I've got a friend who has been suffering with that condition for months now. It's making her nuts. She's been going to a Cardiologist and he's run all sorts of heart related and blood test and still has no answers for her. So far, he's only offered her Lasix, which you've already expressed you don't want to have to take. They actually aren't doing her that much good in the first place. She also sits at her computer for long periods too. Although, he recommended she prop her feet up. I think they usually like you to prop them up above heart level though, and that would be impossible for you at your desk. I hope you find some better advice than I'm able to give Trin. And, I'm very sorry about your pinched nerve. I hope you find some relief from it too.

Trin,
Where is the pinched nerve?
If it is in the lower back that area affects the kidneys and bladder. I sometimes have trouble with that. I see my Chiropractor for the fix.

For me the swelling feet and ankles were a sign of hypothyroidism. If you get the tests, ask for the antibodie tests too, not just the tsh. You'd most likely have other symptoms too though - dry skin, hair loss and fatigue are the most common.

The pinched nerve is in my neck hayjud. It is only seemingly making my temper more short these days. So the swelling ankles adds just another irratant.
Maybe some walking in the morning will help, it will be cooler, and also aid in my diet plan. I just hate to get up at 4:30 to go walk, but I will doggone it.
We are having taco salads tonite, so I better go get started.....thanks for everyones input.

Trin

Can't give you any personal advice about what might be causing the swollen ankles but I have heard that if you are retaining fluid, you should drink lots of water. It helps to flush fluids out of your body. And if nothing else it will send you to the bathroom more often...so you'll be getting up to walk around more!!! LOL!!

If you can, try to keep the swollen foot up, prop it on a waste basket while you're sitting at your desk. If you're at home, lie down with your leg on a pillow. Get your foot higher than your head, the excess fluid will drain out. Hope you're feeling better. The itching is from the skin being stretched.

I have a hereditary condition. Never been named..comes from my mom's Dad's side. His sister was diagnosed with Elephantitas (lymphedima) many years ago. She was really severe. He had troubles with it, my mom has permanant tissue damage too, her brother has trouble, and I've started to develop a more chronic case in the last year.(I'm nearly 39.)
Things that actually change mine...more salt(complete opposite of what you'd think, I know!), drinking green tea (however I'm sure it's the excess water and slight diuretic of the tea), definately moving..the more "moving" I do earlier in the day the more it staves off a full blown swell at the end of the day, definately elevation, even if it's just my feet are not on the ground, but when they get real full and itchy or achey they must be above my heart to get relief with in 30 minutes or so....
and when the temps hit 80 and up..forget it..nothing helps!!!! but soaking them in cool water... And that only helps the "moment".

oh and I've also noticed that mine varies by hormones too..Depends on where I am in my cycle to what it looks like some days.

I do all the time when traveling.

I wonder if some compression tights or knee highs might help you out. I know when my sister was pregnant and had trouble with swelling she had to wear compression tights all the time at work. The bad thing is the hotter it gets the worse it will get. When I am pregnant (3 summer babies) I would spend all summer evenings with my feet propped up all evening because of the swelling.

Stacie
girlsingardens

I have problems with my feet and ankles swelling every summer as soon as the humidity starts going up. My GP suggested a water pill, but I didn't want to take one. My chiropractor suggested a combo of vitamins B6 and C twice a day to keep the swelling down and it has really helped. I also stay away from pop, most lunch type meats and anything else with much salt in it.

I have very bad problems with swollen ankles. Actually sometimes everywhere. I also have had thyroid problems. I'm not on meds now but have too much and to little between TSH and t4. But I was also recently diagnosed with diabetes. I know that hormones have played a significant role; plus I'm overweight. The water consumption thing has been tried and tested and it only makes it worse. There is a theory behind that - the water is not getting to the cells where it should be to do its job. There is a water that has the properties to do that - I'll check for it. If you have to go to the bathroom 20 minutes after drinking a glass of water, then the cell situation may be of note. Also, as a help, exercise, exercise, exercise. I recently broke down and bought a Pilates machine, and WOW!! I KNOW I've lost inches with only a few days of using it. But there are other exercises that work as well. I used to exercise a lot - walking a lot. But that stopped and I have the problem again. Since starting the exercise, I don't have as much swelling, and my BP and BS are significantly reduced.

Is the swelling on both legs? Right leg swelling can signify heart/cirulatory system compromsie. When you exercise the heart has enough of the requirement for moving the fluid. Really start watching labels, and check with your Dr to see if magnesium would be helpful. It's a miracle drug as I see it. It also helps with pain.

