Swollen ankles and feet

[jchebert1979]

I don't suffer from swelling but in my research I have found some info. If I remember correctly, part of you sympathetic nervous system is controlled from ganglia in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar areas. Any of these can be damaged and cause swelling, color changes, and sensory changes. The best you will probably get from a doctor though is it's possible but very unlikely. I can't tell you how many times I have heard that.

[mmglobal]

I know post-op patients who get edema; especially on long flights or if they sit all day at work, etc.. My wife, Diane, still gets this occasionally. I think that there are many other reasons separate from spine problems that cause many of us to get this as we age. I've seen several people with a sympathetic disorder that have many of the symptoms you mention, but have never heard of swollen ankles in the absence of the other symptoms being attributed to a sympathetic problem. (**** but I may be completely wrong!!!! The fact that I have'nt seen it doesn't mean much... I'm just sharing my experience.)

[treefrog]

Last night I noticed my feet, ankles and possibly a little up the calf is swollen. In my case, I think it might be from naproxen, which I just started taking Monday.

I stopped taking it as of this morning. And I will call my rheumatologist on Monday (she's the one who prescribed it). I would have had to stop taking it a week from surgery, which would be about a little more than a week from now. So, I'm just stopping a little sooner.

I'll have to try and sort these other issues out, after the surgery. That is, if they continue after surgery. I admit I am hoping that some of these strange issues will go away after surgery.

[treefrog]

Well, the swelling in my feet is gone now. I will see what my doc thinks, if she agrees it was caused by the naproxen.

[Maria]

Please let us know what your doctor says tomorrow..

Last Sept I started having bilateral severe ankle pain that traveled up my calves and to my knees.. the ankles were bilaterally swollen tho minimally. The pain was excrutiating...

Being a long time lumbar spine patient I thought "this has got to be related to my spine".. and I waited it out nearly a month before going to the doctor only to find I had something known as "posterior tibeal tendonitis" bilaterally.

It was the bilateral aspect of the foot problem that had thrown me off plus the fact I've had knee and leg pain before attributed to my lumbar disc probs and even some foot pain.

So even tho what you are reporting could very well be related to your spinal problems and/or medications or something of that nature it's always best to rule out any medical problem that could be occuring.

Good luck and I hope it will easily remedied.

[runner]

I had swollen feet (they were big!!!) after I gave birth to my son and was at home so i called the doctor and the doctor on call insisted I go to the ER.
The reason is that after pregnancy you can have a deep vein thrombosis (DVT or blood clot) in a leg and that can cause swelling. So I went to the ER to get checked out.
They did an ultrasound to check for a clot and I was clear.

DVT can happen when people travel on airplanes and don't get up and move around and it can happen after spinal surgery, too.
And it happens to people on bedrest or ones that are not moving around much like people in pain who are lying down a lot.
The problem with DVT is that it can lead to a pulmonary embolus and this is a
serious problem that can kill. This is because the clot in the vein will travel to the lungs.

So anytime you have swollen feet it should be checked out if you have just had spine surgery or you have been immobile.
Usually if you have a DVT, you will have swelling in one leg or calf and the area will also be painful.
CindyLou on here had a pulmonary embolism so she can tell you about what happened.
So IMHO, I think any unusual swelling of the feet should be checked out by a doctor. I understand, we do have swelling of the feet sometimes with travel or if it is unusually warm, that is different.
Swelling of the feet can also be due to a cardiac problem.

Being a spine patient, I would just have any unusual symptom checked out by your doctor.
That is my two cents on this topic.
I don't want to scare anybody but this is a possibility, especially after spinal surgery.

[Maria]

Any gross swelling of extremities would definately have me at my doctor's or in an Urgent Care or ER... there are just too many possibilities and it's better err on the safe side

[nomorepain]

within 24 hours of my prodisc surgery i had an issue with swelling, was rushed into a CT Scan to make sure the new prodiscs were not impinging on my nerve canal, they weren't...but to this day when i am on my feet a long time, or it's hot, or it's just time for them to swell, it happens, no reason as far as i can tell, and i have had every test in the book for this issue. On occasion i wear compression stockings, you can get them at any good medical device store, they are spendy at about $40.00/pr, and are offered in a few different compression percentages, well worth the investment, but have a doctor tell you what compression you need, these are great stockings that are either knee high or up to the hip. keeps everything under control...hope this helps you.

[nomorepain]

I have feet& ankle swellling also, been more of an issue after my prodisc surgery, in fact i was rushed into a CT scan following my surgery due to swelling, but everything appeared normal at that time. i notice it most when i am on my feet all day, and it's hot. So my regular Doc introduced me to compression stockings, they can be had at any good health supply company, consult your doc as to the best compression ratings for you, they come in knee-highs and are worn under socks. They definetly help keep the swelling in check and down, and what a relief when you take them off at night. I'm told the swelling is an age issue, but i refuse to grow up! it's my body that won't keep up,hmmmmmmm