If your ankle suddenly begins to swell up without any warning or any precedence, it can be quite disturbing. Sometimes, the swelling is accompanied with a lot of weight, so much so that the patient loses the use of the entire leg and feels scared of putting weight on the swollen ankle.
There can be many causes of swollen ankles, and without knowing what the real reasons are, a person with a swollen ankle cannot be treated completely. One of the most common causes of swollen ankles is edema, or water retention. The sodium in our body often causes the body to retain more moisture than in necessary, therefore making the ankles appear swollen. The soft tissues around the ankle joint can often get swollen when the veins begin to age. As the veins deteriorate, there is chronic swelling in the ankles.
Other conditions such as obesity, varicose veins, and pregnancy are also other causes of swollen ankles. A more severe condition is gout. Gout could cause deterioration of the ankle joints and the crystals of uric acid begin to accumulate around them. Gout can be caused by an infection. Other causes of swollen ankles include sports injuries or injuries and trauma resulting from stress.
Swollen ankles during pregnancy are very common and are due to accumulation of blood as well as water. During pregnancy, the volume of blood in the body may increase manifold, therefore causing swelling. Swollen ankles treatment usually follows the cause of the condition. However, for temporary relief, a lukewarm soak with salt water or an ice pack can do great wonders. There are many different home remedies for the treatment of swollen ankles. However, since this is a tender joint and one which carries and appreciable amount of weight, it is important to make sure that your recovery process begins immediately. Going to a doctor is very important so that the right diagnosis can be made for the cause of your swollen ankle. Only when the diagnosis is made, can the treatment be offered.
In most cases, the doctors ask the patient to take bed rest so that the ankle can get some rest. In case the ankle continues to hurt and there is considerable amount of both pain and swelling, getting a second opinion does not hurt. During pregnancy, the swollen feet are not alarming due to all the extra volume of blood in your body; however, if you have not been playing any rigorous sports, then perhaps a swollen ankle should put you on an alert.
answered by G R
A sudden swelling of the ankle can be quite a disturbing problem. It can also be extremely disabling, preventing an individual from exerting too much pressure on the affected foot through the course of the day. When treating the condition, it is extremely important to understand the reason for its onset. The swelling is a direct result of the accumulation of fluid within the ankle joint or in the soft tissues that surround the ankle. One of the most common causes of the condition is a circulation problem known as peripheral edema. This condition is known to affect both legs simultaneously and is commonly a result of the aging of the veins that leads to chronic swelling. However, it may also be brought on by conditions like obesity, pregnancy and varicose veins, all of which place an excessive amount of pressure on the leg veins. gout is another very common reason for swollen ankles as the crystals of uric acid start to accumulate at the foot of the ankle. Traumatic injuries like a broken ankle or a sprained ankle and stress fractures are also extremely common causes of a swollen ankle.
Some of the fastest methods of healing the swollen ankle is to straighten out the ankle by resting it on a sofa or chair in front of you and placing an ice pack on the affected portion. The cold pack will help control the swelling significantly. When you notice the pack warming up, refreeze it and reapply it later. Cucumber is also known to be extremely beneficial when dealing with swollen feet. Try placing slices of cucumber over the affected portion of the ankle and cover it with a cotton cloth or bandage. You can also use freshly blended cucumber instead. The cucumber will help absorb the accumulated fluid, thereby speeding up the recovery process. A high intake of vitamin E has shown to have a good effect on patients that suffer from the swelling of feet during pregnancy. Foods like almond oil, sunflower seeds, wheat germs and spinach are all rich sources of vitamin E. another helpful remedy when pregnant is lecithin seeds which, when taken in quantities of four tablespoons daily for a period of 3 months, provide great results. Vinegar is known to have an extremely soothing effect when it comes to ankle pain. You can try soaking a towel in a mixture of equal amounts of warm water and vinegar and then wringing it out and wrapping it around your foot. Leave it on for about 5 minutes before mixing equal parts of cold water and vinegar and following the same procedure.
answered by G M
Swollen ankle remedies
A sudden swelling of feet and ankles is medically determined as a condition called edema. Edema typically occurs in pregnant women, people who stand and walk excessively and sit for long periods of time with their feet dangling off the ground. There could be other diseases for which edema is a symptom, but that would be determined only after a medical examination. The other reason for swollen ankles could also be water retention, a condition that occurs due to excessive salt intake. This could also occur in women just before the onset of the menstrual cycle.
In order to take care of the problem, make sure you drink at least 8 liters of water each day. This will flush out extra salts from your body and reduce the swelling. You can see results in as soon as a day with simply increasing water intake. You should also cut back on your salt intake. Check what you eat and see what has too much salt. Processed and ready to eat foods are usually the culprits. Exercise for 30 minutes, a minimum of four times a week. This will help boost circulation and improve your general health as well. For momentary relief, you can place ice packs on your ankles. Keeping your feet elevated will also make a huge different to the swelling. Try to keep two pillows beneath your feet when you sleep.
answered by G M