unexplained left foot/ankle swelling

[KY_Kris]

I am 25 years old and very healthy. I am not overweight, I work out regularly, eat healthy, don't smoke. For the past 3 months I have been having severe swelling in my left foot and ankle. At times the swelling continues into my calf and causes a discomfort. I first noticed the swelling after I got home from the gym one evening. I took my shoe off and my foot was huge for no reason. I have not had any injuries, insect bites or infections. The first doctor I went to took x-rays which came back normal and ran a CBC which also came back completely normal. He told me I would just have to live with the swelling and wrote a Rx for Lasik PRN to help. The Lasik does help when I take it but as soon as I stop taking it the swelling comes right back. I've been told not to take it long term as it can effect important vitamin levels. I wasn't ready to just treat the symptoms and live with it so I went to an Internist who took me off birth control pills thinking it could be hormones but the swelling continued. She then sent me for a venous doppler test which also came back normal. She is sending me for an untrasound of the heart tomorrow. If the heart tests come back normal what else could be causing this unexplained swelling? It is only in the left foot/ankle and pitts for about 30 seconds when pushed on. Has anyone else had a similar experience with a diasnosis? I am afraid that I'm at the end of the road with tests and the doctors can't seem to figure out what is causing this swelling in a young, healthy person.


This discussion is related to Unexplained Swelling of Left Foot/Ankle.

[bachealer]

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[SiSi73]

How did they diagnose lymphedema and rule out other items? Was this diagnosed by your regular doctor/internist or a specialist? I have the same symptons. They first suspected a pulmonary blood clot as a travel frequently and my d-dimer came back indicating that possibility. After being unable to locate a clot, they said I had artheritis and degenration of the bones?!?!?!? THIS SEEMED STRANGE TO SUDDENLY APPEAR. Now a week later, I all of a sudden have slightly elevated uric acid and they suspect gout. But they haven't prescribed medicine. I don't think they (the ER or my internist) really know what this is. Meanwhile the swelling persists beyon my knee on my right side. No icing, elevation, heat or diuretic works. Best result was when I took a steroid for 5 days.

[Jennsies]

Hi all,
I too am having this same problem in my left foot/ankle. I think it started after several foot/ankle injuries and has just got worse. The heat makes the top of my foot unbearably swollen, so summer is miserable. After sitting in car for 10 days for a long road trip two summers ago, my foot swelled for an entire month.
I've never really pursued medical treatment because I just figured I'd be given compression socks and told I just need to live with it, but I've changed my mind and made an appointment. It's been really swollen for a week and now it's reddish so I'm worried I am developing cellulitus.

I'm going to try and follow some of the above advice and really pay attention to what affects it. I can tell you that the only thing I've found that really helped me was acupuncture. Last summer, during the hottest part of the summer, my acupuncturist started treating me for my foot as well as other things, and my foot was the most normal it's been for years. It looked the same as my good foot! I just scheduled myself an appointment to start that again next week and cross my fingers I get the same result.

[BeckyLC]

Thank you everyone for your comments. My boyfriend just started experiencing this issue three weeks ago, and we too have gotten the run-around on what it might be and how to fix it. Nothing has worked. Can anyone give me info on those stockings that you were talking about? I'm also going to suggest to him that we try going gluten-free for a while to see if that helps. We're so disappointed that this issue is ruining our summer. :(

[Cal1955]

I am almost 60yrs old. I have Scoliosis since childhood, not very noticeable but has caused pain all my life in hips and legs. I quit smoking 2yrs ago, my own decision. My lungs always clear luckily. Then I developed a cough which continues even now 2ys later. Tried Antibiotics, mouthwashes/gargles, no change. Years ago ( aged 21 ) I was diagnosed with Graves Disease, 12 years later had Partial Thyroidectomy, brilliant no probs but take Thyroxine for life. I have had Cervical Cancer ( at 29 ) followed by other Gynae problems so had Total Hysterectomy. I now have IBS and 2yrs ago my body ached,so much I was always in tears, NO TREATMENT given, my cough continued then I gradually became very breathless on exertion and extremely exhausted. My GP sent me for a Chest Xray, found lumpy, swollen nodules in Hilar Sac on lung. Had an EBUS Bronchoscopy with Aspiration to check for Infection, Cancer, TB, Sarcoidosis. I have PROBABLE Sarcoidosis, not fully confirmed as yet. My Dad had Lupus and my sister was diagnosed with Sarcoidosis 15 mths ago. I have been on Prednisolone for approx 9 years ( as diagnosed back then with Polymyalgia Rhuematica ) Then last year I was told it was not PMR but that it was Fibromyalgia, About 12 mths or so ago, my right toes, foot and ankle became so painful and swollen and this continued up my leg to my thigh. I was measured for stockings, given Diuretics, did not work. So, had Heart scan, Lymphatics Scan, CT Scan, dozens of Blood Tests including the ACE one. Chest Xray, Doppler Scans, etc, etc. I then discovered my " normal Thyroid " was now borderline for Underactive ! I get fevers and sweats at night and I still have swollen foot/leg and started to fall over when my leg collapsed under me, three times this happened, developed severe, skull breaking headaches and ended up in hospital for tests. Told Prednisolone was poisoning me, not sure I believe this though as still on them and no bad effects.So, I have been on bed rest for 2 weeks,right leg still swollen (with Pitting Oedema ), I am fatigued, but have insomnia too, but can't sleep. I have lower lumbar spine pain, hip pain, pain up spine and across shoulders, stiff neck, these symptoms I have had most of my life on and off but no diagnosis. My thoughts ? maybe due to my Lumbar spine being compromised. I am finally, waiting to see a Rhuematologist ( ? RA ). Now, I have written all of the above, not to confuse you but to explain that IF I do have Sarcoidosis, this mimics all other diseases and throws up so many symptoms relating to the Auto Immune System and so makes a diagnosis extremely difficult for the Medics. I am under the regular care of a Chest Specialist, Eye Specialist, ENT,and due another Heart Scan & Bone Density Scan. I am putting on unexplained weight not what I need. All this because of a cough and a painful, swollen right leg ! I can't bear water splashing my leg or back this is too excruciatingly painful, Foot has some numbness and tingling too., Can't shower or bathe in hot or warm water, so a cold bath is just about bearable. I would love your thoughts..  

[travelingrandma]

I am 73.  For the past few years after visiting Florida my left ankle would swell.  After a week back in upstate New York on Lake Erie it would go down.  I always thought----hot, humid, salt-water coastal Florida vs. cool, moderate-humidity, fresh-water Great Lakes.  Now stupidly I live in Florida and this swelling is much more.  Or it could be the difference between clear, tasty granite water in NY State vs. the cloudy limestone water here in Florida.  Thank you for this forum so I don't run to the doctor only to find out they don't know and I've spent money for nothing.  I'm gonna try the coriander remedy recommended above.