get older, feet and legs tend to swell.more during the end of the day, due to us being on our feet all day. That can be alleviated by wearing compression stockings or trying to elevate the feet more. However, persistent swelling may also be an indication that you are retaining fluid, and the kidneys may not be functioning efficiently, or the heart may not be pumping strong enough to move fluid around. Definitely worth getting checked out by your primary care physician.
I recommend you schedule an appointment with a foot and ankle surgeon (podiatrist) for diagnosis and treatment options.
Sounds like you have an issue for a long time, and learn to live with it, however, there are potential complications with your plan: I recommend seeing a podiatrist and have a fall risk assessment, then come up with a plan with braces or shoes that will let you do what you want to do, have the quality of life, and work around some of the issues such as swelling.
