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What Causes Fluid Leaking From The Lower Leg Area In Elderly?

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Posted on Mon, 22 Jun 2015
Question: My mom has fluid leaking from her leg .... She is 90 and recently had a prolapse ring the fluid is leaking from her lower leg area
My mom lives in XXXXXXX and I am living in West palm Beach Florida and I am trying to get her help advice on what she can do
Thank you in advance for your time
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Are her legs swollen? One leg or both of them? Any pains?

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this query.

I am so sorry to hear about what your mother is going through. Fluid leaking from the lower leg area often results from excessive fluid accumulation in the leg. This happens in persons who have failing veins, a heart disease, a kidney disease or a liver disease.

If this is affecting juts one leg, then it could be suggestive of an infection, insufficient veins to carry the blood back to the heart or a block reabsorption system( The lymphatic system). I am assuming that there she is not in pain otherwise, a blood clot would be possible.

If this is affecting both legs, then the heart, liver and kidneys are the possible causes.

To identify the exact cause, we would need to examine her and pick some clues and follow up with testing. This way, the cause would be identified and treatment options proposed.

For now, reducing her salt intake, reducing the amount of fluid she drinks, raising the legs to facilitate drainage and avoiding standing upright for long would help. Ultimately, she needs to get evaluated and managed for this. If it is possible, I will like to obtain an image for review.

I hope this helps. I wish your mom well. Thanks for using our services and feel free to ask for more information and clarifications if need be.
Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Ivo Ditah

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :2002

Answered : 3984 Questions

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What Causes Fluid Leaking From The Lower Leg Area In Elderly?

Brief Answer: Are her legs swollen? One leg or both of them? Any pains? Detailed Answer: Hi and thank you so much for this query. I am so sorry to hear about what your mother is going through. Fluid leaking from the lower leg area often results from excessive fluid accumulation in the leg. This happens in persons who have failing veins, a heart disease, a kidney disease or a liver disease. If this is affecting juts one leg, then it could be suggestive of an infection, insufficient veins to carry the blood back to the heart or a block reabsorption system( The lymphatic system). I am assuming that there she is not in pain otherwise, a blood clot would be possible. If this is affecting both legs, then the heart, liver and kidneys are the possible causes. To identify the exact cause, we would need to examine her and pick some clues and follow up with testing. This way, the cause would be identified and treatment options proposed. For now, reducing her salt intake, reducing the amount of fluid she drinks, raising the legs to facilitate drainage and avoiding standing upright for long would help. Ultimately, she needs to get evaluated and managed for this. If it is possible, I will like to obtain an image for review. I hope this helps. I wish your mom well. Thanks for using our services and feel free to ask for more information and clarifications if need be.