My leg has gone strange

[mrs_overall]

Over the course of the day, my left leg has swollen considerably, from just above the knee right down to the foot. It is not hot, not painful and not discoloured. It feels tight and looks odd.
Any thoughts?

[Maydup]

Hope you're OK Mrs O and are home soon with your feet up.

[EDDIE51]

NHS direct have just 3 standard replies.
1 Call 999 (emergency)
2 Go to A&E(urgent but non emergency)
3 wait until your Gp surgery opens and see them.(everything else)
This is a no3 !

[tinkerbell23]

Xxxxxxxx

[Ann]

NHS Direct is a really useless service, use the out of hours GP service if you are at all worried.

[Ann]

Article about cellulitis of the leg
http://www.patient.co...health/Cellulitis.htm

[Smowball]

You need to get it checked Mrs O - I wouldnt think that a leg would just swell up for no reason.

[Sqad]

What a pity....I missed the fun last night......by the time that i type this, it may well have been resolved.

\\. It is not hot, not painful and not discoloured. \\\

So we know, that it is NOT a DVT or infection or arterial thrombosis OR life threatening.

So what is it?

Does it " pit" when you stick your finger in the leg...if it does, it is oedema (fluid) if it doesn't, it is lymphatic obstruction.

So until our mrs_O answers that question....we cannot say.

[Smowball]

am liking sqad's response : )

[Sqad]

Smowball.......I would like to experience YOUR response.......;-)

[mrs_overall]

Morning all.
I rang NHS Direct, who rang back at 2am and told me to go to A&E. I then went back to sleep.
The swelling is much reduced this morning.
Sqad, yes it "pits" when I stick a finger in it.

[Sqad]

Fine, then it is likely to be venous insufficiency.....varicose veins.............

Of course, one must consider any underlying medical condition as a cause.................

No big deal......monitor the situation

God!......NHS Direct...why do ABERs do this to me?

[Ann]

Chuckle at Sqad :)) You know you LOVE Nhs Direct Sqad ......... I think you set it up LOL :)))

[tonyav]

Varicose veins sqad, bloody hell, she's a super model !

[gness]

MrsO. Just had a word with NHS direct on your behalf. They asked if you had undertaken any unusual activities recently. Making off with Honda 50s for example.

[Ann]

Mrs O - just read your update. I too have been having peculiar swelling of my ankles and lower legs recently - its usually after sitting in the car for more than half an hour. When I flew back (only 2.5 hour flight) from holiday on Thursday evening they looked like tree trunks! Its obviously fluid as they go down after I have sat with them elevated or have rested overnight in bed. They have only just started to do this, someone has suggested its my blood pressure medication (Amlodipine - been on them 3 years though!) or maybe is my age? (64) Perhaps Sqad could please explain why ankles and legs accumulate fluid, what can be done to prevent it and should we mention it to our GP? Glad yours seem to going down Mrs O, now that you have sat down with them elevated - its a great way to have slaves fetch and carry for you all day! :)

[gness]

Tony. Talk about living dangerously! Your date has just taken a new twist.

[mrs_overall]

Hmph @ the idea of varicose veins

[gness]

Glad you said wait and watch on your other thread and not watch and wait. I took my tiny,hard of hearing SIL for a check up after a bad fall. Two weeks later she was a bit frail and even thinner. We eventually worked out that she thought she had been told to watch her weight.

[Sqad]

ann....many reasons for swelling of the legs, but i will just comment on you predicament.

You do indeed have hypertension and it would seem that your ankle swelling is indicating that your heart is not coping with the increase in pressure despite your hypotensive drug,Amlodipine and you may need either the dose increasing or a diuretic to help you lose this fluid.

See you GP.

[Ann]

Thanks Sqad - I will mention it next time I go. My BP has been spot on at every check since I started meds 3 years ago. But ankles only swell occasionally when I have been on my feet a lot or sitting down for a long time, wouldn't they be swollen all the time if my heart couldn't cope with the pressure? Slightly concerned now as heart disease is in my family ..................