Spina Bifida

My feet are constantly swollen, to the point where I can not wear braces, and thus cant stand.  Does anyone else have this problem, and if so, what have they done about it? Any ideas would be great!

Thanks!

Hi nene,

Since this is your first post. I`d like to say Welcome to the board.If you get a chance, why don`t you introduce yourself and tell us a little about you.

For the past several days, I`ve been having problems with my lower legs and feet swelling.I only wear one brace, a plastic one that goes from my foot to just below the knee.Last night my right leg was so swollen that be brace gripped my leg like a visr and I had to give it a good tug to get it off.

I`m 60, have heart trouble in addition to foot drop, spinal problems & arthritis.

I`m thinking that the swelling you are experiencing may have something to with heart trouble or diabetes. Of course ther are other causes, as well.I forgot to look at your profile.did you fill it in?

In my case I think the swelling may be due to the fact they recently reduced the dose of a diuretic (water pill) I take, but is the loooong weekend, and I`m notgoingto the ER for that.

Good luck,I hope you find a solution for tat swelling.                     ollie

Hi Nene , Welcome I am Rainey nice to meet you , You have not said what your disability is , are you in a wheelchair ?  I have polio and I am in a chair full time and my feet never swell , not even when I was a walker so I can't help you to much .  I do make a point to get my legs up every couple of hour . Have you spoken to your Doctor about this ? Best wishes to you and welcome aboard !

 

                                         Rainey xo 

I have spina bifida.  I use a wheelchair full time.  This has been a problem for about the last 9 months or so. My doctor had no idea what was going on (my primary care, at least).  My physiatrist is recommending i see a vascular surgeon, but I wanted to see if anyone else had this issue before I saw that new doctor.

Thanks!

Since this is the Spina bifida discussion I am going to assume you have spina bifida like myself. I do not walk. My left foot was always swollen. No one could figure out why. It was thought that it was lymphodema which is fairly normal with sb patients. I tried everything to get it to go away and nothing worked. However, about 3-4 years ago now I started having issues with my kidneys. The left ureter became blocked and was causing the kidney it drop in function. I asked the urologist if my foot being swollen had anything to do with my kidney, "Oh no it has nothing to do with it at all," I was told. Well surgery was finally done to remove the ureter and within a week the swelling was completely gone. Kidney function went from 30% to 36% and still rising. I still get some swelling from sitting in a chair all day (which is normal), but most of it is gone. I once again mentioned it to the same doctor and was told, "Well, I guess it could have something to do with it, but it isn't likely. However, with you anything is likely." So, moral of the story is have your kidneys checked to make sure everything is ok.

Summer

hi nene, it's nice to meet you and welcome. :)

 Hi nene, Welcome  to  the  Wonderful  World  of  Disaboom!!!!!!! I can't help with your question but someone here may know what you can do.

 

Take Care Now, Sandy

 Welcome, nene!  I hope you enjoy Disaboom.  I have fibromyalgia and have swelling in my feet/ankles/legs/knees (sometimes hands) all of the time.  It gets so bad that I can't hardly walk.  I take a water pill daily, which is a part of my BP (hypertension) management.  It makes a significant difference in my swelling.  Also, my sodium intake makes a big difference.  I really try to watch the salt.....even rinsing my canned vegetables before heating them up.  

 

Summer had some really good advice.  In a way, my swelling is related to kidney function as well.  Since you and she have the same disability, she may understand your particular situation better than some of the rest of us. 

 

My husband also has problems with swelling in his feet.  He has to sit at his job (dr. orders), he's not in a wheelchair, but the lack of moving around would be similar.   He has severe sleep apnea and must have oxygen through his breathing machine at night.  When he has a good night on the machine, it really helps with his swelling.  (for him the inability to breathe and get oxygen normally causes his heart to work too hard, thereby causing the swelling.)  

 

So, the swelling can be from a number of causes.  My husband had to see a cardiovascular doctor as well.  Honestly, for him, it wasn't that helpful, as they discovered his circulation is fine......the pulmonary doctor was the most helpful.  

 

Good Luck in discovering what is the cause of your swelling.  It isn't fun going to all these different doctors to find answers,