[ParaforGod]

Hi Everyone,

I just got out of the hospital for swelling all over my body, but alot in my leg and foot.

I was wondering if anyone else has this problem.

My Thyroid is messed up which can cause weight gain, and swelling along with my high estrogen level which also causes weight gain and swelling. I have gained alot of weight due to these things along with not being able to move from breast down.

Although before I had these problems I had alot of swelling. My ankle and foot swell twice their size. My doctor has told me Im at risk of dying with my weight and swelling because the fluid can gather around my heart or in my lungs he got thirty pounds of fluid off.

I've tried loosing weight but it just wont come off. I was slim before my accident.

Just wondered of anyone has had the same problem.

Thanks

[McRobb]

Hi, Parafor God - I, too, have trouble with swelling of my legs and feet. I put most of mine down to lack of motion and to the fact that I broke both legs in my accident and I think that impaired the circulation which makes the swelling worse.

I take a water pill all the time to help with that and make sure that I drink lots each day-- That helps with the catheter as well. I have an air mattress so I do not roll at night so that allows us to prop my legs up on a pillow to keep pressure off heals and also helps with the swelling by morning.

I can sympathize with the weight problem but I was heavy before and now am diabetic since my wreck so that makes things doubly hard. If you come up with a way to get the weight off, I think you could sell it as it does seem to be a problem for many.

Wish I had some great news for you but all I can do is to sympathize. Sorry.

[edlee]

Hi Paraforgod,

I know the swelling problem and the weight thing too. I wish I could give you an answer, but I don't have one either. I've tried the hose and the water pills not to mention the elevation of the legs ( which, by the way, seems to help the most) but it always comes back by evening. I've just decided that's just the way it's going to be. As for the weight, I have gained 40 pounds since the injury. I may have lost the use of my legs, but my jaws seem to have taken up the slack. I have started going to the gym three days a week, so maybe that will help.

All I can do is sympathize and let you know you're not alone. That's the message I've gotten on this forum site and it has helped me to know that. Good luck, Ed

[ParaforGod]

Thanks guys I also use a fliud pill and elevate my leg.M y left leg is amputated. I don't eat much and I pretty much eat the right foods. I don't just have swelling in my leg and foot the swelling is all over and it's alot. Do you just swell in your legs and feet or all over?

[McRobb]

My swelling stays mostly below the knee. I had one ankle crushed in the wreck and it swells the worst. If I have to be in bed for a couple of days, it goes way down but when I am up on a regular basis, it swells each day.

I am like the other person who replied - I just figure that is the way it is going to be. If there were a place to exercise around here, I would go as well but there is no where set up for a wheelchair.

Wishing you the best, McRobb

[justin]

Yea last week i got out of the hospital for swelling in my stomach and leg. WE thought it might be a blood clot causeing it cause once befor it did. well come to find out my loveknox was caiseing my right leg to internally bleed and they wouldnt of know that if it hadnt of got swollen so i got something good out of it

[ParaforGod]

Thanks so very much guys.

McRobb
I said my Lt. leg was amputated but I meant my right leg. Also my Rt. leg was crushed in the accident all the bones were broken, and my rt. foot was nearly cut off in the accident. The bone in my Rt. leg was shattered. They tried to save it I had 7 surgeries on that leg. I have rods in my stump. My pelvis was shattered so its metal plates and pins them my back has metal rods all the way down I severed my spinal cord. I had a total of 15 surgeries. I have a copy of my medical records. Im glad you got to keep your foot. I've had people say whats it matter if you can't walk well no one whats to lose a body part, and the Phantom pain is awful. It doesn't bother me when others say things like that because they just don't understand.

Justin
thank you so much for the information. I worked nearly 20 yrs at our Health Dept. I drew blood for alot of test but I never heard of Loveknox. What is that. I will mention it to my doctor and maybe that is something he can check out for me. I think you wrote the word Loveknox, I will look again. I had a brain hemorrhage and I get words mixed up. Also my short term memory is bad. I ask my daughter to get the pay phone instead of the cordless all the time We laugh all the time. You know God is still so very good. He has blessed me so. I will keep you guys in my prayers and I hope you will do the same for me. God bless!

