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What Causes Itching And Swelling Around The Ankles?
I have Lupus so I do not know if this is related. I have a very itchy large swelling on the outside of my ankle. I will say my feet and hand joints have been a little painful this week, but I am the type of person to try and ignore the pain, I do not like drugs. I do take prednisone and plaquenil , but a fairly low dose of each. My doctor wants me to increase but I do not want too... I just hate the itching on my ankle and I did apply a cream that helps. I am 72 years old.
Tue, 18 Sep 2018
Hello,
1. Use of steroid [prednisolone] and plaquenil [hydroxycholoroquine] does increase the risk of blood clot [DVT] among people who take the above-said drugs, especially for people who are female, above 60 years, have been taking the drug for 5 - 10 years, so check with a vascular surgeon who can indicate the presence of life-threatening blood clots in the deep veins, and ask for doppler study [since the clot could break free and travel up to the lungs to cause a fatal embolism.
2. consultation with your primary care provider is also essential, who might also exclude whether leg edema is :
- Arterial: due to poor circulation in the arteries.
- Diabetic: due to high blood sugar.
- Vasculitic: due to any inflammatory disorder OR
- traumatic: due to injury to the leg
PS. The symptoms have to be carefully assessed by your doctor to ensure that whether it requires immediate medical attention or long-term therapy.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Munish Sood,
Ayurveda Specialist
1. Use of steroid [prednisolone] and plaquenil [hydroxycholoroquine] does increase the risk of blood clot [DVT] among people who take the above-said drugs, especially for people who are female, above 60 years, have been taking the drug for 5 - 10 years, so check with a vascular surgeon who can indicate the presence of life-threatening blood clots in the deep veins, and ask for doppler study [since the clot could break free and travel up to the lungs to cause a fatal embolism.
2. consultation with your primary care provider is also essential, who might also exclude whether leg edema is :
- Arterial: due to poor circulation in the arteries.
- Diabetic: due to high blood sugar.
- Vasculitic: due to any inflammatory disorder OR
- traumatic: due to injury to the leg
PS. The symptoms have to be carefully assessed by your doctor to ensure that whether it requires immediate medical attention or long-term therapy.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Munish Sood,
Ayurveda Specialist
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