Is it normal.....

[KristinaB]

for a foot to still be swollen eleven months after a sprain or strain? I can't remember if I sprained it or strained it, but I know it was last September or October while we were staying in a hotel and the house was being tented for termites. I did everything the doctor said to do and went to all follow up appointments, but the swelling never went totally down. Even elevating it does not help it go down.

The doctor tells me there is nothing to be done for it. I just can't for some reason believe that. Anybody have any ideas?

 

[Miss-Delectable]

Sometimes heat can make it swell.

My mother has experienced this when we were US this past summer.

Otherwise, I have no idea.

 

[nobody456]

Sometimes heat can make it swell.

My mother has experienced this when we were US this past summer.

Otherwise, I have no idea.

Where is the swelling? Picture would be good.

Cold contracts, heat expands. Usually, you apply cold ice right after the incident. This allows for blood vessels to recover from the trauma. After a few days, start applying heat. This allows your blood to carry vitamins to your muscle tissues.

If you think you aren't recovering, do this cycle and slowly try to strengthen your muscles (and get massaged) while applying heat treatments throughout the day.

I used to supervise college sports, not quite a EMT certification but have other certs and experienced a lot of injuries with soccer and a long case with work (severe forearm muscle strains...horribly designed programs and pressure of applying speed).

 

[Glenn]

From my experiences with sprains and strains that is not normal. Did the doctor take an x-ray? It should have gone down long ago.

 

[overthepond]

I badly sprained my ankle (it rotated 90 degrees) it was very swollen for good couple of months, 12 years later, it does still swell up (at ankle bone) when it's warm but not too noticable. It doesn't hurt etc. I had it checked out by Dr, he said sprains are worser than broken bones as they sometime involve ligaments/cartilages/soft tissues and often takes alot longer to go back to normal also because when you have broken bone it is immobilised with plaster/pins whereas we still bear weigh on sprains hence prolong its recovery.

Have you had it checked out?

 

[Jiro]

acupuncture. get it.

 

[nobody456]

From my experiences with sprains and strains that is not normal. Did the doctor take an x-ray? It should have gone down long ago.

with proper care, sure it could've gone down awhile ago.

There's only three ligaments in the ankle (correct me if I'm wrong...), so if that ankle is being tested from time to time and not much support to let it heal...it could prolong the recovery (like mine...tore two of them and didn't go to the doc until 1.5 years later to get proper treatment after I re-injured it. It healed somewhat between that time but not enough to play on. It took a lot of physical therapy to get it right).

 

[nobody456]

acupuncture. get it.

how is that stuff? always wanted to try for my back.

 

[Jiro]

how is that stuff? always wanted to try for my back.

good. been having it for many years. always the best option to use especially for sprain, injury, etc. because it clears up the broken veins and blood clots. it will reduce your healing time by like 50% and boost your immune system.

will it hurt? well yea but not that bad. a small prickly feeling is better than feeling the pain of paying $$$$ medical bills and dealing with your pain for months.

 

[nobody456]

used to go to a chiro for some treatments (different parts of the back), but insurance only covers "x" amount of sessions a year and don't want to waste it on some unnecessary, but really nice, athletic boosts. Meaning, the pain doesn't really slow you down. And traditional primary care doctors won't look at x-rays and go "oh you need a chiro, even though I can see clearly in this x-ray that one hip is higher than the other". -made a game-saving save as a defender and got clobbered and paid dearly by hitting a sweet spot right on the side of my hip.

the physical therapy for the ankle had about 10 intense workout and massage sessions over a month. Tons better after.

lower back feels a bit stiff and could use like a "cleaning" of some loose/tight stuff down there. Kinda hard to explain but definitely affected my mental desire to make plays over the week-end. definitely will look into the acupuncture in the next month. thanks.

 

[Jiro]

used to go to a chiro for some treatments (different parts of the back), but insurance only covers "x" amount of sessions a year and don't want to waste it on some unnecessary, but really nice, athletic boosts. Meaning, the pain doesn't really slow you down. And traditional primary care doctors won't look at x-rays and go "oh you need a chiro, even though I can see clearly in this x-ray that one hip is higher than the other". -made a game-saving save as a defender and got clobbered and paid dearly by hitting a sweet spot right on the side of my hip.

the physical therapy for the ankle had about 10 intense workout and massage sessions over a month. Tons better after.

lower back feels a bit stiff and could use like a "cleaning" of some loose/tight stuff down there. Kinda hard to explain but definitely affected my mental desire to make plays over the week-end. definitely will look into the acupuncture in the next month. thanks.

regular doctors can't really help you even if they look at x-rays. The best they can do is give you painkiller and refer you to a specialist.

for your bad back - you can see chiro, physical therapist (sport medicine), orthopedic surgeon, or acupuncturist. It depends on the type of damage you have.