I'm feeling your pain

gng

I am overweight and diabetic, I also have edema and my legs and ankles swell. My doctor has me on Lasix everyday and it does help. I also wear compression hose. In the Summer I wear the 10/20's that I buy at WalMart. They are like nylons so not as hot as the 40's I wear in the winter. I sit at my computer too many hours and my legs and ankles get to hurting. I go sit in my recliner and put my legs up on pillows to get more elevation. I also walk 3 times a week for an hour each time.

I am flying to Hawaii tomorrow and am dreading the 6 hour flight. I will have to keep my feet moving and also raise my heels as high as possible to try not to get too much swelling. I will also go to the bathroom as much as possible just to get some exercise. They frown on people walking in the isles unless going to the potty.

I have been doing well at keeping swelling down until the last few days. Cardiologist doubled my lasix to see if it would go down. I do have CHF so it is important I keep swelling down. Another sign of old age. OH well.

I have severe swelling in my feet and ankles and lower legs.
I am supposed to take a water pill every day but I don't.
I found if I get enough exercise I can get thru the day ok.
If I spend the day sitting or in the car I swell up bad.
And it does itch. It itches again as the swelling goes down.
This week I have been having to stay in and take water pills.
It's too hot to go out during the day anyway.
I have replaced about half of my cola intake with lemon water.
But sitting at my computer all day isn't helping.
I do a lot of sitting during the day.
I prop my feet up every chance I get. I have a box under
my computer table to prop my feet up on. It helps some.
I sleep in an adjustable bed. I have it set up so that I
can prop my head up and my feet. I sleep in a wide V.
In the mornings my feet are back to normal and doing fine.

This is how it was explained to me.
Blood vessels are elastic. When your heart pumps (pushes blood)
the blood vessels expand and then contract (push back) and
this helps the blood move along thru the circulatory system.
But (for a variety of causes) the blood vessels in my legs
have lost their elasticity and can no longer help push fluid.
So gravity causes fluid to collect in my feet and lower legs.
Prop my feet up for a while and gravity helps drain it off.
Ideally, I would keep my feet propped up at the level of my heart.
I sleep with my head propped up cause it helps my breathing.

If you have trouble breathing it could be a sign that fluid
has collected around your heart and lungs. This makes it
very hard for your heart to pump and for your lungs' diaphram
to take in air so you can breathe. I have been hospitalized
several times for those reasons. Almost again this week.

I used to if I was gonna be in the car for a long time, I
would wrap my feet and ankles tightly with a big ace bandage.
This contained the swelling but may cut off circulation entirely.
It's something to consider for a long trip but it is risky.

I've often wondered, If I strapped my ankles into one of those
inverting tables and hung from it at night like a bat to
sleep would I wake up with my head all swelled up??
I think it's best if I just keep sleeping in my V.
Just like a bear sleeping in the fork of a tree.

Pooh Bear

I had this problem for a few months.Went back and forth to the dr had all kinds of tests done including a cat scan of my stomach,liver,kidneys etc.Mine looked like i had sausages wrapped around my ankles and the tops of my feet were so swollen they were shiny.Yet my pulses were good and everything else checked out ok as well.

I had had kneee problems with both knees the right being the worst,yet the swelling was worse in the left foot and leg.

3 weeks ago i had a right Total Knee Replacement,and since then the swelling has gone away.

So i surmised that all the stress on the right knee was adding stress to the left,and since the right has been repaired,the stress has gone away.The only swqelling i have now is in the operated kneee,and even it's gone down a lot.
Kathi

Drink water with lemon in it. It helps with the hydration. You can just put a wedge in a pitcher or glass and sip at it all day. It really helped us when we were in the dessert on vacation. We drank more water anyway, but always seemed thirsty, until I remembered this trick. DH was really thirsty one night and hadn't tried it. I had him put lemon in water, and he squeezed the dickens out of that thing! One glass and he wasn't thirsty anymore. I also didn't seem to swell as much, something I have done since jr. high, and skinny as a rail! Also, walk around more, change the height of your chair throughout the day, put a 2x4 or 2x10 under your desk so you can change the pressure on the back of your legs by putting your feet that little bit higher. It will all help a little.

Tami

I have the same problem but havent been to the doctor yet. It started when I moved to Phoenix from Salt Lake City UT. I started taking water pills and it only helped a little. Then I discoverd the best thing in the world. I work from home and sit at a computer for about 11 hours a day and have for years. I had seen on line to sit on a ball instead of a chair at my desk. Now I sit on my 65 cm excersize ball all day and not only does the swelling not come back but I also stand straiter, have more energy and have been losing weight! Just a FYI though, it does take a min though to get used too. At first I was sore due to not use to using my trunk muscles so much. I took some ibu and streched alot. Then I altrinated between a chair and the ball for about a week. Now I am on the ball all the time. And as with anything I would make sure to talk to your doc about it too. Good luck!