“My feet swell up in the cold. Is this normal?”
During the winter, my feel sometimes swell when I walk in the snow, even when I have my boots on. Is this normal?
12 Answers
No
No it is not.
No this is not normal and can be the sign of other vascular diseases. Do your feet change colors in the cold?
No it is not normal, but can be treated easily. This will progress if left untreated. There are multiple conservative options that work very well. Please, make an appointment with me in my Chandler office (480) 269-7130 and I will go over all of your options. Depending on Xrays (if needed) that I can take at my office and the clinical exam, I am able to diagnose and recommend different treatment options. I recommend you have this checked as soon as you can, especially since I can usually treat this without surgery very well in just one visit with me. My office is located on Dobson road, just north of Chandler Regional Hospital. Advanced Foot & Ankle Specialists of Arizona. Feel free to ask to be seen by me specifically and I will get you in the same day or latest the next day. I take all insurances, please do not go off of the insurance list on this website as it is not updated yet. Mention that I have talked to you on the internet. I can also do the entire visit with you over the phone or video call as well, which most insurances cover, even if you are out of state and my staff can verify this for you when you schedule. Thank you and have a good evening.
No, that is not normal.
No, they should get smaller. You need to check your circulation.
No, swelling in the cold is not normal. Swelling, or edema, in the feet and legs, is something that should never be overlooked. If caught early, it may be treatable. It is usually a problem stemming from insufficient veins or lymphatic ducts. Elevation, compression stockings, water pills, decreased salt intake, and a massage can help, especially in early stages. Swelling may also be early evidence of kidney or liver disease.
No, this is not normal. You should see your doctor to have this checked out.
Cold can cause vasospasms, which cause the blood vessels not to work correctly. There could be a blood flow issue with the arteries or the veins. Also, some people are hypersensitive to cold, which can cause changes in the feed as well. I recommend to have the feet examined and possible tests to evaluate venous and arterial blood flow.
Jonathan M. Kletz, DPM
Jonathan M. Kletz, DPM
That's reactive hyperemia. Your body is sending blood to the cold area to warm it. Not abnormal.
Swelling of the lower extremities can occur for many reasons. This does represent fluid exiting the vascular system into the surrounding tissue. The suggestion that this is occurring during the winter may support some type of vascular process. There are people with cold sensitivities that promote a constrictive effect to the blood vessels that then cause reactive hyperemia and focal swelling. These vascular constrictive disorders can include conditions such as Raynauds phenomenon or disease. If you have
associated complaints of joint pain or other systemic complaints, there may be consideration to be seen by her primary care provider or a rheumatologist to make sure that there is no underlying rheumatic process that may be contributing to this. Other factors besides the cold that may stimulate this process can include tobacco misuse, which should clearly be avoided. Obviously, continued protection from extreme thermal cold is also important, utilizing layered socks and avoiding immersion into water such as
street puddles that may develop.
associated complaints of joint pain or other systemic complaints, there may be consideration to be seen by her primary care provider or a rheumatologist to make sure that there is no underlying rheumatic process that may be contributing to this. Other factors besides the cold that may stimulate this process can include tobacco misuse, which should clearly be avoided. Obviously, continued protection from extreme thermal cold is also important, utilizing layered socks and avoiding immersion into water such as
street puddles that may develop.
Unless you have a history of uncontrolled lower extremity edema (swelling) or pain in your legs while in the cold, I would not be concerned with your foot swelling. There is a vaso spastic condition that occurs while exposed to the cold weather called raynauds disease which makes your hands turn purple and painful. It normally occurs in the hands. Thanks for your question.
