Almost every person at least once in his life noticed that his leg was swollen in the ankle area. If young men are a little negligent about their health, then women and older people pay attention to even slight swelling, as they indicate problems in the body, sometimes quite serious ones. In addition, swelling spoils the appearance of the legs and makes it impossible to wear short skirts and narrow high-heeled shoes. The most common reasons why the leg swells at the ankle are staying in one position for a long time, standing or sitting for a long time, obesity, pregnancy, and old age. If your ankles swell precisely because of this, then you can eliminate or at least reduce this unpleasant effect by placing your tired legs above the level of your heart.
The leg at the ankle swells quite often, and there are a number of dangerous reasons for this related to the improper functioning of the organs or the entire body as a whole. These include renal, hepatic or cardiac congestive failure. If your leg is swollen in the ankle area, this may indicate previous infectious diseases or problems related to the thyroid gland. This may be thrombocytosis, venous insufficiency or varicose veins.
Less dangerous causes include insect bites, burns to the skin of the legs, fasting, and staying in one position for a long time. Why are women more likely to face this problem? The answer is simple: because of your desire for beauty. They wear uncomfortable high heels, since stiletto heels visually lengthen their legs and make them slimmer, but the girls do not take into account the fact that they have to pay dearly for such beauty. Orthopedists recommend wearing comfortable shoes that do not put pressure on your feet and ankles. If a lady absolutely cannot live without heels, then she should wear them only a couple of hours a day.
Almost every girl faces the problem of swollen ankles during pregnancy. This occurs due to a sharp increase in body weight, changes in water-alkaline balance, and impaired microcirculation of blood and lymph in the body.
You need to listen carefully to your feelings, then it will be possible to identify various serious diseases in the early stages. Below are the main reasons why ankle swelling occurs.
If a patient's speech at a doctor's appointment begins with the words “My ankle hurts and is swollen,” then the doctor will probably diagnose arthritis. As a rule, with this disease, other joints also become swollen and painful. In this case, immediate treatment is necessary, since, firstly, the disease brings severe inconvenience: the legs ache very much and bother the person, especially at night; secondly, if proper treatment is not carried out in time, the consequences can be very disastrous.
If your leg is swollen in the ankle area after physical activity, especially after running, then most likely the problem is due to improperly selected shoes. You need to be more careful when choosing sneakers. If you can’t do this yourself, consulting the seller will help. Special running sneakers have been developed, but for some reason people ignore this fact, believing that sneakers will do this role just fine. But the phrase “You can’t save on your health” is relevant here. It’s better to spend money on sports shoes once than to treat your ankles later. In addition, you shouldn’t rush into sports like you’re diving into a pool. Loads should increase gradually and moderately.
If your ankle is swollen after being bitten by some insects, then the first thing to do is apply ice wrapped in thick cloth. In addition, it is necessary to wipe the affected area with any alcohol-containing solution. This will disinfect the bite site, relieve pain, and stop bleeding if necessary. If your foot itches, a soda solution will help. Ankle swelling may persist for up to several weeks. If recovery is delayed, then the help of a specialist is necessary, since blood circulation is impaired as a result of swelling.
If the ankle is swollen sharply, then, most likely, the person has lost muscles, since it is in this case that hemorrhage occurs, accompanied by sharp pain. It penetrates the entire leg when trying to turn the foot inward. In this case, qualified help is needed; you should not self-medicate. It is the doctor who will be able to distinguish a sprain from a more serious problem - a fracture. He will order x-rays and apply a cast if necessary.
If the causes of leg swelling are not serious, then you can try to eliminate this trouble by reducing the amount of liquid you drink per day, and also try to limit, and maybe even completely eliminate, salt and alcohol from your diet. If your leg is swollen around the ankle, then rubbing your tired ankles with frozen cubes of chamomile infusion will help. You should let your legs rest more often by placing them on a slight elevation. Pamper your feet after a hard day at work with salt baths and contrast showers.
Moderate physical activity will help cope with swelling: “bicycle” with your feet while lying on your back, walking on your toes, rotating your feet, as well as squeezing and unclenching your fingers.
Under no circumstances should you self-prescribe diuretics. They will undoubtedly eliminate swelling by removing excess moisture from the body, but will not eliminate the cause.