[edlee]

When I was first injured or for two months afterwards that is , I had swelling every where below my injury site (t10). It progressivly lessened to just my legs at about five months and to below my knees after about a year. That hasn't changed since then and I am two and a half years into this thing.

Sorry I can't be of more help. That's what those overpaid arses who call themselves doctors are for. Hopefully they will sort it out for you soon.

Keep posting to let us know how you are doing. Hang in there , they tell me it gets easier!!??

Ed

[ParaforGod]

Thanks Edlee,
My accident was actually 6yrs. ago. Because I lost my husband in the accident and I was unconscious I didn't get to go to the funeral it was all over when I came to so it didn't seem real to me. I didn't have closure therefore I think the first 3yrs. I was trying to deal with his death. We had been married only 6wks. Losing him was worse than my being hurt. It still is. Im o.k. now although I have my times like we all do. Thats why I think this forum is so great we all have been through the same thing to a certain amount and we can help each other whether we've already been there or are now just going thru something and someone has already been there and can help us. It has gotten easier, but like I said we all have our moments. God Bless you and I will keep you in my prayers as I do each and everyone on this forum. I can't call each ones name but God knows who you all are. Thanks

[lune14]

Para4God,

Lovenox is an anticoagulant. I was on a 5 week Lovenox therapy when I developed DVT's (after severe leg and foot swelling) My left foot was double in size and it was my continual pressing of my doctor for answers that finally convinced her to send me for an ultrasound which revealed DVT's in both legs. After those 5 weeks I was put on an indefinate Coumadin (Warfarin) therapy (blood thinner). When the swelling still had not subsided I entered an edema therapy which involved 30 minute treatments for about a week. The treatments consist of having cuffs placed around your leg (mine were from hip to toe) which are attached to an air pump. Afterward I was wrapped from toe to just below the knee with bandaging. After the 4th treatment (which took about a week) I was fitted for compression socks. I still have swelling but very little and the compression socks do help. There are so many degrees to this issue and no one answer here on the boards can suit you, it really is something you need evaluated. If your doctor cannot determine the cause of your fluid build-up , see another doctor.
I wish you the best and hope you find some solutions very soon!

[ParaforGod]

Hi Lune14,
Thanks so much for the information I will talk to my doctor about the edema therapy. I have never heard of anticoagulant being called loveknox or if I have I don't remember like I said I had a hemmorage on my brain so I get words confused, spelling, and my short time memory is bad so I also learned something else new. Thanks also for that. If I came across as not being satisfied with the information that was given to me I apologize. Im sorry. Its not that I haven't been satisfied with what the others had to say because I was. I know its common for swelling to happen in lower extremities I was just wondering if anyone else had swelling all over. I was just replying back to let them know how thankful I am for their taking time to reply and give me their imformation and that we had somethings in common as you and I do also. I also am on warfarin. I had a bloodclot in the groin of my Lt. leg about 6months ago. My Doctor wanted me to get a type of sock that zips up it fits on the lower extremity of the leg but cost $400.00 a month. Medicare or Medicaid won't pay for it and I can't afford it. Like I said my thyroid and estrogen are messed up which can cause weight gain and swelling but after treating those Im still swollen all over so I thought if someone else was having the swelling all over it in all probability is from my paralysis. I thank each of you that replied.

[Chilepepper]

ParaforGod, on Apr 11 2007, 09:33 PM, said:

Thanks guys I also use a fliud pill and elevate my leg.M y left leg is amputated. I don't eat much and I pretty much eat the right foods. I don't just have swelling in my leg and foot the swelling is all over and it's alot. Do you just swell in your legs and feet or all over?

When you say "you don't eat much" and "I pretty much eat the right foods". What do you mean by that. What I'm asking is how many times do you eat a day and what type foods do you eat through out the day(breakfest, snacks, lunch and supper). By given this information it would be a very good start in to seeing what you are doing weather right or wrong in with regards to the amount of food ingested through out the day and types foods(foods that burn fat and build muscle).


