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.

[RosaGypsy]

58 F good weight (5 pounds over what I should be), all blood workups come back fine.  Right ankle began swelling about 1 year ago. No pain.  Went down somewhat with proper diet, motion/exercise.  Still there.  So is some itching on legs/thighs where small spider veins started about 10 years back.  Seems to bruise easily there as well.  Can see shadows of larger veins (not bulging) in calves, as well as one alongside of spider veins.  I have to head this off.  It is a sign of venous insufficiency and poor circulation at the very least. Anything vascular is a red flag for stroke, clots and/or heart problems later.  I've been doing my research and aside from laser to help the veins, am upping the degree I walk, minimizing gluten and maximizing water intake.  Here is something else I found on the mnwelldir . org site:  ( I will look into use of these more completely, but I did want to share with you )

Bromelain is a form of proteolytic enzyme obtained from the stems of the pineapple plant. Bromelain has been shown to be beneficial in breaking down arteriosclerotic plaques as well as decreasing vasoconstriction of the coronary arteries. Bromelain also decreases the risk of blood clots (reducing platelet aggregation) which cause heart attacks and strokes. It has also been shown to break down the formation of fibrin in the blood that could be a cause of varicose veins.

Butcher’s Broom is widely used in Europe today for disorders of the venous system, such as venous fragility and varicose veins.

From Web MD:

A Polish study tested an oral dose of 75 mg of the entire butcher’s broom plant extract showing improvement in diabetic retinopathy (Archimowicz-Cyrylowska et al., 1996). The same study showed the extract inactive for hypocholesteremic activity and active in lowering triglycerides. In a double-blind placebo-controlled crossover trial, the effectiveness and tolerability of a venotropic drug (RAES) were evaluated in 40 patients (30 female, 10 male), between the ages of 28 and 74 years, suffering from chronic phlebopathy (venous insufficiency) of the lower limbs. Each RAES capsule dose contained 16.5 mg butcher’s broom extract (presumably root) combined with 75 mg hesperidin and 50 mg ascorbic acid. There were two treatment periods of 2 months duration with an interim period of 15 days for wash-out. The daily dosage was 2 capsules, 3 times daily. The authors reported an overall trend toward improvement in the treatment group. Symptoms (e.g., edema, itching, paresthesias, leg heaviness, and cramps) and plethysmographic parameters improved immediately and significantly with the RAES treatment compared to placebo. (A plethysmograph is a device for finding variations in size due to vascular changes.) No side effects were reported (Cappelli et al., 1988).

From another source (Viable Herbal Solutions 888-206-5376 ) we get :

Contemporary Herbals refer to Butcher’s broom to support venous circulatory disorders (heavy legs) as well as hemorrhoidal ailments. Practitioners also recommend Butcher’s broom for supporting women experiencing menstrual problems and troubles associated with the use of estrogen and pregnancy related cramps.

Butcher’s broom is generally considered a safe herb when taken as a diuretic, though it may cause blood pressure to rise. Those under treatment for hypertension should use this herb under the supervision of a competent health care professional. Those currently taking anticoagulation medications should also check with their physician or health care provider before taking Butcher’s broom to avoid problems.

Butcher’s broom is also an anti-inflammatory, containing rutin that strengthens capillary walls, tightens veins, and pulls iron from your blood.

[Debbid01]

Hi all.... Just found this thread and thought you might find this info helpful.

I'm still doing all the same above tests, as my problems - all of the same symptoms as above - began suddenly just a few weeks ago, and have yet to get a diagnosis.

I bought a Power Plate machine from Amazon (the stand up one which only cost £150.00), a few years ago, whilst I was living in the UK, before moving to Australia, which I luckily brought with me and have found that if I use the 2nd level program and do squats at the same time (gentle ones to start with, as my foot is so swollen so I can barely bend it at first), for 10 minutes, the swelling in both the leg and ankle goes down, the pain subsides and my foot feels normal again.

The max time on these machines is up to 20 mins per day, so I only do 10 minutes in order to "save" the other 10 if need be.

Obviously it is only a temp fix, but it works (for me).

I don't have the info on which amazon shop I got it from, and the name on the machine just says Crazy Fit Massage. I've seen power plates here and the price is astronomical...nowhere near the price I paid for mine, but I believe some gyms have these machines, which you could always test out first and if it works for you, try and get one...or at least the use of one.

I'll repost here if (and when) I get my diagnosis.

[ber14]

I’m much older than most here—59 when this began—2 ½ years ago. Only my right foot is swollen, sometimes very badly; sometimes less so, but ugly nonetheless.
I went to 3 MDs; 2 podiatrists, and have asked 2 orthopaedists, had x-rays, painful alcohol injections, wrapped it, iced it, heated it, worn a "boot."  Ruled out clots, vein issues, and only POSSIBLY had a hairline fracture. As is usual, I’m “perfect on paper.” At my work, where I sporadically have to walk a lot, the floors are all concrete. I wonder if that has not stressed my foot, exacerbating the fact that in the past I did sprain my foot 2 or 3 times.
So, I’m applying my favorite diagnostic:  After all this time, since it hasn’t worsened, and I have a very little pain only when I've walked too much, my foot hasn’t fallen off, and I’m not dead, this might just be denial, but I’m pretty sure this must be something just irritating, but benign.
Thoughts?

[rp_kyn]

Would you please be kind enough to share; how was it detected I mean to say what tests were carried out to detect lymphedema, as my wife is also suffering with swollen foot (right foot). all her tests have reported normal. even a surgeon has ruled out any venous problem.

[ShellyMichelle100]

Same issue...my left foot and ankle painfully swelled for no real reason - no injuries, generally healthy, active (workout and walk 5 miles every day).  I had ultrasounds, visited several doctors and took a variety of meds...nothing worked to alleviate my symptoms.  Two years ago, I decided to give up gluten in an effort to curb some tummy issues.  Low and behold, the swelling in my foot started to go away as well.  I then took my diet a step further and eliminated gluten, soy, dairy and sugar.  I've never felt better.  I'm not perfect...and I slip every once in a while...and boy do I know it...the swelling comes right back along with rashes and stomach discomfort.  If you've tried it all...I would strongly suggest making changes to your diet...go slow, making small changes until you can work up to a diet of organic, Non GMO, gluten-free foods.  Oh...and I also make sure to drink tons of "good" water!

[Jamesstb9]

Wondering what kind of cleanse diet you did?