In folk medicine, there are several ways to relieve swelling of the ankles, but it is better to use them in combination with traditional treatment. If you drink flax decoction for 2 weeks, your legs will become slender and light again. To do this, take 2 tablespoons of flax seeds, pour a liter of boiling water and let it brew for 2 hours. The resulting decoction should be drunk the day before.
If you make it a rule to take care of your health and walk only in comfortable, high-quality shoes, then such a problem as ankle swelling will be unfamiliar to you.
It is rare to find people who have not experienced leg swelling in the ankle area. Malaise affects women more often than men due to the physiological characteristics of the female body.
This is not just a problem for older people. The tumor causes physical and aesthetic problems. Swollen ankles cause a number of difficulties with choosing shoes. The article discusses common causes of leg swelling in the ankle area.
It is important to determine what swelling of the extremities is in terms of anatomy and physiology in order to solve the problem with the legs.
Edema involves the accumulation of water in the intercellular space. Occurs due to circulatory disorders, lymphatic drainage, metabolic pathologies, and inflammatory processes. If swelling appears in the legs, the joints and ankles become swollen.
A tumor in the foot area does not always indicate the presence of a serious pathology. In healthy people, the phenomenon has physiological causes. Women's feet swell during menstruation and pregnancy. In healthy people, limbs swell during an airplane flight, when walking for a long time, or when standing for a long time.
Hairdressers, surgeons, and cooks are often susceptible to swelling. Excess weight leads to unpleasant consequences. Uncomfortable high-heeled shoes cause swelling of the feet and heel pain.
Ankles can become swollen as a result of a number of diseases:
The ankle area is very painful and swollen.
The skin is purplish-bluish in color. A diagnostic sign is swelling that increases in the evening.
After rest, the intensity of swelling decreases. A vascular pattern is noticeable due to dilated veins. Subcutaneous hemorrhages and trophic ulcers develop on the legs. Patients experience pain when walking. The skin of the feet of a patient with varicose veins is cold.
The left and right feet can differ in volume.
Treatment: If the described symptoms appear, immediately consult a vascular surgeon. The doctor will prescribe examinations - a biochemical blood test, Doppler ultrasound of the vessels of the limb.
Patients are recommended to adhere to the regimen, wear supportive underwear or bandage with an elastic bandage. Complex drug treatment is prescribed. In severe cases, surgery is performed.
Vascular disease is extremely dangerous. Blood clots form in the lumen of the vessel, clogging the lumen of the vessel. The blood supply to the limb is disrupted, which can lead to the development of gangrene. There is a risk of a blood clot separating from the vessel wall and entering the great vessels or heart, leading to death.
Blood plasma penetrates the walls of blood vessels and, accumulating in the intercellular space, leads to swelling of the legs.
Causes of blood clot formation:
Provoking factors: infections, pathology of the excretory system, long-term use of a number of medications.
Swelling due to thrombosis is hot to the touch, dense, and the legs hurt. The condition of the limb is not related to the time of day. The left limb may differ from the right in volume.
If the limb is swollen due to thrombosis, the surgeon treats the pathology. Self-treatment can lead to irreversible consequences.
This is the name for reduced synthesis of hormones by the thyroid gland due to impaired absorption of iodine. Tibial myxedema develops - the ankles swell, the skin becomes waxy. The swelling is dense, no pits are formed after pressure. The swollen area does not hurt. The skin becomes rough and cracked.
With hypothyroidism, swelling forms on the extremities and rises higher.
Treatment is prescribed by an endocrinologist. Blood tests are done to measure thyroid hormone levels. Tablet hormones are prescribed.
Acute and chronic kidney diseases are manifested by edema. The legs swell symmetrically, the volume of the left and right limbs is the same. Swelling of the dorsum of the foot is observed. The tumor does not change during the day, does not become smaller after rest, and does not hurt. As kidney failure develops, the face swells.
A thorough examination will reveal the causes of renal edema.
In this case, the emphasis is on treating the underlying disease that caused the swelling.
Chronic joint diseases are of inflammatory and degenerative-dystrophic origin.
Joints become swollen with arthritis. Exacerbation of the disease causes decreased mobility and joint pain. Distinctive signs: soreness in the morning and increased pain after exercise.
The course of joint diseases is long, periods of exacerbations are replaced by temporary improvement. Exacerbations lead to cartilage degeneration, leading to severe swelling in the ankles and ankles.
