Forewarned is Forearmed
If I had only known then what I know now.
Last Summer in the PNW was a warm one. Warm weather often leads to a swelling of the feet for me, and so it was last year. I had bought some cute slip on gatas from Land's End. They were made of a light weight canvas, and were not stretchy at all. I noticed, when I took them off at night, that there was a big imprint on my foot where the shoe had been. That puffiness on my foot was edema. It never occurred to me what kind of damage this was doing.
I had noticed that the balls of my feet were sore during the day, but after having learned to sublimate pain that comes with muscle spasms over the 30+ years I have lived with MS, I just accepted the pain, not giving it much thought. What was happening, however, was that I was getting pressure sores on the balls of my feet that were cause by the swelling. When I went to see a Dr. for something un-related, I mentioned the pain, and she examined my feet. The next thing I knew, I was referred to the Wound Clinic, and have been seeing them since September 2014! 11 months, now.
I had them almost all healed, when we had a few warm days in May and they came back! I now am on a regimen of diuretics plus a potassium supplement, ace wraps on my legs to keep the edema down (until I can get some compression socks), and a rule to put my legs up each hour.
So, if you are having an issue with heat related edema, which is common if you are sedentary, please take it from me -- Elevate your legs, and don't wear tight shoes! You'll save yourself a world of pain.
Be Well,
Aaaah.
ReplyDeleteI do have trouble with heat. And my feet swell to the point that almost all shoes are completely impractible - and bloody uncomfortable.
Thanks for the warning.
But there are always times when we have to wear shoes, aren't there? Thongs, or flip-flops aren't appropriate everywhere.
DeleteWell, my feet are swollen, especially the bad one, but it's not heat related. They're the same way in the cold weather. They're grotesque! I found an orthopedic shoe that helps. Arcopedico is the name of the company, and I wear them everywhere. The only problem is that they don't slide, which makes walking difficult. I think compression socks will be next, but I know I'll have a problem putting them on. Ah, the joys of MS!
ReplyDeleteI'll check out those shoes;since I'm not walking, the not-sliding is not an issue for me. When it comes to compression socks, your husband will have to help - it is what it is!
DeleteOH dear. That stinks, adding insult to injury. :(
ReplyDeleteHope you're doing a lot better
Glad to hear from you.
Yeah, it sucks for sure. I'll try to write more often, even though I am not doing better :-b.
DeleteHey, does anybody know how I can get rid of that Cutest Blog on the Block background stuff? It's lkely somewhere in my HTML which I can't figure out.
ReplyDeleteI do not know if I have edema or not but I have swelling feet especially in my bad foot. Yesterday I had to take back a pair of shoes in the size I have wore my whole life, get a half size bigger so I dont have he mark of pressure across the top of the foot. Thanks for sharing this
ReplyDeleteGood to hear from you. The feet swelling really bites. Thankfully I have been lucky. the heat kicks my arse though. remembering when footwear was purchased for its coolness, looks, or a particular activity.
ReplyDelete