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 be wary of sleeping with ice packs - you're really only meant to have them against your skin for 20mins max.

That is why I said wrap them up in towels. Just to keep the pillows cool.

She doesn't need ice burns on top of swollen legs. Cool water baths, elevation and a fan blowing over her still wet legs will do what it can safely.

20 mins only for ice packs as pp said.

Trouble is that people fall asleep, same way they do with hot water battles wrapped in something that comes off or they stay on one spot for hours. The end result is roughly the same; permanent scarring.

I get very swollen legs in the heat. I retain a lot of fluid because of the meds I take. I wrap a couple of ice packs in a bath towel and put the whole lot inside the pillow case (with the pillow) and elevate my feet. I have done this regularly for the last 6 years and never had a problem. . I would never place an ice pack directly on any part of my body. Surely my method is no different from those cool mats you can buy for dogs? Anyway, hope the OP is getting some rest.

I'm place marking for the simple reason I'm hoping you get the care you need. It sounds dangerous.

They called back at 3.30am, told me to keep doing what I’ve been doing and to see a GP today. They are very slightly better, but I can’t get any enclosed shoes on!

Getting to see or speak to a GP is going to be a challenge, plus I’m on a course with work today so it’s not going to be easy to keep doing what I’ve been doing.

Can you ask for a house call. At the very least take pictures of your swollen feet. NHS these days. Hope you get help soon. Get in the phone line for an appointment if they have not made you one they run out quickly. All the best OP.

House visit.

House visits? I don’t think they’re done very often at all these days. Anyway I’m at work! I’ll be lucky to get to speak to a GP let alone see them. I’m still trying to get through. They sometimes ask for photos but the surgery app won’t accept any until they’ve asked for them….

I saw this just before I fell asleep last night and woke up thinking about you OP! Hope it improves today.

One is a bit better but not the other. I can only wear sandals with Velcro straps!

By the time I managed to get through to the surgery and get a call back, all appointments for today had gone. I have to try again tomorrow….

in the meantime I’ll keep on with all of your top tips!

Mine are permanently like this. It's joyless. No top tips as nothing works for me, but lots of sympathy!

This happened to my mother a few years ago when she was walking the Camino in ridiculously hot weather (great idea for a parish pilgrimage of 70 year old Irish people ). It took a long while for her lower legs to fully return to normal, and her GP advised her to have more sense in future. No treatment was required other than elevation, massage and compression socks.

Get it checked out and don't overdo it in the heat in future.

I started suffering with this last summer. Feet and legs ridiculously swollen. Come the cooler weather they went back to normal. Now it's got hot again the swelling has returned. I spend all day on my feet and by the evening can barely walk upstairs due to the swelling and heavy feeling in my legs. I've only one pair of shoes which fit when they're like this. Last year I had to wear slipper boots as nothing else fitted! I think it probably is a combination of the heat and all the walking you did. Maybe pop to a pharmacy today and speak to the pharmacist in lieu of a drs appointment. You have my sympathy OP.

Same thing happened with the GP again today.

there has been a slight improvement / especially in the least swollen foot and leg but I still can’t get shoes on!

still no other causes for concern and I feel fine so I think the ongoing hot weather and inability to elevate my legs when I’m at work are delaying any further improvement.

Would it be worth trying an epsom bath and some self lymphatic massage?

It's really disappointing that someone at your surgery hasn't been able to see you.

They seemed to improve quite a bit overnight. Today I squished my feet into some trainers for the first time!

Maybe the cooler day has helped? Glad to hear they are on the mend!