The intensity of the swelling varies - in mild cases its size is 3-4 cm. It happens that the swelling rises higher and covers the leg. The bite site hurts, then begins to itch.
Pregnant women have swollen legs due to the accumulation of about 7 liters of “extra” water in the body. Half of the fluid is required for the development of the fetus, the rest is distributed throughout the tissues of the body.
The appearance of mild swelling on the feet and ankles is associated with compression of the ureters by the enlarged uterus.
For prevention, obstetricians and gynecologists recommend spending time in the knee-elbow position every day in the second half of pregnancy, promoting the “freeing” of the ureters and improving the removal of excess fluid from the body. It is recommended to adjust your diet, limit your daily salt intake to 8 grams, and weigh yourself regularly.
Severe swelling, accompanied by changes in urine tests and a rise in blood pressure, indicates the presence of gestosis - a serious pathology of pregnancy. Hospitalization required.
Edema of the lower extremities in chronic heart failure is associated with insufficient pumping of blood by the heart and stagnation in organs and tissues. The legs swell symmetrically, the swelling is cold and painless.
Treatment of edema in heart failure includes drugs that normalize the rhythm and strength of cardiac activity, diuretics and antihypertensive drugs. It is required to rest regularly and exercise in doses. It is suggested to limit salt and the amount of liquid you drink in your diet.
During fasting, protein metabolism in the body is disrupted. This is caused by strict diets or vegetarianism.
Your diet should be adjusted. A competent nutritionist will help you calculate a balanced daily diet with the required amount of nutrients and vitamins.
The listed diseases often cause swelling of the ankles. The legs often swell with flat feet, the heel hurts a lot and the foot becomes deformed.
Plantar fasciitis, or a spur, causes heel pain and joint swelling.
It is necessary to identify the cause of edema and treat the disease that led to its appearance.
You should not grab diuretics - taking them is not effective and sometimes will cause harm.
If your feet are swollen, traditional medicine comes to the rescue.
The left leg is swollen at the ankle - causes and how to treat this symptom? This problem occurs much more often in women than in men. The first signals of swelling should force you to determine what is the cause of this condition and what treatment measures to take.
Why does swelling appear in the limbs? Fluid accumulating in the tissues leads to the formation of swelling and disruption of the functions of support and walking.
The swelling can spread to both or one leg; before treatment, it is necessary to identify the cause of this problem.
You can determine the swelling of the ankle yourself, just press the pad of your finger on the problem area; if the result is a small dent that does not go away for a while, then your left or right leg is swollen.
Associated symptoms of edema are:
The swelling can be local or cover a fairly large area along the entire height of the right or left leg.
So, why might swelling occur in the right leg or the left? The most common reasons for swelling of one leg in the ankle area are:
In women, swelling of the legs often occurs during pregnancy, however, in most cases the swelling affects both limbs.
Based on what caused the swelling of the ankle, first aid may be as follows:
An additional way to relieve swelling in the ankle area are products that will help remove excess fluid from the body:
If one leg is swollen at the ankle, it is recommended to limit foods containing salt, consume the required amount of liquid per day (1.5-2 liters of clean water), but drink most of it in the first half of the day.
Important! Therapy for unilateral edema of the lower extremities depends entirely on the cause that provoked this condition; edema is a symptom, and the disease that caused it must be treated; for an accurate diagnosis and correct treatment, consult a doctor.
If your left ankle or right leg is swollen, it is necessary to remove excess fluid from the body; for this, diuretics or diuretics are prescribed:
The complex also uses ointments and creams that reduce swelling and relieve discomfort:
Foot ointments based on horse chestnut have proven themselves to be effective in eliminating swelling. They not only relieve pain and relieve discomfort, but also strengthen the circulatory system and effectively relieve swelling of the ankle of the right or left leg.
If swelling in the leg is caused by allergies, it is necessary to promptly use antihistamines (Diazolin, Suprastin, Fenistil).
To quickly reduce swelling, special physical exercises that can be performed at home will help:
Massaging a swollen limb with essential oils also helps.
There are many effective recipes that can quickly relieve leg swelling. Proper preparation and following the recommendations will allow you to forget about discomfort in the leg:
If traditional medicine recipes do not eliminate the swelling of the right ankle or left leg, consultation with a specialist is necessary.