You do have to remember that by not working out will increase your weight gain, unless your metabolism is running at a fast rate and it sounds like it has almost stopped from your description. I know I'm going through the same thing in that I did no exercise this winter and sure can see it and I do not like it. Thanks god summer is almost here.

Anyway ParaforGod here is something to read, just to give you an idea what to eat if you want to lose weight without feeling hungry throughout the day.
http://www.menshealth.com/cda/article.do?s...010cfe793cd____
http://www.bodybuild...fun/stella9.htm

Just because we are in wheelchairs does not mean we can not look good. It just takes more time for use to lose weight than the average person, but it can be done. You just need Patience and don't expect miracles to happen over night. Because if you expect to much too soon, you will loose your desire because the your goal you were hoping for just seems soooooooo far away. Little steps.




http://www.bodybuild...fun/stella9.htm

[ParaforGod]

Hi Chilepeper,
Thanks for the sites and information. You ask what I eat and how many times aday. After my daughter was born 25yrs. ago I needed to get some weight off so I went to Weight Watchers I lost 60lbs about 1yr. after her birth. I had always been very slim before her birth. I kept the weight off until about 3yrs. ago. My accident was 6yrs. ago. Back to what I eat. I still follow weight watchers. I eat all the non starch veg. I want. I eat 2 breads aday. I eat 2 fats aday, 3 fruits aday and 6oz. protein aday. Not being a big bread eater I sometimes save my breads and have popcorn or sometimes use my bread as a starch veg. I do my exercise not everday as I should but 4 times a wk. When I wrote my main concern was the fluid build up. I really do have a great doctor. I guess because I was slim for so long and eating what I should I hope the weight gain is from my thyroid and estrogen because they do make you gain weight and can also cause the fliud build up. When I talk about the swelling all over I mean my face,hands,arms,body,legs,foot. I am a T4 and am very swollen above my injury. When you push down on these areas instead of popping back up it stays down for awhile which shows there is fluid. I guess what I was trying to find out was if its common to swell above your injury. I just got out of the hospital for 8 days and my doctor got 30 pounds of fluid off and Im still swollen he has told me Im at risk of dying because the fluid could get around my heart or in my lungs. My doctor at home is great and has ask me to make a appointment at Shephard Center where I went for rehab so that is my next step. I just wondered if anyone else had the same problem. Maybe if I exercise more it will help the weight gain and maybe my next appt. will open up more on the fluid build up. Thanks again for the information and taking the time to reply

[ryan Kruse]

Well one way is to not eat as much. I take a multi vitamin in the morning for breakfast; have a sandwich for lunch and a small meal for dinner. I also strap ankle weights to my wrist and do arm aerobics. This helps get my heart rate up and in return helps with the swelling. Sure some days I get the spins and I'm sure it is from not eating as much as I should but really once you get use to eating smaller portions it isn't that bad. Pretty much starving myself is the only way to keep my weight in check. I don't suggest people with diabetes to do this but really if you can't exercise or choose not to then not eating as much is the only option. You can eat everything you want but keep it small.

Oh, my doctors solution for leg and feet swelling is get them up. Well, I don't have the time to do so or the means. I'm pretty much on my own from 8am to 11pm so you can see it is difficult for me to get them up during the day. I do wear compression hose and they do help a bit but my feet still look like a Macy Day Parade float. Be careful with the hose though because they can cause pressure sores on your heals and the top of your feet where your foot meets the leg. I found just cutting a small slit in those area's help.

C5/C6 Quad for 16 years

This post has been edited by ryan Kruse: 19 April 2007 - 02:26 PM

[ParaforGod]

Thanks RyanKruse, I really do appreciate the advice along with the others. I've come to the decision that even though the doctors tell me what Im eating is ok Im going to have to eat less and also do my exercise more. My rods in my back are all the way down and I hurt so bad, but even so Im going to have to exercise more that 4 times a week. Thanks to all!

[sandyrun]

Hello, ParaForGod!!

I don't know if anything I'm fixing to say will help, but you never know. The way I feel is put the info out there and perhaps it will help, or at least someone will gain an ounce of help from it.

