Causes of swelling in women's ankles

Ankle edema is a common condition. There are different types of ankle edema, including refractory ankle edema, multifunctional ankle edema, and nutritional deficiency ankle edema. Refractory foot swelling is common in women, usually affecting both feet at the same time and with a mild severity. Below we discuss the causes of edema in women's ankles.

1. What is the reason for swollen ankles?

1. Refractory foot swelling is common in women. Usually, the symptoms occur in both feet at the same time. The degree is mild and often occurs when standing for a long time or feeling tired. It will slowly disappear after lying down or resting.

2. Multifunctional foot swelling is common in women. It is generally not serious and often occurs intermittently. It can generally last for many years. Some patients' foot swelling is related to the season but not to the posture. The reasons remain unclear to this day.

3. Nutritional deficiency causes swollen feet. Insufficient meals, decreased digestion and absorption function, or chronic diseases can lead to nutritional deficiencies in the body, which in turn causes swollen feet. At this time, patients are often accompanied by anemia, and are prone to infections due to decreased immunity.

4. Cardiogenic leg swelling is caused by decreased heart function, especially in patients with right heart failure. A heart examination at this time may reveal physiological changes such as organic murmurs and cardiac dilatation.

5. Inferior vena cava foot swelling is caused by obstruction of blood flow back from the inferior vena cava, and one foot often swells first. It is caused by thrombosis in the inferior vena cava and compression of the inferior vena cava by a tumor in the pelvis.

2. What to do if you sprain your ankle

1. If the ligament injuries on both sides are minor and the knee joint stability is normal, you can lift the affected side and apply ice in the early stage to relieve pain and reduce bleeding and swelling. After 2 to 3 days, you can use acupuncture therapy, closed therapy, and external rapid swelling and stasis treatment drugs, rest appropriately, and pay attention to protecting the ankles (such as wearing high boots, etc.). If the injury is more serious, use 5 to 7 strips of tape about 2.5 cm wide to stick from the lower 1/3 of the inner side of the calf through the inner and outer ankles to the middle of the calf, and apply a bandage over the tape. Keep the foot in eversion position to relax the ligaments and facilitate healing. Keep it immobilized for about 3 weeks. If it is the medial ligament injury, the binding fixation position is reversed.

2. If the condition is serious, or the cruciate ligament is completely ruptured or there is an avulsion fracture, the affected foot should be immobilized with a short-leg plaster boot to keep it in a "lucky" position for about 4 to 6 weeks. An eraser pad or other wear-resistant material may be added to the bottom of the plaster of Paris boot to facilitate walking. If the ankle fracture is large and the reduction is poor, open reduction and internal fixation should be performed.