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What Causes Swollen Legs While Recovering From Heart Stroke?

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Posted on Fri, 6 May 2016
Twitter Fri, 6 May 2016 Answered on
Twitter Thu, 23 Jun 2016 Last reviewed on
Question : 2 years out recovering from stroke became septic approx. 9-10 months ago basically I have had to start over for rehab. I continue to use a wheelchair for mobility. prior to illness had not used a wheelcjair fo well over a year. problem now 3+ pitting edema ankles feet to below knees. bilateral. also tissue hardened (difficult to describe. echo showe an ejection fraction of 70. with some aortic stenosis, kidney function wnl.. Lasix daily dose 25mg in am, where to turn for a diagnosis? I am becoming quite alarmed other blood work pretty much wnl I am a retired rn, could this possibly be entirely from sitting in a wheel chair? and maybe lympnedema? If so any suggestions for correcting my problem My legs look hideous. I have tried compression stockings. fluid would become trapped just above my ankles resulting in tissue with a bubble like appearance with the skin looking translucent.
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Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (13 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Sitting entirely would be a major contributor!

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this query.

I am so sorry to hear about this stroke and the swollen legs. Most likely, the predominantly sitting position is responsible for fluid draining under gravity to these areas. The most common causes of bilateral swollen legs are heart failure, liver failure, malnutrition and kidney failure besides postural constraints. With extensive testing unable to show any abnormality, I am pretty sure that this is linked to your prolonged sitting position in the wheel chair. Also, being unable lot use these legs makes it difficult for muscles to contract which is very important in returning fluid to the heart.

I will recommend that you get pneumatic compression booths from Normatec. This will help. Ask your doctor about this. I wish you well.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Dr. Ivo Ditah

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :2002

Answered : 3982 Questions

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What Causes Swollen Legs While Recovering From Heart Stroke?

Brief Answer: Sitting entirely would be a major contributor! Detailed Answer: Hi and thank you so much for this query. I am so sorry to hear about this stroke and the swollen legs. Most likely, the predominantly sitting position is responsible for fluid draining under gravity to these areas. The most common causes of bilateral swollen legs are heart failure, liver failure, malnutrition and kidney failure besides postural constraints. With extensive testing unable to show any abnormality, I am pretty sure that this is linked to your prolonged sitting position in the wheel chair. Also, being unable lot use these legs makes it difficult for muscles to contract which is very important in returning fluid to the heart. I will recommend that you get pneumatic compression booths from Normatec. This will help. Ask your doctor about this. I wish you well.