First, I am not SCI (I am AB with b/f C4,5,6). However, in addition to my b/f, I have several other SCI friends. One guy friend (not b/f), would have both his legs and feet swell horribly every day. But, when he got up in the morning he stayed up all day until late at night. He was not able / did not elevate his legs/feet during the day. I know that that can cause swelling, but to what extent for you I do not know. When he would stay in bed from being sick, etc., his feet and legs would go down to normal size.

You said the doctor got 30 lbs. of fluid off. That's an awful lot of fluid. I don't mean to be negative, but has he ever told you that you have congestive heart failure? That causes a lot of fluid buildup, and can be all over the body in addition to just feet and legs. Of course, you said you were taking a fluid pill, I believe, so that should be helping. Just a thought, but wonder if you need a different one, or more mg.

From what you say, it sounds like you do not eat bad. Have you thought of actually writing everything (everything) down that you eat daily? Sometimes we can lose track of exactly how much we eat during a day. Being unable to exercise, you don't burn many calories a day. Drinking water helps on diets, and I know from my b/f that drinking lots of water is essential for a SCI person. But how would you know how much to drink to be beneficial, w/o it being too much as far as retaining fluid goes?

Another thought....How much salt do you consume daily? When I was put in the hospital back in 1986 with extremely high blood pressure, I was told never to eat a grain of salt again. And for years I never added salt, but we get salt from so many foods.....ketchup, mayo, mustard, pickles, salad dressings, olives, canned foods, and on and on. Perhaps take note of the amount of salt intake would help. It sure wouldn't hurt.

I wish you well. Be sure to keep us informed. Take care of yourself!!

[ParaforGod]

Hi Sandyrum,
Thanks for the info. I really do apprreciate it. My doctor has checked me for congestive heart failure and high BP. I don't have either but the doctor and I are amazed. At weight watchers you do write down what you eat but I have been just keeping up with it in my mind. I really don't eat alot but as you said its not the same as writing it down. I do drink alot of water which is basically all I drink I might have a cup of diet coke a week. My doctor told me to drink alot of water to flush out the fluid. I know when Im saying Im doing what Im suppose to it sounds as though Im not. The doctor has increased the fluid pill and I have noticed while drinking even more water and taking the increased dosage my swellling has gotten a little bit better. My doctor wants me to go back to Shephard Center because of my pain and swelling. My van is in the shop and has been for 2wks. As soon as I get my van back I will make a appt. and post what they say. Thanks again for your thoughtfulness and info.

[axl from down under]

Hi

Was reading this thread and thought I'd add from my experience.

Being a para (T4/8) for 21 years, I have suffered from oedema (fluid retention) in my legs and feet-particuarly in warmer climates, I tried the usual elevation legs, drinking water etc.

2 years ago my elderly father was in hospital and had really bad fluid oedema, his doctor placed him on a low sodium diet. I thought I'd give it a try and see if it would work for me and it did.

Might be an idea to discuss this with your doctor

Cheers

Tanya
Australia

[ParaforGod]

Thanks axl from down under
I still haven't got to the doctors at Shephard Center because I totaled my wheelchair. The parts have been ordered. I have cut back on my salt which wasn't much in the beginning but I salted a little during cooking not afterward also I have been in the hospital 11 times sence fall not all for the swelling but sence Im better and moving around more the swelling isn't as bad. You all have been so caring and helpful.

[ihaveaheartofgold67]

ParaforGod, on Apr 11 2007, 06:03 PM, said:

Thanks guys I also use a fliud pill and elevate my leg.M y left leg is amputated. I don't eat much and I pretty much eat the right foods. I don't just have swelling in my leg and foot the swelling is all over and it's alot. Do you just swell in your legs and feet or all over?

i have the same problem i swell all over my hands are swollen,arms, stomach,legs feet.i had to get my rings cut off.my finger was a 6 and when i got it cut off now it is size 9 1/2.my feet are a 61/2 and my shoes are size 9 retarded.i also take water pills.no help.i gained lots of weight too before i weighted 128 now 220 jsut since my surgery last march.big difference.any comment will be helpful