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My Feet Are Very Red, Warm, And Painful After A

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Posted on Tue, 30 Jun 2020
Question: My feet are very red, warm, and painful after a long flight. Is this dangerous?

This has happened before after a flight or a long day, but never this bad. My flight was 9 hours long, and I stayed seated the whole time. Now my feet feel like they're submerged in boiling water and are still very red.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Olgeta Xhufka (41 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Keep the limbs elevated.

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, welcome to Ask a doctor's service.
I read your query and here is my advice.
I think this is quite normal.
Having been sit for 9 hours in a plane is normal to have your feet red , swollen and painful. This happens because the blood is pooled there during the flight. It is better to move as much as you can and elevate while on plane.
Now you can wash them with cold water and keep them elevated with pillows over the level of heart and stretch them.
Also you can massage them gently be to help circulation.

Hope I have answered the question.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
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Follow up: Dr. Olgeta Xhufka (30 hours later)
Thanks for answering! It's been a whole day since this and there is no improvement. I've noticed that they only get better when I elevate my legs (lying down).

It seems to happen with my hands and feet as well. When I stand up, they get really hot, warm, and red. When I elevate them, they go back to their normal color. I've had this for years, so it's not new, but after this flight, it seems like it's gotten worse.

Since I'm outside of my health insurance coverage, I just wanted to know if this sounds to you like something that needs immediate attention or something that can wait ~2 months for me to get to my doctor. I've had people tell me it's poor circulation, blood clots, vein problems, and other stuff that is freaking me out a bit.

I'm wondering if it could be the hotter temperature here, poor circulation, or just a weird side effect of being seated for so long. Again, my symptoms go away as soon as I elevate the extremity. Otherwise it just becomes very red, hot, and painful. It's come to the point where people can point out how red and veiny my hands or feet look.

Thanks for your time!
doctor
Answered by Dr. Olgeta Xhufka (14 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Get your kidneys checked.

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, thank you for asking again.
Taking count that you have been having this problem for years it can wait for two more months to get checked.
I think you should firstly check the kidneys doing albumine and creatinine ratio and glomerular filtration ratio.
If kidney function is normal then you should check for vein issues doing an ultrasound of the foot veins because it can be poor circulation.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng
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Answered by
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Dr. Olgeta Xhufka

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2011

Answered : 10169 Questions

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My Feet Are Very Red, Warm, And Painful After A

Brief Answer: Keep the limbs elevated. Detailed Answer: Hello dear, welcome to Ask a doctor's service. I read your query and here is my advice. I think this is quite normal. Having been sit for 9 hours in a plane is normal to have your feet red , swollen and painful. This happens because the blood is pooled there during the flight. It is better to move as much as you can and elevate while on plane. Now you can wash them with cold water and keep them elevated with pillows over the level of heart and stretch them. Also you can massage them gently be to help circulation. Hope I have answered the question. Let me know if I can assist you further.