Swollen Tourist Tootsies
Jul 18th, 2005, 07:40 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 933
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Swollen Tourist Tootsies
What's your best recovery tip for tired swollen feet and ankles after a long day of walking in the heat? My lower legs tend to swell after long flights anyway and I'm anticipating that this will be a problem for me upon arrival the first few days of our trip to Italy in September. I'd like to figure out how to best combat it so it doesn't lay me up - gots lots to see and do and eat and drink, ya know!
Jul 18th, 2005, 08:35 AM
#2
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 2,121
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Top-quality walking shoes and socks are a must--spare no expense in getting the best you can, and your feel should be comfy throughout the trip, no matter how much you walk.
While a bit of edema in the extremities isn't unusual after sitting for several hours, edema after walking is abnormal. Walking normally relieves edema by improving circulation. If your feet and ankles are consistently swollen after a walk, you should see a doctor to find out why. If you <i>injure</i> your feet or ankles that can cause swelling, but just walking should make it go away, rather than make it get worse.
I wear very good shoes and socks when walking and I never have any problem with swelling, soreness, blisters, or pain, even in very hot weather and after walking as much as 17 hours at a time.
While a bit of edema in the extremities isn't unusual after sitting for several hours, edema after walking is abnormal. Walking normally relieves edema by improving circulation. If your feet and ankles are consistently swollen after a walk, you should see a doctor to find out why. If you <i>injure</i> your feet or ankles that can cause swelling, but just walking should make it go away, rather than make it get worse.
I wear very good shoes and socks when walking and I never have any problem with swelling, soreness, blisters, or pain, even in very hot weather and after walking as much as 17 hours at a time.
Jul 18th, 2005, 08:41 AM
#3
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 37,416
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I just elevated my feet in the evening when we got back to the hotel. I also drank lots of water and NEVER missed an opportunity to hit that bathroom when it was convenient whether or not I really thought I had to go. As Anthony says, the walking also helps with the swelling, it forces the water up out of your ankles. Make sure your shoes have some support and "give" to them.
Jul 18th, 2005, 08:43 AM
#4
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,977
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Place your swollen feet and lower legs into cool water for 15 minutes. Not cold, just cool.
Have you determined answers to the following:
1. At what age did this swelling first come to your notice?
2. When was the last time you had your heart condition and blood pressure checked by a physician?
3. Are you overweight? Not just a litte, but seriously overweight?
4. Are you drinking enough water? Legs cramp when you become dehydrated.
Gatorade helps overcome loss of vital salts. But water is most important.
After soaking your feet, keep them elevated for another half hour. You should notice improvement over time.
Have you determined answers to the following:
1. At what age did this swelling first come to your notice?
2. When was the last time you had your heart condition and blood pressure checked by a physician?
3. Are you overweight? Not just a litte, but seriously overweight?
4. Are you drinking enough water? Legs cramp when you become dehydrated.
Gatorade helps overcome loss of vital salts. But water is most important.
After soaking your feet, keep them elevated for another half hour. You should notice improvement over time.
Jul 18th, 2005, 08:45 AM
#5
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't normally have foot problems of any kind, and I usually walk miles and miles a day when on vacation. But when I do have sore feet, I've found nothing works better than filling the bidet up with ice, pulling up a chair, and plunging the feet in!
Jul 18th, 2005, 09:00 AM
#6
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 34,858
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't have swollen feet, but of course, I can get tired after walking so much. I just rest, that's about it, as well as making sure I have decent shoes. I rotate shoes some, also, and don't wear the same pair every day. I definitely don't wear the same shoes in the evening as during the day time.
Swelling of lower legs is very serious, I hope you've seen a physician. I've never heard of that being due to walking a lot, although it can be due to chemical imbalances. I had that only once in Paris for a few days (when I was there a month, actually, and it didn't appear for a couple weeks). I think it may have been because the tap water in Paris has a different chemical composition than I was used to, and I was staying there a long time. I wondered if they had high sodium levels. YOu have to be careful with bottled water, as some of that mineral water has a lot of sodium in it.
Swelling of lower legs is very serious, I hope you've seen a physician. I've never heard of that being due to walking a lot, although it can be due to chemical imbalances. I had that only once in Paris for a few days (when I was there a month, actually, and it didn't appear for a couple weeks). I think it may have been because the tap water in Paris has a different chemical composition than I was used to, and I was staying there a long time. I wondered if they had high sodium levels. YOu have to be careful with bottled water, as some of that mineral water has a lot of sodium in it.
