Swollen feet/ankles/legs

[Meg888]

Hi. When the weather is humid, my feet, ankles & lower calfs swell right up and feel like blocks of wood, not so much painful - but uncomfortable. When the weather is damp my knees, particularly my right one swells up and becomes painful & difficult to walk and bend, or even keep straight come to that.

I was checked over at hospital & given tablets, which just made me very nauseous. I stopped taking them, and hospital dis-charged me a few years ago.

I work in an office, and try to move around as much as poss. But I get very tired in afternoons. Have recently overhauled my diet to incl more fruit & healthy eating, and get plenty sleep - to no avail. I'm 41, have been checked recently for the menopause, they say I'm not going through it. These are symptoms I've been getting every summer for around 4 yrs. Any advice would be appreciated, as I'm sick of taking tablets to fix things & feel better.

[bednobs]

sit with your feet up?

[gollysailor]

Could be symptomatic of an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism). Simple to have it checked (blood test). Worth trying if only to eliminate it as a cause.

[Meg888]

I'm unable to sit with my feet up in the office & I was checked for hypothyroidism, when they checked me for the menopause among a whole host of other stuff like diabetes etc. Even though they insist I am not going through it, I have an awful lot of menapausal symptoms and have done for a few years now. My doc doesn't even reckon I'm peri-menopausal.

[bednobs]

are you at a desk?
When i was pregnant i just used to sit with my feet up on an upside down bin under the desk

[gollysailor]

What happens in cold weather (winter)? Same symptoms?

[Meg888]

I don't get swollen ankles etc but I still get the knee pain, and the same menopausal symptoms.

My desk has panels all around the sides, so I'm unable to stretch my legs out fully in front of me - I could maybe ask if I can take one of them out, it's got to be worth considering.

[gollysailor]

What about when you're horizontal? Does that bring relief?

[Scarlett]

Can you take a freezer bag with you- one of those ones that you can either microwave or freeze? I get this too. The only solution is raising your feet up, but a cold compress does help. Also check the amount of salt in your diet. It can cause water retention. If you get very tired in the afternoons it does sound like something is going on. Have you had other blood tests?

[rov1100]

Could be a problem with your kidneys and water retention

[Sqad]

This is NORMAL,,,,,hot weather...sedentary job.....venous return is impaired and your ankles tend to swell. You must try and walk around at work if possible.

You knee must be a little arthritic which would explain the pain in the humid weather.....nothing to worry about and if it becomes painful, then take Ibuprofen.