Leg swelling and pain

[JB25]

I saw this question posted and I didn't see the response.  I'm 36 years old and work at my computer at home.  I also have a problem when I fly and when I sit for too long at the computer.  My legs and feet get very swollen and on the airplane it becomes very painful.  I'm at a normal weight and height, I don't have any blood pressure problems - low actually usually between 90/60 or 120/70...  I'm hypothyroid (don't know if that matters), but my levels are good, no issues with it.  My dad has congestive heart failure and his legs are ridiculously swollen (extreme).  Is there something with hereditary componets and cirrculation?  I try to recline but I still have problems.  He's diabetic, I'm not.  What could be causing this?

[Philip D Parks, MD, MPH, MOccH, FACOEM]

Hello,

What does your primary care physician/health care provider believe is the cause of your lower extremity swelling?

Do you have any other medical problems in addition to the hypothyroidism and lower extremity swelling?

Do you have brothers or sisters with similar problems?

Did your father have lower extremity swelling when he was your age?

Does one of your leg swell more than the other?

Have you had episodes of infections of the skin of either leg?

Have you had surgery on either leg or your abdomen?

What is the cause of your father's congestive heart failure? (for example: heart attack, high blood pressure, cardiomyopathy)


There are hereditary disorders that cause lower extremity swelling.

Lymphedema praecox occurs in individuals younger than 35 years, usually in adolescents.

Have you tried using compression stockings?

Please respond to my questions and I will continue the dialogue.

~•~ Dr. Parks

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice. The information presented in this posting is for patients’ education only. As always, I encourage you to see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

[JB25]

Thanks for your response.  

Only when I jog do I have any numbness or tingling sensation in my feet.  So I stopped jogging and now I spin or use the eliptical.  I'm pretty good about my back, I stretch every morning before I get out of bed and if something gets me out of bed before I do, I feel it all day.  

I will try to watch my sodium better.  Because I have such low blood pressure, I was always told to eat sodium.

My endocrinologist incresed my thyroid dosage and I have seen a difference within a month already.  Not as cold, not as tired and I stopped gaining weight.  

I'm just so scared of taking a long trip somewhere and I do want to get back to Europe sometime soon.  

Thanks,

JB

[Philip D Parks, MD, MPH, MOccH, FACOEM]

Dear JB,

It is unlikely that the lymph node removal at age 16 (from under your arm) is related to your current symptoms.

Also, while it is important to stay well hydrated, it is possible to drink TOO much water. And, salt does matter for persons who have certain problems: for example - high blood pressure, problems with edema (leg swelling), and heart failure...to name a few.

The bottomline: excessive salt intake and even "normal" salt in take in a person with heart failure or leg swelling can increase the leg swelling.

With regard to your back surgery, do you have any residual symptoms after the surgery: such as weakness, numbness and tingling, "electric shocks" down you legs into your toes?

If other causes are ruled out, the leg swelling could be related to your hypothyroidism.

~•~ Dr. Parks

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice. The information presented in this posting is for patients’ education only. As always, I encourage you to see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

[JB25]

Sorry fort the split post but I just looked up Lymphedema Praecox on Everyday Health (they had the most thorough answer) and saw that it could be a post surgical issue.  I had a lymph node removed from under my arm when I was 16.  Could this contribute?

[JB25]

Hi, thank you so much for responding.

When I told my doctor that my legs get swollen and I that I thought I had a cirrculation problem, they told me that it was unlikely that I could have a problem and really didn't give me any answer.

As far as other problems, not really.  There was a period of time when my pulse was very low.  I passed out on a plane.  I was under unbelievable stress and was coming home from a monumentous event.  My pulse was around 48 consistently, and I'm not a triathlete.  She did stress test and during the echo saw a shadow on my heart but said that it could just be a shadow from my breast tissue.  My pulse is still low but not like it was then.

I'm not sure if my sister or brother has leg swelling but my brother is on blood pressure pills.  I'll have to ask my dad if he had swelling when he was younger, but if I had to guess I would say no.  His congestive heart failure is from many problems, high blood pressure, diabetes, he has had 6 bypass back around 9/11.  His valves are leaking now, but he is not a candidate for surgery anymore, last one to reconnect his colon that burst early last year, almost did him in.  My mom has a titanium valve.  She has high triglicerides (my spelling must be hideous!)  

I haven't tried compression stockings.  What about that machine that squeezes your calves?  I guess for the airplane the stockings would make sense.  But what can I do to avoid it altogether.  I'm afraid of going back to Europe again, it was the worst episode I have had.  I was also on birth control at the time and never realized how dangerous it was.  

Is salt and issue?  I drink a ton of water and pretty much nothing else (except coffee in a.m.)  

I was once required to sit in a recliner when I was pregnant because my feet were going numb.  I did have back surgery for a buldging disc and my feet would go numb when I ran.  I stopped running because of it.  It started happening again many years after the surgery.

Thanks again for your quick response.  I am truly impressed with this site.

JB