 

[Mrs Bucket]

Wirelessly posted

Try considering eliminating sodium from your diet as a lot of prepared food will have twice or more than the daily limit od sodium. Sodium causes my ankles to swell kust like MissD said about her Mum. The heat is bad for me and the ankles which is why I drink a lot of water anf take herbal diuretics.

 

[KristinaB]

Where is the swelling? Picture would be good.

Cold contracts, heat expands. Usually, you apply cold ice right after the incident. This allows for blood vessels to recover from the trauma. After a few days, start applying heat. This allows your blood to carry vitamins to your muscle tissues.

If you think you aren't recovering, do this cycle and slowly try to strengthen your muscles (and get massaged) while applying heat treatments throughout the day.

I used to supervise college sports, not quite a EMT certification but have other certs and experienced a lot of injuries with soccer and a long case with work (severe forearm muscle strains...horribly designed programs and pressure of applying speed).

Mild swelling on the top of the foot. I went through the whole routine of ice and heat for a good 6 months before the doctor said to stop. There were x-rays and no fractures or breaks. I am not very mobile as I have extenuating circumstances with my legs and walking is hard for me. I also can't sit for long periods due to my leg issues.

 

[KristinaB]

Wirelessly posted

Try considering eliminating sodium from your diet as a lot of prepared food will have twice or more than the daily limit od sodium. Sodium causes my ankles to swell kust like MissD said about her Mum. The heat is bad for me and the ankles which is why I drink a lot of water anf take herbal diuretics.

Almost never used prepared foods and we use light salt and then only minimal amounts. Hubby is on a low sodium diet and I put the whole family on it.

 

[Reba]

for a foot to still be swollen eleven months after a sprain or strain? I can't remember if I sprained it or strained it, but I know it was last September or October while we were staying in a hotel and the house was being tented for termites. I did everything the doctor said to do and went to all follow up appointments, but the swelling never went totally down. Even elevating it does not help it go down.

The doctor tells me there is nothing to be done for it. I just can't for some reason believe that. Anybody have any ideas?

If you don't remember injuring your foot, then maybe that's not the cause.

When you elevate it, do you elevate for hours, above your heart level? That's what my doctor explained to me. Some people don't elevate their feet high enough.

Do you also have pain, or just swelling?

 

[Jiro]

Mild swelling on the top of the foot. I went through the whole routine of ice and heat for a good 6 months before the doctor said to stop. There were x-rays and no fractures or breaks. I am not very mobile as I have extenuating circumstances with my legs and walking is hard for me. I also can't sit for long periods due to my leg issues.

you're diabetic and you're somewhat immobile. this implies lack of circulation.

do you wear stockings?

 

[KristinaB]

If you don't remember injuring your foot, then maybe that's not the cause.

When you elevate it, do you elevate for hours, above your heart level? That's what my doctor explained to me. Some people don't elevate their feet high enough.

Do you also have pain, or just swelling?

I know when I injured it and how I injured it. And yes, I did elevate above the heart for hours at a time. I would lay on the floor and have the foot, with pillows on books, propped up to the level the the seat of the couch.

The injury happened while swimming. Seems, I had too much water pressure while swimming when I was kicking. The doctor said I should have warmed up and not spent so much time in pool when I hadn't been swimming for over 10 years.

Oh, no pain, just a little swelling. My right show is always tighter as well as socks.

 

[KristinaB]

you're diabetic and you're somewhat immobile. this implies lack of circulation.

do you wear stockings?

I am not diabetic. I was only told I was just under the level for borderline diabetes. All test indicate that I do not have diabetes yet. I do walk a lot in the house with the aid of a walker or cane. I also do all the housework, cooking and most of the laundry. Even the grocery shopping, so, I don't think I would be immobile, just have to do it is steps and stages.

 

[Reba]

I know when I injured it and how I injured it. And yes, I did elevate above the heart for hours at a time. I would lay on the floor and have the foot, with pillows on books, propped up to the level the the seat of the couch.

The injury happened while swimming. Seems, I had too much water pressure while swimming when I was kicking. The doctor said I should have warmed up and not spent so much time in pool when I hadn't been swimming for over 10 years.

Oh, no pain, just a little swelling. My right show is always tighter as well as socks.

If you aren't satisfied with your doctor's answers then maybe get a second opinion or go to a specialist.

This seems to cover the same suggestions that ADers posted:

Swollen feet: cause, treatment, symptoms, prevention, risks, complications, long-term outlook

 

[Reba]

I am not diabetic. I was only told I was just under the level for borderline diabetes. All test indicate that I do not have diabetes yet. I do walk a lot in the house with the aid of a walker or cane. I also do all the housework, cooking and most of the laundry. Even the grocery shopping, so, I don't think I would be immobile, just have to do it is steps and stages.

That might not be enough of the kind of motion that you need for good circulation. It's probably not sustained or brisk enough. Usually doctors recommend stationary recumbent bicycling or swimming, for example.

Even without full diabetes, you could be experiencing some of the attendant side effects.