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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Does Swelling On The Right Ankle Indicate?

I noticed about a month ago my spouse right ankle and leg looks very swollen much larger then the left. He said it does not hurt or bother him to walk on it, seems to have a little discoloration around the ankle/foot area but is not warm to the touch either. Since it doesn't seem to bother him he doesn't think he needs it checked out and refuses to go see a Doctor for it. My concern could this be a dvt that I need to worry about getting to the lungs or heart or could it be cellulitis. It does really worry me because I feel like it just keeps swelling more and more.
posted on Sat, 7 Apr 2018
Twitter Sun, 15 Apr 2018 Answered on
Twitter Thu, 26 Apr 2018 Last reviewed on
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Ayurveda Specialist,  's  Response
Hello,

I've two opinions regarding your symptoms;

1. Swelling of ankle could be Leg edema [peripheral edema] which can be caused by a problem with the circulatory system, lymphatic system or the kidneys for which consultation with your primary care provider is 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

2. One urgent medical condition which has to be immediately excluded, in the legs is DVT [deep vein thrombosis] so seek immediate medical intervention [vascular surgeon opinion] or visit an emergency room.

Venous stasis can occur due to valve incompetency, injury, or poor circulation, and it can indicate the presence of life-threatening blood clots in the deep veins, ask for doppler study [since the clot could break free and travel up to the lungs to cause a fatal embolism.

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
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What Does Swelling On The Right Ankle Indicate?

Hello, I ve two opinions regarding your symptoms; 1. Swelling of ankle could be Leg edema [peripheral edema] which can be caused by a problem with the circulatory system, lymphatic system or the kidneys for which consultation with your primary care provider is 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 2. One urgent medical condition which has to be immediately excluded, in the legs is DVT [deep vein thrombosis] so seek immediate medical intervention [vascular surgeon opinion] or visit an emergency room. Venous stasis can occur due to valve incompetency, injury, or poor circulation, and it can indicate the presence of life-threatening blood clots in the deep veins, ask for doppler study [since the clot could break free and travel up to the lungs to cause a fatal embolism. 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