In most cases, preventive measures can prevent the appearance of swelling; you must try to avoid injuries, stress and hypothermia of the legs, and also follow the following recommendations:
A set of these measures helps normalize blood flow and strengthens blood vessels.
Under no circumstances should swelling be ignored; this can lead to serious consequences. Be sure to consult a doctor to find out exactly why your left or right leg is swelling at the ankle and how to treat this symptom.
Patients often turn to an orthopedist with complaints that their ankle twists when walking. The reason for this phenomenon is very specific - weak ligaments or instability of the ankle joint. This condition develops in many who have suffered an injury, a dislocation of the leg in this place. In the absence of proper treatment, the prognosis will not be very favorable. Let's take a closer look.
People suffering from this disease find it difficult to endure even minimal physical activity during physical education; it is difficult not only to run, but also to walk quickly for fear that the foot may break at any moment.
Wearing high-heeled shoes for women with weak ligaments becomes unbearable torture; the foot can give way at any time and a fall will occur due to the difficulty of maintaining balance in uncomfortable shoes.
It is possible to distinguish a simple, accidental twisting of the leg from a symptom of ligament weakness if there are additional symptoms:
Several factors contribute to the development of this condition:
Neglected cases in the absence of treatment can lead to a condition of habitual dislocation of the ankle joint. Let's take a closer look at this disease.
The so-called habitual ankle sprain can be caused by frequent twisting of the foot while walking due to weak ligaments.
The ligamentous apparatus acts as a kind of corset that holds the joint and bones in a certain position during movement. If the ligaments are weakened, the bones are not supported and move in relation to each other.
This happens often if measures are not taken to strengthen the ligaments. As a result, a condition called habitual dislocation is formed.
The lack of treatment for this disease leads to the fact that the ligaments will no longer hold the joint together, moving the leg and relying on it will be an impossible task.
If your leg begins to break more and more often, you can fix the joint with special tapes or adhesive tape, using a method called taping, which will make the joint feel healthy. For this:
Patients note that after the procedure:
This support does not cause discomfort and can be changed (although it can be worn for a long time, up to a week).
Taping does not exclude a trip to the doctor, examination and a course of therapy.
Weakening of the ligaments and the state of habitual dislocation, when the leg twists at the ankle literally out of the blue, requires strengthening of the ligament corset. To do this, there are several effective exercises that need to be performed daily to achieve the desired result.
Daily ankle exercises should take about 20 minutes. You need to start and finish the complex with a light warm-up (by the way, it can be done throughout the day, whenever possible, it is completely simple). To do this, you need to twist your feet in different directions, turn left and right, pull up and down.
The complex should include walking on your heels, toes, and the inside and outside of the foot.
Then you need to move on to exercises with an elastic band and do them several times:
If the ligamentous apparatus is weak, the main thing is to choose the right shoes and/or insoles. It should be on a low heel or platform, made of hard, elastic, natural materials that hold the foot well, and comfortable. It is better to choose high boots.
Patients often turn to an orthopedist with the words: “My ankle twists and I fall, what should I do?” In such cases, the doctor may prescribe special orthopedic shoes.
It will be just high with reliable fixation of the ankle joint, a thick sole, semi-rigid instep support, a tight back and a wide toe. These boots should have a removable insole.
By the way, you can choose a special orthopedic insole and use it in any suitable, favorite shoes.
If you fall and a ligament ruptures or tears while twisting your foot, you should immediately consult a doctor. The symptom will be acute pain that does not go away. The doctor will conduct a clinical examination, which may include the following methods:
Then, if the injury is confirmed, an immobilizing bandage is applied, and, if necessary, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that have an analgesic effect are prescribed. After the rehabilitation period, physiotherapy is prescribed.
Feet are subject to constant physical stress, which can be aggravated by being overweight, walking in high heels, or lifting various heavy loads. In this case, the main impact falls on the ankle joint. Being a movable connecting link of the bones of the lower leg and foot, the ankle performs an important function in the musculoskeletal system. But ankle pain is not only caused by fatigue caused by excessive exercise. Ailments are often associated with the complex anatomical structure of the ankle joint, the stabilizing part of which is the inner and outer ankles. Tendons and ligaments connect and fix the bones of the ankle joint, and muscles provide movement in it, abduction of the foot and plantar flexion. Blood supply is provided by the anterior and posterior tibial and peroneal arteries. The branches of the sciatic nerve innervate it. A functional disorder of each of the elements of this complex structure can cause its disease, and it is very difficult to understand why ankles hurt.
