Swollen legs - what to do?

[Muchtoomuchtodo]

I took part in a 26 mile charity hike on Saturday. It was very hot and very hard but I did it.

I drank plenty and ate well throughout finishing with a blister and a painful toenail

since then my feet and lower legs have got more and more swollen, one more than the other.

I’ve slept with them on a pillow, taken some rehydration stuff, kept them up and wiggling as much as I can but the one in particular is getting worse, I can only get flip flops on! It’s not painful.

what else can I do to get it down, I’m due in work tomorrow but don’t have any shoes that I can get into!

I'd personally be wanting them checked out by a doctor.

Sorry, posted too soon - one swollen leg can be a sign of a clot which would need medical treatment.

Get them higher than your heart. Lie on the floor with them upon the sofa, straight up not knees bent, ankles should be higher than knees. Ice packs too. Is this normal after a run, should you see the GP?

Not normal for me at all. I’ve never had anything like this.

I feel completely well in myself, no pain at all when I move my ankles, squeeze my calves etc.

Too late now to speak to a GP today and by the time 111 call back I imagine they’ll just tell me to speak to a GP tomorrow!

I think I'd ring 111 tbh and I don't say that usually.

Really? Wouldn’t there be pain or redness if it was a clot?

That's something 111 would tell you.

Keep them
Elevated above your heart. Any redness, hardness down your calves needs to be checked out. I would imagine it's the heat and exertion given it's both legs though.

I walked around a country show yesterday for hours and my feet were swollen at the end of it, but they've gone down now.

If its getting more swollen then you do need to see a doctor.

you need to see a dr urgently

swelling in legs should go away quickly if elevated.

My local hospital has a drop-in vein clinic to scan swollen legs etc; do you have something similar?
I would definitely ask a medical professional just in case.

I’m trying to get through to 111 now.

they’re experiencing higher call volumes than normal, please be patient…..

I haven’t heard of anything like that locally. I’ll have a look though, thanks.

I think 111 will advise you to go to hospital to get checked over, if you do then dont drive yourself.

Go to A and E if you cannot have anybody online, mum had that and ended with an operation. It's urgent.

Are you peeing normally and producing as much as you are drinking? If not you need to speak to 111. You don't need rehydration stuff, just normal drinks.

Any redness or pain? Any bites or blisters that look infected? Are you breathless or coughing? If so you will need medical advice.

I would do as pp have suggested and raise your legs up. Also, put some wet towels in the fridge and put them around your legs (rotate them) to cool your skin.

We can’t just turn up at our nearest A&E (unless it’s really life and death), we have to be allocated a time to attend from 111 if they think it’s needed.

I’m still trying to get through….

i’m peeing well, a nice healthy colour! I thought I’d try some rehydration stuff in case I was a bit lacking in salts or whatever after sweating so much on Saturday

i do have a bite behind my knee on the worst side but that’s going down nicely.

no pain or redness, no cough and my breathing is fine.

still trying to get through to someone….

Do you an urgent care unit?

I agree you need to speak to a medic. Hopefully you can get through soon. In the meantime follow the elevation advice.

This can happen after vigorous exercise - you have oedema in your legs, which is fluid retention. The heat probably isn’t helping either. Keep doing what you are doing regarding the legs elevated. Maybe try an ice pack on it too.

If there is no pain or redness then I don’t think it is an A&E issue right now and more than likely a next day GP appointment. If you have a blood pressure monitor at home it may be worth checking that.

we don’t have any urgent care units here. We have minor injuries but that’s only open 8.00-3.00 and again you need to be sent there via 111

So I got through at about 6.45, gave them the details and am waiting for a call back. They said call back times are ‘extended’ at the moment, they wouldn’t give any idea of how long I might be waiting.

I’ll keep on doing what I’m doing, but add in some cold stuff too.

thanks all for your advice

Still waiting.

I’m off to bed now after sitting with my feet in a bucket of cold water - very glamorous ! if I hear a call in the middle of the night I bet they say contact your GP in the morning.

I do the school run when their phone lines open. Then all the appointments will have gone by the time I can call and get through.

fingers crossed things improve overnight.

Can you sleep with your legs elevated and some ice packs wrapped in towels? Do an online consultation in the morning? Or speak to a pharmacist in the morning? They can sometimes help you to get an appointment.

You need to put your feet up on at least 2 pillows.