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What Causes Swelling And Fluid Retention In Legs?
Question: I do not know what else to do. The swelling and fluid retention in my legs have gotten progressively worse. I do not feel doctors are taking it seriously. This has been going on since XXXXXXX and progressively worse to the point where I have it all day in both legs...the entire leg. Right now my hamstrings feel very swollen. Sometimes my skin feels numb which it does right now as well. It is like a burning sensation. I do not know what else to do. My echo, EKG, ABI, and leg ultrasound come back normal. All labs and urine specimen are normal. I have pitting edema that has been diagnosed as well. Nothing relieves it....I have tried elevation, compression stockings...diet...I continue to gain weight despite diet and exercise (the Wahl's protocol to be exact), lifting weights and cardio. Doctors have no idea. I have a Moritz 1 Second degree heart block that I have had since my early twenties or that is when it was diagnosed. I am up to my wit's end. I am so distressed about this. My legs feel heavy a lot of the time as well.
Brief Answer:
More investigations may help
Detailed Answer:
Hi friend
Welcome to Health Care Magic
My empathies / probably, we doctors too are at our wit's ends in some cases - in trying to arrive at a conclusion ...
When it is bilateral (both sides, as here), a systemic cause is the underlying problem. The heart, kidney, liver, low protein are the issues - and there is nothing to invoke any of these….
Hence, the cause is likely regional – obstruction to upward flow… since the leg ultrasound is normal, the obstruction may be higher up – in the pelvis (iliac veins) or abdomen (Inferior Vena Cava)… Ultrasound of the abdomen and pelvis and/or MRI, MRA (MRI Angiography) may shed light.
Less common issues like lymphatic obstruction may occasionally be responsible
You are in good hands and the treatment is appropriate. Further management demands accurate diagnosis… and that demands more investigations …
Follow up with a vascular surgeon
Good luck
God bless you
More investigations may help
Detailed Answer:
Hi friend
Welcome to Health Care Magic
My empathies / probably, we doctors too are at our wit's ends in some cases - in trying to arrive at a conclusion ...
When it is bilateral (both sides, as here), a systemic cause is the underlying problem. The heart, kidney, liver, low protein are the issues - and there is nothing to invoke any of these….
Hence, the cause is likely regional – obstruction to upward flow… since the leg ultrasound is normal, the obstruction may be higher up – in the pelvis (iliac veins) or abdomen (Inferior Vena Cava)… Ultrasound of the abdomen and pelvis and/or MRI, MRA (MRI Angiography) may shed light.
Less common issues like lymphatic obstruction may occasionally be responsible
You are in good hands and the treatment is appropriate. Further management demands accurate diagnosis… and that demands more investigations …
Follow up with a vascular surgeon
Good luck
God bless you
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Sonia Raina
Thank you for the follow up. The management I have been trying is not working though...the swelling just gets worse. Compression stocking do not work...nothing is working that I mentioned. I have an appointment with a cardiologist this Tuesday. Hopefully they can refer for the MRA and ultrasound of the pelvis and abdomen. Thank you! This has been going on since XXXXXXX so it is very concerning. I appreciate your time!
Brief Answer:
Good luck
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Relax – there is no clot in the ultrasound and therefore, there is no emergency
The aim of any investigation is to modify treatment, based on the results
Hopefully, the cause could be discerned
God bless you
Regards
Good luck
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Relax – there is no clot in the ultrasound and therefore, there is no emergency
The aim of any investigation is to modify treatment, based on the results
Hopefully, the cause could be discerned
God bless you
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Thank you! I know it's not an emergency it's just that I keep gaining weight and it's distressing. Just worried it's idiopathic and I have to deal with this the rest of my life.
Brief Answer:
Accurate diagnosis helps
Detailed Answer:
weight gain is due to water retention - swelling becomes obvious when it is approximately 10 % of the weight...
Idiopathic ought to be an exclusion diagnosis after ruling out other diagnosis with relevant tests.
Our aim should be to identify a cause – a treatable cause. If only the cause is identified, appropriate treatment can be instituted…else, it is not a disease modify treatment, but symptomatic approach.
Hopefully you could be helped better, if the cause is identified…
Accurate diagnosis helps
Detailed Answer:
weight gain is due to water retention - swelling becomes obvious when it is approximately 10 % of the weight...
Idiopathic ought to be an exclusion diagnosis after ruling out other diagnosis with relevant tests.
Our aim should be to identify a cause – a treatable cause. If only the cause is identified, appropriate treatment can be instituted…else, it is not a disease modify treatment, but symptomatic approach.
Hopefully you could be helped better, if the cause is identified…
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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