If your ankle hurts when walking, it can be associated both with wearing uncomfortable shoes and with the presence of serious diseases, although not always directly related to the feet. It is possible to establish the exact cause of the appearance of unpleasant sensations only by taking into account the nature of the pain and the accompanying symptoms. Ankles hurt due to the following diseases:
In order for therapy to be effective, it is necessary to accurately diagnose the cause - why the ankles hurt.
If the pain occurs as a result of overwork, it is useful to make contrasting foot baths; the procedure should always be completed with a cold douse. You should rest by keeping your legs elevated, and to improve blood circulation you can use special creams based on horse chestnut extract. At the same time, try not to overload your feet with uncomfortable shoes, which can cause serious illness.
If your ankle hurts due to constant stress caused by a person being overweight, you need to work on the cause. Switching to a proper diet will not only contribute to weight loss, but will also improve metabolic processes throughout the body, including the ankle joints. If you are overweight, you can use an elastic bandage to fix and strengthen the joints of your feet and reduce the load on them.
For any leg injuries, it is important to immediately seek help from a medical facility; you should not self-medicate. Only an x-ray can determine the extent of damage and serve as the basis for prescribing appropriate treatment. Before the ambulance arrives, to reduce the pain, you can use a cold compress on the lesion, but it is important to prevent tissue frostbite in a panic. You should also fix the ankle joint, ensuring complete rest.
Treatment of ankle pain caused by diseases of the joints, muscle tissue or tendons should be carried out under the close supervision of the attending physician. But based on a visual examination, it is impossible to accurately identify the factor of malaise. Therefore, only special studies, such as magnetic tomography, x-rays, and a set of laboratory tests, will help establish the reason why your ankles hurt.
In any case, if your ankle often hurts when walking, this should be a reason for an immediate visit to the doctor. Since untimely treatment can lead to the chronic form of various types of diseases, each of which is destructive in nature, and in the future will likely cause disability.
Men are much less likely to have swollen feet than women. This can be explained by the specific characteristics of the male body, in particular, the predominance of muscle tissue over fat and better lymph circulation. As a rule, edema is formed due to the accumulation of a large amount of fluid in the tissues of the lower extremities as a result of a violation of its waste.
It must be said that most often the manifestation of severe swelling of the legs is associated with failures and disorders that are caused by injuries or diseases. In addition, some external factors can negatively affect the condition of tissues and the amount of fluid in them. Men do not notice the symptoms of edema for a long time, since the degree of swelling and the tumor area are insignificant. Over time, the situation becomes more complicated and the swelling becomes more serious and extensive, which causes significant discomfort. The frequent manifestation of leg swelling in men is always a good reason for concern and a medical examination, since the causes of leg swelling in men can be hidden in serious diseases.
The location of swelling of the legs of men depends significantly on the factor that caused the accumulation of fluid in the tissues. In the early stages, when the swelling is not yet very noticeable, it usually appears in the ankle area . In this case, the presence of edema is almost impossible to visually determine, but there is still a identifying marker.
Most often, when the slightest swelling occurs in many men, significant marks form . This can be explained by the fact that tissues that are filled with fluid are more susceptible to pressure. Subsequently, if the leg that is swollen is not stretched, then the marks from the socks will persist for quite a long time.
In the absence of timely treatment and measures aimed at reducing swelling, this area on the ankle becomes more noticeable. In this case, the swelling spreads not only to the ankles of the legs, but also to the calves, this leads to significant discomfort and an unpleasant feeling of heaviness in the legs. Then the area of edema can move to the feet, in this case the symptoms become more pronounced, since the man will not be able to put shoes on his feet, and when he manages to put them on, after a certain time the tissues and skin of the feet are strongly compressed, which causes pain and severe itching.
Not only the lower parts of the legs can swell significantly; swelling can also extend to the knee area . This swelling can cause the leg to take on an unnatural shape, that is, the area below the shin is thinner, and in the area above the knee there is a swelling that strongly resembles a large wen. These types of swelling are symptoms of some very serious diseases of the lymphatic and circulatory system.
