HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Please tell me about your swollen ankles/calves...yes there is a ? there!

Support Forums
>
Rheumatoid Arthritis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 2/25/2010 2:44 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all...I have only been formally dx'ed with RA for about a month and have been on Plaquenil less than a month. My main symptoms have always been pain in my fingers& hands mostly. More recently, I have had pain in my elbows, knees, and ankles and hips. I have had very little swelling- for example, while I had the flu a couple months ago, I woke up one morning and my left middle finger was swollen and the knuckles were warm to the touch, but only for about a day.

  Now it seems like my ankles or calves are swelling sometimes but I don't know how to tell! I thought that when your ankles swelled, they would swell around the joint. My left ankle was swollen around the bump on the outside of my ankle (sorry, don't know the name of that bone), and then if I pointed my toe, there would be swelling behind the bump. I sprained this ankle over 10 years ago and possibly tore ligaments. It has never been right since, and both my ankles click when I walk up stairs, have for years. Could the swelling be my ligaments swelling?

  Another thing that concerns me is, I was wearing sweatpants that had elastic around the ankles. My ankles started to hurt and I took the sweatpants off. There was a dent in my ankles where the elastic had been and they hurt so bad I had to wear these little crew socks that I  have (that didn't go up past my ankles). Since then, I have found that if I am on my feet for a long time, my ankles start to bother me and/or hurt, and I will take my socks off, and there will be a dent in my calf where my socks were scrunched up and my calf/ankle will be swollen. I have to sit with my feet up for a while to make the pain and swelling go away. Is this part of RA? Is this ankle swelling or is a new part of fibro (which I also have)?

  I have to wear socks all the time otherwise my feet are like blocks of ice. I like long socks, and the ones I wear have never bothered me before. Should I get some of those diabetic socks?

  Anyway, please tell me if I have the whole ankle swelling thing correct. Or is it my calves? What to do about it? Is it part of RA or a side effect of Rx? Thanks!

Posted 2/25/2010 9:57 PM (GMT 0)
Sounds like you are retaining fluid in your feet, ankles, and legs. That is what is calling the "dents" when you take off your socks. Plaquenil can cause edema in the feet and legs. One of the warnings says to contact your doctor if you develop swelling/edema in the feet and legs.

I had a medication cause me to retain fluid and I gained 6.5 pounds in 2 days. All of it was in my legs and feet. I was miserable.
Posted 2/26/2010 7:25 PM (GMT 0)
My RA started with pain and swelling in calf and ankle. Most recently, the swelling has settled in the sample place you indicated--towards heel behind ankle bone--on both sides but more on the inside. I also have a swell patch in front of the ankle bone as well. At its worst, it makes it very difficult to walk. I also have experienced pain off and on in the hips as well.
Posted 2/26/2010 7:28 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry, I meant to explain that it form was definitely a side affect of RA--I have never taken the Methotrexate. To be honest, I was scared to take it as it sounded very toxic. So, I have been trying the Enbrel. In addition to all the pain symptoms, I also had similar experiences with my feet being absolutely freezing and having difficulty wearing socks as you described. I have always been cold natured, but it was an entirely new level of having cold feet.
Posted 2/27/2010 1:56 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the replies! I am going to contact my rheumy and just let her know that it seems like my RA symptoms are getting worse and that my ankles are swollen.

Austin Misha, I know what you mean about a whole new level of cold feet! Some days it seems like I am so cold and cannot get warm at all no matter what I do and my feet are like painfully cold blocks of ice.

  But one thing that I found helps with cold feet is to put your socks in the dryer for a few minutes until they get warm, and then put them on. They will make your feet-and your whole body- feel toasty!

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply