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What Causes Swelling And Blood Pooling In Legs?
Question: I've been wearing an elastic knee brace, daily, due to a persistently weak, trick knee joint. I put it on in the morning and take it off at night. It is fairly tight.
Last wednesday, while working on my live a board boat, I was overcome with Flue like symptoms: fever, chills, etc. I went below and lay down about 4pm. With the fever I, was in and out of a semi delirious state until sometime Thursday evening, about 7pm. I realized I had neglected to remove my elastic n
knee brace!When I did remove it, there was swelling and redness from two inches below the knee to the ankle.
Since then, I have mostly stayed in bed, with the leg elevated by pillows. Occasionally I get up, to shower or use the rest room or cook. When I position the leg vertically, it is very painful, until I walk a few steps. The swelling slightly decreased, but not the redness!
This morning I attended church for Easter Services. When I returned, I noticed the swollen area has extended half way down the metatarsal, though the newly swollen area has no blood pooling. It appears as if the shoe prevented further swelling.
What might be causing this swelling and blood pooling? Why is the condition so persistent? What should I do About it?
Thanks for your advice
Last wednesday, while working on my live a board boat, I was overcome with Flue like symptoms: fever, chills, etc. I went below and lay down about 4pm. With the fever I, was in and out of a semi delirious state until sometime Thursday evening, about 7pm. I realized I had neglected to remove my elastic n
knee brace!When I did remove it, there was swelling and redness from two inches below the knee to the ankle.
Since then, I have mostly stayed in bed, with the leg elevated by pillows. Occasionally I get up, to shower or use the rest room or cook. When I position the leg vertically, it is very painful, until I walk a few steps. The swelling slightly decreased, but not the redness!
This morning I attended church for Easter Services. When I returned, I noticed the swollen area has extended half way down the metatarsal, though the newly swollen area has no blood pooling. It appears as if the shoe prevented further swelling.
What might be causing this swelling and blood pooling? Why is the condition so persistent? What should I do About it?
Thanks for your advice
Brief Answer:
Avoid movements /Consult a physician the earliest..
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXX,
Thanks for the query through health care magic platform.
I have read your query carefully & understand your concern.
* The whole problem seems to be due to stagnant blood ( due to compression of the veins.. thus inhibiting venous return from lower leg. ) & absence of muscular movements for a long time ( as you were down with the fever in delirious state.) .. which usually help venous blood drainage as they contract. This added to the blood stagnation .
* The swelling resulted can be -
- because of blood stagnation.. resulting in damage to veins, oozing out of fluid in tissue.. inflammation of the tissue / cellulitis. This made the area red & painful.
- Possibility of deep vein thrombosis due to long standing blood forming blood clot followed by all of your symptoms.
* Extended swelling on your foot.. seems to be dependent edema on weight bearing part... as the veins there are also somewhat stressed due to back ward pressure & it's not red as there is no inflammation .
-. The swelling on foot ( being due to weight bearing )would disappear on raising the leg ( keeping on pillows ).. But as the calf to ankle swelling is because of inflammation.. it did not relieve with raising.
* The line of action suggested-
- Consult a physician the earliest
- Take rest, do not move till deep vein thrombosis is excluded.
- Do not massage.
- Can take tablet Ibuprofen 400 mg twice a day over the counter. Apply Thrombophobe ointment ( no massaging ) on the swollen area without skin cracking.
* Management-
The doctor would examine you locally & get your routine investigations ( Hb%/ TLC, DLC, ESR/investigations for bleeding & clotting time/ Imaging investigations like ultra sonography .. D dimer test .. to assess the deep vein thrombosis.
On finding the exact cause & presence or absence of DVT.. he would plan a treatment for you.This will include antibiotics/ anti inflammatory drugs/ anti coagulants... depending on diagnosis.
Please don't be tense, methodical assessment of condition by an expert & specific treatment would relieve you.
I hope, the answer was both informative and useful to you. Any follow up query is welcome.
Thanks.
Avoid movements /Consult a physician the earliest..
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXX,
Thanks for the query through health care magic platform.
I have read your query carefully & understand your concern.
* The whole problem seems to be due to stagnant blood ( due to compression of the veins.. thus inhibiting venous return from lower leg. ) & absence of muscular movements for a long time ( as you were down with the fever in delirious state.) .. which usually help venous blood drainage as they contract. This added to the blood stagnation .
* The swelling resulted can be -
- because of blood stagnation.. resulting in damage to veins, oozing out of fluid in tissue.. inflammation of the tissue / cellulitis. This made the area red & painful.
- Possibility of deep vein thrombosis due to long standing blood forming blood clot followed by all of your symptoms.
* Extended swelling on your foot.. seems to be dependent edema on weight bearing part... as the veins there are also somewhat stressed due to back ward pressure & it's not red as there is no inflammation .
-. The swelling on foot ( being due to weight bearing )would disappear on raising the leg ( keeping on pillows ).. But as the calf to ankle swelling is because of inflammation.. it did not relieve with raising.
* The line of action suggested-
- Consult a physician the earliest
- Take rest, do not move till deep vein thrombosis is excluded.
- Do not massage.
- Can take tablet Ibuprofen 400 mg twice a day over the counter. Apply Thrombophobe ointment ( no massaging ) on the swollen area without skin cracking.
* Management-
The doctor would examine you locally & get your routine investigations ( Hb%/ TLC, DLC, ESR/investigations for bleeding & clotting time/ Imaging investigations like ultra sonography .. D dimer test .. to assess the deep vein thrombosis.
On finding the exact cause & presence or absence of DVT.. he would plan a treatment for you.This will include antibiotics/ anti inflammatory drugs/ anti coagulants... depending on diagnosis.
Please don't be tense, methodical assessment of condition by an expert & specific treatment would relieve you.
I hope, the answer was both informative and useful to you. Any follow up query is welcome.
Thanks.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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