Most men who suffer from chronic swelling of the legs do not even think that this problem can be caused by significant abnormalities in the body, and begin to pay attention to the obvious signs when the disease becomes at least more pronounced and accompanying additional symptoms . which clearly indicate the presence of pathology in the body. There are many different diseases that can lead to significant swelling of the lower extremities. Why do my legs swell? The reasons for men may be the following:
In very rare cases, men's legs may swell due to impaired liver function . The liver is responsible for the synthesis of enzymes that prevent blood components from passing through the tissues of blood vessels. During liver dysfunction, the liquid part of the blood begins to pass through the vessels, especially in the area of the legs, since in their deep veins it moves more slowly. The manifestation of edema is a good reason to consult a doctor, especially when these pathological processes occur very often.
There are many external factors that can lead to significant swelling in men in the lower extremities. These factors are most often not associated with serious illnesses, but are still considered conditionally pathological, since they can subsequently lead to the development of diseases, therefore, even when there is swelling, which presumably appeared due to these factors, it is necessary to seek medical help or take some measures to get rid of the problem.
In the process of getting rid of edema, the main role is played by medical treatment, which must be carried out under the supervision of a doctor . But there are some folk methods that make it possible to accelerate the outflow of excess fluid from tissues and significantly improve the general condition of a man.
Radish decoction is quite effective in eliminating swelling. To prepare it you need approximately 400 grams of radish per liter of water. The vegetable should be cut into small pieces and boiling water should be added, then cook for 12-15 minutes. If your legs begin to swell not because of an excess of salt, then you can add 0.5 tbsp to the decoction. salt to improve taste. Then the broth should be left for several hours in a warm place. You can use it in any volume, but always warm.
Flaxseed decoctions also help against edema . To prepare this remedy you need approximately 5-6 tbsp. l. seeds per liter of water. The seeds must be poured with water, allowed to boil, and then cooked for 12-15 minutes. To improve the taste, you can add a few tablespoons of honey or lemon juice to the cooled broth. The product should be used once every 6 hours. The treatment time for the decoction is approximately 20 days.
Lotions made from birch leaves can also help in the fight against swelling. This method is more labor-intensive, but at the same time shows excellent results in a short time. First, you need to sew special bags according to the size of your leg so that they fit to your leg right up to the knee, but at the same time the bag must be easy to put on, then you need to put the bags on your legs, and fill the resulting space with birch leaves so that their layer is thick 1 cm.
To achieve the best effect, your feet should be kept in bags until they sweat well enough. To achieve the desired effect, your feet must be additionally wrapped in a warm blanket. The process must continue for at least several hours , then the wet leaves must be replaced with new ones. To completely remove swelling for a long time, you need to perform 3-4 procedures. Birch leaves not only remove excess moisture from tissues, but also allow the removal of accumulated salts and toxins.
Effective folk methods for removing puffiness include watermelons. These berries have excellent diuretic properties and contain substances that help cleanse blood vessels of cholesterol plaques, as well as remove excess fluid and salts from the body.
In addition to medication and traditional methods, some physiotherapeutic measures can be used .
This type of massage should be done in such a way that significant pressure is applied to the skin, and movements are carried out from top to bottom, as if pushing water out from under the skin. Massage movements must be carried out for at least 20 minutes. It is best to do this massage at least 2-3 times daily. This massage option makes it possible to speed up the drainage of lymph, which will prevent a man’s legs from swelling. Moreover, it helps perfectly in cases where the manifestation of swelling of the lower extremities is contributed to by external causes, including sedentary work .
Swelling of the calves, feet and ankles in men is not aesthetically pleasing, but does not cause much discomfort, which is why many people prefer not to pay attention to them and not treat them, hiding them behind their trousers. But swelling is a clear sign of a malfunction of the body. If you don't get rid of them, you can start the disease. That is why it is important to respond to the appearance of tumors and consult a doctor to determine the cause and examination.
In women, ankle swelling is a common problem. Because of this, the legs look ugly, a woman cannot wear a skirt or dresses. There may be problems with shoes. Ankle boots and narrow boots further aggravate the situation; they put a lot of pressure on your legs, and they begin to go numb. Swelling occurs due to the fact that a large amount of fluid accumulates in the affected area.
1. Internal diseases, disorders in system organs that are life-threatening. Edema occurs due to cardiac, renal, liver failure, and serious pulmonary diseases.
