Swollen ankles

[KG421 18]

The past few weeks I’ve been experiencing really bad low back, hip, leg and foot pain. Last night when I got home from work my feet were killing me! I noticed that I had some swelling around my ankles. I googled in a panic and the first thing to come up was, ankle swelling can be a sign of right sided heart failure! I could barely sleep last night I had so much anxiety. The right side of my heart is slightly compressed due to a congenital chest deformity. I’m worried the two could be linked. I do work retail and am on my feet at least 8 hours a day but I’ve been doing this job for 16 years. I’m only 33 and can suddenly barely make it through a shift. My mind is racing back and forth between heart failure and randomly losing the ability to walk. Please help!

[bin_tenn 1252]

Is it clinically significant swelling, or is it the kind of swelling everyone is prone to when being on their feet too much? We just finished moving into our home today, and my feet feel quite swollen, though they're not - or maybe just a bit. Same with my hands. It happens. I once asked my uncle about it, and he suggested that it's simply from being on my feet too much.

As far as I can recall when I read about heart failure in the past, the swelling (edema) is typically what's called "pitting edema". It's swelling due to fluid buildup, and causes "pitting" (e.g. dips) when pressed. I imagine it can also feel quite strange.

[KG421 18]

Not sure, I guess. No pitting. It looks quite mild but is very painful. I’m so worried that I’m permanently not going to be able to walk.

[bin_tenn 1252]

26 minutes ago, KG421 said:

Not sure, I guess. No pitting. It looks quite mild but is very painful. I’m so worried that I’m permanently not going to be able to walk.

Highly doubtful, IMO

[Bella P 75]

Eating too much salt can cause swelling, if you are eating a lot of salty foods, try cutting back on them. Otherwise it’s most likely injury related or from sitting too much if you spend a lot of your time at work sitting down. I very highly doubt it’s heart failure or anything like that  I hope you feel better soon. 

[KG421 18]

Thanks guys! Trying to remind myself that there are a whole lot of things between pain/swelling and heart failure or loosing the ability to walk, but we all know how that goes sometimes. 🙄

my right leg is about 1/2 inch shorter than my left and that’s the leg I’m having trouble with. So maybe something to do with that. Tendonitis maybe? Probably will call an orthopedist tomorrow. I should be measured for a custom orthotic anyway.

[Bella P 75]

6 hours ago, KG421 said:

Thanks guys! Trying to remind myself that there are a whole lot of things between pain/swelling and heart failure or loosing the ability to walk, but we all know how that goes sometimes. 🙄

my right leg is about 1/2 inch shorter than my left and that’s the leg I’m having trouble with. So maybe something to do with that. Tendonitis maybe? Probably will call an orthopedist tomorrow. I should be measured for a custom orthotic anyway.

That could definitely be the cause. It may be causing muscle strain and tendinitis, I would call an orthopedist. For a few days you may want to try being off of your feet as much as possible, and elevating your legs could also help. Taking a bath with epsom salt in it can help bring down the swelling and soothe sore muscles as well.

[KG421 18]

I was in so much pain at work today, I ended up going to an orthopedic urgent care. They did xrays of both feet which came out perfectly normal. The doctor said, “well, we could just call it tendinitis for now.” He prescribed a steroid, ice and rest. I’ll have a follow up appt next Monday to possibly do blood work. That fact that he couldn’t give me a definitive diagnosis is really worrying me. What if it’s not tendinitis? What if this doesn’t get better and I can’t work or even walk or for more than a few minutes, forever?? I’m also thinking, “what if this is all another anxiety thing?” Although I’ve never had actual swelling with anxiety.

[K_love 1]

Stay off google and trust your doctor. If it was life threatening he would have sent you to the hospital. You are on your feet so much, and  anxiety can do so much to your poor body. 

[KG421 18]

Update: After spending DAYS googling and diagnosing myself with an uncommon form of tendinitis and convincing myself that I had somehow ruptured a tendon in my right foot that was worsening beyond repair by the minute, I saw a foot and ankle specialist and had an MRI. The doctor said my MRI was clear but that he knew what was going on. Anterior Ankle Impingement. Anytime my feet are in a standing position, the soft tissues around my ankles are being pinched and becoming inflamed. He gave me a steroid injection in the right one (which is way worse than the left). Said if it doesn’t fully take, he’ll do another one and if that doesn’t work, he’ll go in and surgically remove the inflammation. Either way it’s fixable and shouldn’t be a chronic problem. The injection has helped but I’m still having a good amount of pain so will probably go for a 2nd. Thanks for the support everyone!

Bummer: I’m now experiencing a lot of pain in my low back and right hip. After I get my feet under control I’ll probably have to start all over with appointments and tests to figure that out. UGH!  

[MARC 431]

I am happy to hear you are on your way to feeling better! 

[Iugrad91 501]

It’s all connected structurally, so you may be compensating in some way because of the pain in your ankles and that is causing the hip and back pain. I’m having a similar issue and mine was getting better, but I was changing my gait because of the pain and I caused another issue. Physical therapy is helping so far. A PT can help you find weaknesses and such that can be causing the pain in your hip and back. It may be referred pain originating from somewhere else.