Ankle swollen, red, sore patch, can't put weight on my foot

[AnnieQ]

I've woken up this morning with one ankle swollen up to twice its normal size. Above the swelling is a hot, itchy, sore, red band, about 2" wide, which goes most of the way around my leg. It's painful to touch and really hurts to put weight on. I'm panicking and thinking blood clots or DVT (yeah, I know, I'm a hypochondriac)! I have an appointment with the GP later this week anyway so I'll show it to him then, but I'm driving myself mad with worry. Does anyone have any clues what this might be and what I can do to relieve the swelling? I've been sitting with my feet up but it's hard with children.

No easy answer here, I'm afraid. I'd talk to NHS direct and/or get an emergency appointment? It sounds distinctly strange.

it could be a cellulitis, have you been stung or had any cuts around the area recently? Sit with yuor leg elevated if you can, with a bag of frozen peas in a clean tea towel on it to relieve the swelling also simple painkillers paracetamol and brufen if you can take them. You do need to see the GP though may need antibiotics by the sound of it.

Sorry to be personal but do you suffer with athletes foot as this can quite often be a cause of a lower limb cellulitis.

I would get an emergency appointment just to be on the safe side.
I think if you were looking at DVT or clotting the red markings would be following the line of your main blood vessels UP your leg, not round it, but there are obviously some that go round the ankle too...
Is the skin broken at all? Any sign of insect bite marks? Do you live in the country or have a dog that might conceivably have picked up ticks on walks?
Do go to the doctor about this one Annie, as NQC says, it sounds quite a puzzler, and a painful one too.
Hope you get an answer soon.

I did think about cellulitis as I had it once and it's quite similar, but I haven't had any stings or anything there. I'm trying to keep my foot raised (I'll get off the computer in a minute) but the 3yo is being really demanding today so it's difficult.

AnnieQ - My Mum had cellulitis on her arm which started from a TINY burn on her knuckle!! No stings at all. She left it very late and ended up in hopsital for a few days. I'd get it checked out asap just to be on the safe side.

Marina, we've just been away in the country for a few days so I suppose I might have been bitten and not noticed, although I can't see any marks at all. The middle of the red patch is more tender than the rest though so it's possible. I think I'll see if I can move my appointment with the GP, see if he'll see me sooner.

Thank you ladies for your replies.

Toothache, I have a small crack in the hard skin on my foot which has been bleeding for a couple of days, I hadn't made a connection but now I wonder if it's cellulitis and it's coming from that? I've moved my appointment to tomorrow and will just have to grit my teeth today.

From what you and others have said I bet it is cellulitis Annie. I am an urban wimp and not very up on insect behaviour, but would have thought February was not a big month for ticks. I think it's a bigger issue in Spring etc when people wear shorts and ankle socks, which I am assuming you were not wearing last week!
Hope you get it sorted soon. I had never heard of cellulitis until this thread, it sounds very uncomfortable.

Having had cellulitis, Marina, I can confirm that it's really nasty, I ended up on walking sticks last time I had it. This doesn't seem quite so bad, which is one consolation! I'm seeing the GP tomorrow now, so hopefully I can get some treatment for it and knock it on the head quickly.

AnnieQ - They thought my Mums may have stemmed from the burn on her knuckle AND a little cut on her toe.

my mum had cellulitis last year and was in hosp a week, pumped full of antibiotics, and they never did discover when it came from - if anything, maybe a small crack on dry skin on foot. She was really poorly with it- temp and delirious and sick. Apparently if you have had it once, you have to be really careful with new cuts stings etc.