GET RID of Lower Leg and Feet Swelling/Edema NOW! Here's How. Doc Cherry

Hi! In this video, we will be discussing an important topic. Home remedies that can help if you're experiencing edema or swelling in your lower leg and foot. Stay with me until the end so you'll know whether these techniques would be helpful for you. and when to consider swelling as a medical emergency. Sometimes, swelling in the lower legs and feet can be symptoms of an impending heart problem. Hi! This is again Doc Sherry, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Teaching you practical health tips and home exercise programs that you can definitely benefit from. If you're new here, please don't forget to click the subscribe and bell buttons below So you will be updated with our weekly videos. Swelling or edema in the lower leg and in the foot, It can be caused by the accumulation of fluid in your tissues. Now, causes can be varied. It may be due to simple reasons such as standing for long periods or sitting for extended durations. It may be caused by pregnancy or other pre-existing medical conditions. Injuries such as sprains, strains, and even fractures, particularly in the tibia or lower leg, These can cause localized swelling in your lower leg and your foot. Venous insufficiency is also one of the common causes of edema in the lower leg and the foot. Your veins are supposedly there to help blood pump back into the heart. With venous insufficiency, the veins are unable to perform that function. That's why swelling occurs. Lymphedema is also one of the leading causes of edema in the lower leg and the foot. With lymphedema, there is an accumulation of fluid. Your lymph nodes are likened to a drain in the sink. Once it becomes blocked, fluid accumulates. Lymphedema usually affects the arms and the lower legs. Infection is also one of the causes of edema in the lower leg. such as in the case of cellulitis, where the lower leg becomes inflamed and appears reddish. In such a case, antibiotics are truly necessary to stop the problem. and to prevent general or systemic infection known as sepsis, which can become fatal. This also needs to be arrested in order to prevent amputation or surgical removal of a body part. Swelling in the lower leg and the foot can also be a sign of a heart problem. The symptoms associated with this also include swelling in the abdomen. Swelling in the lower legs can also indicate a kidney problem. Other associated symptoms would include swelling in the face and in the hands. That's why it's very important to have yourself checked immediately. so that you can have your laboratory test completed and your creatinine level checked. Here are the effective home remedies that you can try at home. to help manage edema and swelling in the lower leg and foot. Simply follow the RISE protocol. R stands for rest, I for ice or cold compress, which we will elaborate on later. C stands for compression, and E stands for elevation. So you can apply a cold compress for 15 minutes. Use it on the front or either on the back of your lower leg. This reduces swelling. Never or avoid placing it on the outer lateral part of your lower leg because we have a superficial nerve there. You can also apply a cold compress if your foot is swollen. You can apply a cold compress for 15 minutes, one to three times a day. This is generally considered safe as long as you have no hypersensitivity to cold. Now let's talk about compression. Compression stockings are extremely helpful for people who have edema in the lower leg and the foot. If you don't have compression stockings at home, bandages will do. We have various sizes, and a four-inch or six-inch bandage is usually sufficient. Usually, two pieces would already be sufficient, depending on the patient's size. The downside of the bandage is that it has a tendency to slip. However, you can also easily reapply this one. Although compression stockings are extremely helpful in managing edema, This is not indicated if the cause of edema is due to arterial insufficiency. Now the common question is, how would you know if it is of arterial origin? or if the cause of your edema is due to a problem in your arteries? It's simple. Try to elevate your affected leg above heart level. And try to notice whether there is pallor or if it becomes pale after a few minutes. After that, put your affected leg down and try to observe whether it has this bright red discoloration. instead of the usual pinkish tone. Another symptom to be aware of, indicating the cause may be arterial insufficiency, is to observe the skin. Usually, if the condition is caused by a problem in the artery, The affected area or the skin appears shiny and waxy. You can also notice hair loss in that area. Another symptom that will indicate the problem is due to arterial insufficiency is the loss of pulse in your dorsalis pedis artery. Again, compression is not advisable if the issue of edema is due to a problem in your arteries. This won't be helpful for you. Elevate. It is very helpful for patients who have swelling in the lower leg to elevate their affected leg above heart level. You can do this at any time of day and as many times as you need to. There are specific movements or exercises that can assist patients experiencing edema or swelling in the lower leg and foot. And the good news is that you don't need any special equipment for this. And you can do this at any time on your own. Do you know that certain exercises we