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In the past week my right foot has swollen on the top ...

Sent to Health Experts June 29 08:02 PM

In the past week the top of my right foot has swollen. There is no pain as a result. I've been taking furosemide for some time. Lately I've also been taking some ginkgo/biloba tablets. I am 77 years old and do not walk a lot. This is the same foot in which I broke a bone about 5 years ago.

 

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Male , Age: 77

Already Tried:
discontinued ginkgo/biloba rested my feet

Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
June 29 9:17 PM (1 hour and 15 minutes and 26 seconds later)
         
REPLIEDCheck Mark
You may have sprained your ankle. A sprained ankle can cause the foot to swell. Apply ice and elevate your right foot.


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June 29 11:47 PM (2 hours and 29 minutes and 58 seconds later)
         
Reply to Dr. Hanson's Post: I DO NOT THINK I SPRAINED MY ANKLE WITHOUT REALIZING IT, BUT I WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I USE ICE AND ELEVATE MY FOOT. UNTIL THEN I DO NOT ACCEPT THIS ANSWER.
Answer
June 30 12:00 AM (12 minutes and 44 seconds later)
         
REPLIEDCheck Mark
Are you diabetic? Is your other foot swollen as well as the right? You are still taking your Lasix, correct?


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July 1 1:19 AM (1 day and 1 hour later)
         
Reply to Dr. Hanson's Post: I'VE NEVER BEEN TOLD I'M DIABETIC AND I DON'T BELIEVE I AM. MY LEFT FOOT IS NOT SWOLLEN. I'M STILL TAKING MY USUAL FUROSEMIDE. AT THIS POINT I'M UNABLE TO ACCEPT EITHER OF THE TWO ANSWERS AS BEING ADEQUATE.
Answer
July 1 2:10 AM (51 minutes and 4 seconds later)
         
ACCEPTEDCheck Mark
There are many possible causes of swollen feet (pedal edema). Some other causes (besides a sprained ankle) are congestive heart failure when your heart’s pumping ability cannot keep up with the blood being returned to it so that blood "backs up" in the veins and causes lower extremity edema (swollen feet). This is why I asked if you were taking your Lasix. Malnutrition or kidney failure can cause low protein in the blood with fluid leaking from the blood vessels which can cause swelling. Symptoms of CHF are trouble breathing or lying flat because you feel short of breath, fatigue, weight gain from excess fluid, chest pain, anorexia with a feeling similar to indigestion, swollen distended neck veins, skin is cold and sweaty, and a fast or irregular pulse.
Since you didn't mention symptoms of CHF, malnutrition, or kidney failure, then I ruled-out these causes of your swollen right foot.
Diabetics get what is called a "Charcot's foot". Charcot's foot is a complication of diabetes that occurs with neuropathy (nerve damage). The bones in the foot become weakened and fracture easily, even without any major trauma. The pain goes unnoticed and the patient continues to walk on the swollen fractured or sprained foot. Painless swelling is the hallmark of a Charcot's foot: http://www.drbrooks.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=44
Since you are not diabetic, don't have a sprained ankle, you aren't malnourished, are taking your Lasix to prevent CHF and you don't have kidney failure, then I think that you may have venous stasis. This is due to poor circulation caused by aging veins that impede blood return to the heart. Sometimes you can see the veins more prominently on your feet and they appear more full of blood but the blood isn't moving.
It’s important to keep active and to keep the swelling down by keeping your feet elevated when stationary and wear support hose.
I recommend that if the swelling in your foot isn't relieved with elevation and ice, then you should be examined by your primary care physician in person who will perform a doppler test to check the circulation in your extremities.



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