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Is Persistent Pitting Pedal Edema Dangerous?
Question: My ankle is swollen and when I press my finger into the swelling it remains indented. Is this dangerous?
Brief Answer:
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
What you are describing is called pitting edema. There is fluid accumulating in the tissues. This can be due to the valves of the veins allowing back flow and increased pressure which causes fluid to seep out into the tissues. That is an innocuous cause which occurs in both legs if both have been down. Occasionally it can occur on one side only if only one leg has incompetent veins, but typically it is in both legs. It decreases when you have your legs elevated for awhile as this helps return fluid to the general circulation.
Another cause of swelling in the lower legs can be from the heart not working as strongly as it should, and this can go with shortness of breath, from fluid in the lungs too. For this you should be seen and evaluated.
If it is in only one ankle though, it can be caused by a deep vein blood clot (DVT) and this causes swelling below the level of the clot. This is a more serious cause and needs to be evaluated right away because of the risk of some of the clot breaking off and going to places in the body where it can cause more trouble. So if the swelling is in one leg only, and you have never had this before, then you should go to the ER to have it evaluated.
So - unless you have had this evaluated before, and particularly if you are having any shortness of breath, or if the swelling is on one side only, then you should go in to be seen now.
Please let me know if I can provide further information.
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
What you are describing is called pitting edema. There is fluid accumulating in the tissues. This can be due to the valves of the veins allowing back flow and increased pressure which causes fluid to seep out into the tissues. That is an innocuous cause which occurs in both legs if both have been down. Occasionally it can occur on one side only if only one leg has incompetent veins, but typically it is in both legs. It decreases when you have your legs elevated for awhile as this helps return fluid to the general circulation.
Another cause of swelling in the lower legs can be from the heart not working as strongly as it should, and this can go with shortness of breath, from fluid in the lungs too. For this you should be seen and evaluated.
If it is in only one ankle though, it can be caused by a deep vein blood clot (DVT) and this causes swelling below the level of the clot. This is a more serious cause and needs to be evaluated right away because of the risk of some of the clot breaking off and going to places in the body where it can cause more trouble. So if the swelling is in one leg only, and you have never had this before, then you should go to the ER to have it evaluated.
So - unless you have had this evaluated before, and particularly if you are having any shortness of breath, or if the swelling is on one side only, then you should go in to be seen now.
Please let me know if I can provide further information.
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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