perform in the clinic can help prevent or manage low back pain? Have also been documented to help reduce swelling in the lower leg and foot? Such as the case of unilateral and bilateral knee-to-chest. To do this, simply lie on your back. And with your one leg, try to pull it and bring it to your chest. Hold this position for 10 seconds while your other knee is extended like this. Put it down and repeat it ten times. If the impairment is in only one leg, start with your good leg. For instance, if your right lower leg is the one that is swollen, Do this first on your left leg. Complete the 10 repetitions and then proceed with your affected leg or your right leg. After the unilateral knee-to-chest, we will proceed with the bilateral knee-to-chest. This time, bring your hip and your knee together toward your chest. Hold this position for 10 seconds. Put it down and then repeat this one 10 times. You can perform unilateral and bilateral knee-to-chest stretches 1 to 2 times daily. Moreover, since circulation is very important to reduce swelling and edema, Now we will be doing exercises for the foot. To do this, simply point your toes upward and downward as far as possible. Hold this position for 10 seconds each and repeat this 10 times. If you notice that there is swelling in your lower leg plus your skin has a brownish hue, purple or black discoloration, you shouldn't do this because these are symptoms of possible deep vein thrombosis, and this will not be safe for you. Walking has also been proven to be helpful for patients who have swelling in their lower leg. Moreover, the benefit of this exercise is actually amplified. If you are going to use your compression stockings or bandage together with walking. Exercise is very important for you if you have edema in your lower leg. because every time your muscle contracts, It is actually very effective at pumping blood or fluid back into your system. Lymphatic massage is also beneficial for swelling because it aids in draining excess fluid. You try to apply light and rhythmic pressure, starting from your inner thigh. and then the back part of your knee, and then your lower leg. Try to avoid putting too much strain on your knee joint. For the foot, apply a gentle circular motion to the soles of your foot, focusing on your heel. Although massage is helpful and can relax patients, This is not for you, and this is not recommended for you. If you have edema in your lower leg along with discoloration of the skin. Due to what I mentioned earlier, these can be symptoms of deep vein thrombosis. Before we proceed with the tips you need to follow to prevent and reduce symptoms of edema in the lower leg and foot, I would truly appreciate this at this point in consideration of my time. I'm posting this video for you, please support this channel. by simply clicking the like button below. Thank you very much. It would help me greatly and would really help this channel grow. I truly appreciate it. To reduce and prevent edema, it is not recommended that you remain in one position for too long. Avoid sitting or standing for more than 45 minutes without moving. So every 45 minutes, you try to walk. You try to get yourself some water so that circulation would be improved. You should also avoid sitting with your legs crossed, as this can impede circulation. Also try to manage your weight, as edema commonly occurs in people who are overweight. And try to keep an eye on your salt intake. If you're not consuming too much salt in your food, try checking your diet. And try to check whether you have been regularly consuming processed and fast foods. Also avoid sugar and high-carbohydrate foods, as these can worsen the swelling. Hot showers and saunas are not advisable for you. What is good for you is a cold shower. It will help reduce the swelling in your foot and lower leg. Use moisturizer on your skin and carefully trim two nails to prevent infection. And lastly, keep yourself hydrated. Drink more water. Although this might sound counterintuitive, actually once you're dehydrated, Your body tries to hold onto more water in order to stabilize your electrolytes. So when the swelling in the lower leg becomes a medical emergency, Please have yourself checked immediately. If you experience swelling in your lower leg and foot, plus you also experience pain in your chest, difficulty breathing, you easily feel tired or fatigued, and you have lost weight. These can be symptoms of heart problems, and it is best to have yourself checked immediately. Please also schedule an appointment with your doctor if you have swelling in your lower leg and your foot. plus, if you notice skin discoloration, such as brownish, blackish, or purple discoloration of your skin, These can be possible signs of deep vein thrombosis, and they can be fatal if not properly treated. Swelling in the lower leg accompanied by fever—please have yourself checked immediately as well. because these can be signs of an infection. These are effective home remedies you can use to help manage edema in the lower leg and foot. If you've reached the end of this video, please leave a comment and walk through the comment section below. I would really love to hear from you. If you want to know about the top 7 vitamins that can help with neuropathy symptoms, I have a video here; please take a look at it—it will greatly assist you. Thank you very much for watching. This is Doc Cherie again. Stay safe, stay happy and healthy. God bless you.