Jul 18th, 2005, 09:31 AM
#8
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,614
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A good friend of mine had an ankle injury, and noticed that ankle in particular seemed very swollen even after she "recovered" from the injury. Turns out she needed to buy shoes a half size larger after that! (She was crowding the toes in the shoe that was on the uninjured foot, but it didn't manifest itself with a swollen ankle.) There are several peppermint sprays on the market (by Body Shop, and I think Dr. Scholl's) meant to relieve hot, tired feet. I'm a bit fan of elevating the feet if they are uncomfortable, and this seems to help. BTW, a visit to a podiatrist may be in order prior to your departure; I have found mine to be very helpful. You might need to have him prescribe compression stockings or some similar item to alleviate the problem.
BC
BC
Jul 18th, 2005, 09:37 AM
#9
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 1,418
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I agree that walking should not make your ankles swell.
However, sitting on an airplane for hours on end does.
Go to a health food store and get some Potassium Orotate. It will balance high levels of salt.
Drink lots of water.
My mother has this problem of swelling ankles on flights and this has helped her alot.
However, sitting on an airplane for hours on end does.
Go to a health food store and get some Potassium Orotate. It will balance high levels of salt.
Drink lots of water.
My mother has this problem of swelling ankles on flights and this has helped her alot.
Feb 2nd, 2007, 09:25 AM
#10
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 240
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I just saw my podiatrist and I told him I was concerned about circulatory problems (although I do not suffer from them, as best I know). He said, "maybe you should get compression socks, although that won't stop your feet/ankles from swelling due to the sitting". So, now that I read this forum I wonder, what are the socks for if not to prevent swelling?
Feb 2nd, 2007, 10:02 AM
#11
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,204
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I sometimes have this problem too and have found that wearing support socks (a doc friend of mine sent them to me but I think you can get them at medical supply stores and some pharmacies) on the plane (my socks go to my knees) and drinking lots of water and wearing good supportive shoes helps. I always test out my shoes before I go by doing as much city walking in them.
Good luck.
Good luck.
Feb 2nd, 2007, 10:09 AM
#12
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Walking should not make legs swell. However, a lot of standing - like in Museums - can. However if you get a lot of swelling from walking you really should see you doctor - as it could be a erious problem.
For comfort you can get compression stockings or sox (but if the condition is serious you should get a specific prescription from your MD - and order from a surgical supply store - not just the regular "pressure" socks in a travel web site.
For comfort you can get compression stockings or sox (but if the condition is serious you should get a specific prescription from your MD - and order from a surgical supply store - not just the regular "pressure" socks in a travel web site.
Feb 2nd, 2007, 11:32 AM
#13
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 19,419
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hazel, please do yourself a favor and see a doctor. I am glad I had.
During the annual check-up I mentioned compression socks and he said: absolutely not. For me, only loose clothing, water, walking, exercise.
I was getting the swelling due to high blood pressure. There are different reasons for it, please don't take it lightly.
During the annual check-up I mentioned compression socks and he said: absolutely not. For me, only loose clothing, water, walking, exercise.
I was getting the swelling due to high blood pressure. There are different reasons for it, please don't take it lightly.
Feb 2nd, 2007, 11:56 AM
#17
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
<<During the annual check-up I mentioned compression socks and he said: absolutely not. For me, only loose clothing, water, walking, exercise>>
I was glad to read this. I wondered at the earlier recommendation for compression socks/knee highs, and I've seen and heard it before.
On my doctor's advice I went to the county health department for inoculations before a trip to North Africa. I had a consultation and learned a lot about food, drinking water, hand wipes, etc. When I returned for my second inoculations I mentioned getting compression hose and she said "We do not recommend doing that. If you'll be flying coach you'll be sitting upright and the blood will be pooling in your lower legs and the compression hose will make it worse. The best thing to do is get up several times and move around.
I was glad to read this. I wondered at the earlier recommendation for compression socks/knee highs, and I've seen and heard it before.
On my doctor's advice I went to the county health department for inoculations before a trip to North Africa. I had a consultation and learned a lot about food, drinking water, hand wipes, etc. When I returned for my second inoculations I mentioned getting compression hose and she said "We do not recommend doing that. If you'll be flying coach you'll be sitting upright and the blood will be pooling in your lower legs and the compression hose will make it worse. The best thing to do is get up several times and move around.
Feb 2nd, 2007, 12:46 PM
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 933
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well, I was certainly surprised to see this post pop back up after all this time! Just thought I'd let you know that all went well way back then, and my imagined swollen feet/legs never materialized, at least not from walking around. They were a bit puffy the day I arrived after the 10 hour flight, but I consciously tried to get up and walk a bit more during the flight than I usually do, so they actually weren't as bad as they've been in the past. And I never had any problems just from walking. A little bit sore after miles and miles of walking, but not swollen. Now my problem is that I seem to have developed plantar fasciitis in my left foot, so I'm taking it easy trying to let it heal before our next big trip to Italy in May, when I plan to walk miles and miles in Bella Roma.
