Foot, leg, and ankle swelling

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Foot swelling

Lower leg edema

Swelling of the ankles - feet - legs; Ankle swelling; Foot swelling; Leg swelling; Edema - peripheral, Peripheral edema

• Elevate your legs above your heart while lying down.
• Exercise your legs. This helps pump fluid from your legs back to your heart.
• Wear support stockings (sold at most drug and medical supply stores).
• Try to follow a low-salt diet, which may reduce fluid retention and swelling.

Call 911 if:

• You feel short of breath.
• You have chest pain, especially if it feels like pressure or tightness.

Call your doctor right away if:

• You have decreased urine output.
• You have a history of liver disease and now have swelling in your legs or abdomen.
• Your swollen foot or leg is red or warm to the touch.
• You have a fever.
• You are pregnant and have more than just mild swelling or have a sudden increase in swelling.

Also call your doctor if self care measures do not help or swelling worsens.

Your doctor will take a medical history and conduct a thorough physical examination, with special attention to your heart, lungs, abdomen, legs, and feet.

Your doctor will ask questions like the following:

• What specific body parts swell? Your ankles, feet, legs? Above the knee or below?
• Do you have swelling at all times or is it worse in the morning or the evening?
• What makes your swelling better?
• What makes your swelling worse?
• Does the swelling get better when you elevate your legs?
• What other symptoms do you have?

Diagnostic tests that may be performed include the following:

• Blood tests such as a CBC or blood chemistry
• ECG
• Chest x-ray or extremity x-ray
• Urinalysis

Review Date: 06/03/2005
Reviewed By: Thomas A. Owens, M.D., Departments of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.