2. Previous infectious disease of the legs.
3. Problems with the thyroid gland.
4. Varicose veins, venous insufficiency.
5. Insect bites, skin burns, lack of sleep, malnutrition.
It is common for ankles to swell after taking certain medications. Due to the accumulation of excess fluid, swelling also appears, which is especially aggravated in the heat. Edema often occurs in the expectant mother. To find out the exact cause, the doctor prescribes an x-ray, cardiogram, additional examination of the kidneys, liver, and urine and blood tests.
When the doctor determines the exact cause, he prescribes a specific course of therapy. If you have arthritis, there is inflammation in other joints. The ankle can not only swell greatly, it begins to hurt, especially noticeably at night, before the morning.
During the day, ankle pain may only appear when a person is walking. It is not as pronounced as the night one. If timely treatment is not carried out, serious consequences can occur.
In some situations, after intense training or running, the ankle may become very swollen. This often occurs when a person chooses the wrong shoes; they are uncomfortable. In this situation, you need to pay attention to the choice of comfortable shoes for training. In this situation, it is advised to buy high-quality shoes, preferably special running sneakers. It is also important to be able to distribute your forces; the loads must be individually selected. You can’t run with all your strength, use moderation.
You can relieve swelling by using ice. It needs to be wrapped in something and applied to the affected area. The bite is rubbed with alcohol tincture; it can be used to disinfect, stop bleeding, and numb the affected areas of the body.
After the insect bites, it spreads its venom over the skin. The main thing is not to scratch the affected area, so as not to further aggravate the swelling. Baking soda dissolved in warm water helps relieve itching; wipe the bite with the solution.
Please note that due to an insect bite, swelling persists for a long time, which leads to impaired blood circulation. The problem needs to be resolved as quickly as possible.
Ankle swelling due to sprain
Edema develops in this situation sharply due to hemorrhage. A person experiences sharp pain in the ankle area. In this situation, it is advised to turn the leg with the foot inward. It is important to contact a traumatologist in time; perhaps you have a fracture, your leg is swelling before your eyes.
If there is no serious cause of swelling, try to reduce the amount of water and salt. Stop drinking alcoholic beverages and smoking. It is recommended to freeze the chamomile decoction and then apply it to the area of swelling.
1. Drink less fluid.
2. If swelling appears as a result of an injury, you need to find out whether it is a sprain or a fracture, and then select a treatment method.
3. You can relieve swelling on the ankle using salt baths and taking a contrast shower.
4. Pay attention to shoes, they should be comfortable and of high quality.
5. Avoid salty foods. It is best to replace regular salt with iodized salt. If you find the food tasteless, then it is better to add lemon juice and spices instead of salt. It is useful to use dill and parsley, they have a diuretic effect.
6. The diet should contain diuretic foods - lingonberries, watermelon, strawberries.
7. It is worth giving up foods that can increase viscosity in the blood - jelly, black rowan. It is useful to eat garlic, lemon, cranberries, raspberries, which can help thin the blood.
8. Include in your diet foods that contain potassium - dried apricots, peach, banana, honey, apricot, lettuce.
9. Don’t sit for a long time, you can’t tuck your legs in, it’s best to stretch them out. Place a bolster under your ankles at night.
10. Stand up straight, raise your heels a little, lower them with all your strength, repeat the exercise 60 times for one minute. Wear only comfortable, not tight, natural shoes, preferably without heels.
11. Wear tights and knee socks. With their help, you can improve the condition of blood vessels, the blood will not stagnate, and its outflow will improve. Blood begins to circulate well. It is recommended to opt for tights or knee socks; stockings cannot be used; due to the fact that they compress the vessels of the thighs, they additionally load the circulatory system.
12. For edema, it is recommended to use a decoction of elderberry bark and berries. After steaming the leaves, apply them to the affected and painful area.
Prepare an infusion; it will require horsetail - two tablespoons, birch buds, knotweed. Everything needs to be mixed. Then pour 200 ml of boiling water, leave for about half an hour, filter. The course of therapy is about a month.
The best remedy for edema is astragalus. With the help of a decoction you can improve the condition of blood vessels. To do this, take astragalus - 10 grams, pour boiling water - 300 ml, filter. Drink no less than 3 tablespoons for about 14 days.
So, swelling in the ankles is a common occurrence; to prevent them, you need to monitor your lifestyle, give up bad habits, perform therapeutic exercises, and your diet should be balanced.