swollen ankles
 

Hello ladies, I'm a road warriorette, traveling transcontinentally (USA) every other week.

My ankles tend to swell when I fly, and the swelling persists for a couple of days. Now that it's not boot weather, it's a pretty unattractive look with a skirt suit.

I have some compression socks I found online, but the band at the top seems to cut into my leg at the back of my knee, and I'm worrying I'm causing more problems than I'm solving. They also only partially prevent the swelling, and even if they do, sometimes I get "rebound" swelling.

Are there other alternatives? Better socks? How do you deal with swollen feet/ankles on 5+ hour flights?

Keep your feet up in flight as much as possible. If you don't have a foot rest, use your carry on. Also, stay hydrated

Try a brand like Jobst. Running shoe stores may carry compression socks that might match your outfit.

Have you talked to your doctor about this? You may think it's normal to swell but it sounds like it is happening a lot. I would get it checked just to make sure there isn't an underlying issue.

I have a bad knee that will cause one leg to swell. I use the 20-30 mmHg compression socks. If you look on Amazon they have some that are sized better. I am short and bought some that are sized as "short" so don't cut into my popliteal area.

Tips
 

Check out these tips:

http://www.everydayhealth.com/foot-h...ng-travel.aspx

I do lots of little foot exercises in my seat like moving the toes up and down repeatedly--and then side to side. Seems to help.

Recently my feet started to swell, by the second day they are back to normal. Even when I do some exercises, they still swell.

Wonder if men get swollen ankles.

The only thing that keeps my feet from swelling is to prop them up.

First, yes, talk to your doctor if this problem is new, lasting longer, or the swelling has changed in some way recently.

My feet and ankles have always swelled a bit in flight, and here's what I do to minimize the issue (summer):

For the flight, I wear comfortable shoes with a low heel, but not flats. My go-to are Manolo slip-ons with just the lowest (maybe 3/4 of an inch?) heel. They are comfortable, and just a little big on my feet, so that they can accommodate a bit of swelling.

After take-off, I slip off the shoes and put on a pair of slippers or socks (as provided by the airline, or, on shorter flights, I bring a pair of socks from home). I move my seat so that the footrest area (or area beneath my feet) is up and supports my feet and ankles. Even while eating, I keep my feet up.

First night in the hotel, lots of lotion on the feet and ankles after my shower, followed by pillows under the feet in bed.

Yes, we certainly do. Compression socks and low salt day prior to and of flight help; if in business or better, elevating the feet helps too (on a cruise ship, where foods can be overly salty, one's life jacket under the foot end of the mattress provides some useful elevation.)

The higher your salt levels, the more you will retain water; on aircraft it's positional. Ditto with prolonged inactivity, and in coach it's really difficult to be active when everyone's crammed in like sardines.

For women's compression stockings / socks, there are many alternatives these days:

http://www.brightlifego.com

http://www.rejuvahealth.com

http://www.lunatikathletiks.com/Compression-Socks

Google designer or pretty etc. compression socks for more.

Ah... cankles. The bane of my existence. I get these even when I'm not flying sometimes (usually after a lot of walking on hard pavement, on really hot or humid days, and sometimes after flying). I always have to watch to make sure I'm not retaining fluid so I eat less salt, push the hydrating fluids (lots and lots of water), and sometimes will take a diuretic to help when needed.

Dr. Oz suggests rubbing Preparation H (or another anti-hemorrhoid cream) into them to help reduce the swelling somewhat and I've found this to be helpful when I have obvious swelling and need to do something quickly!

Interesting... I would never think of that!

The compression knee-highs don't work for me either. After an hour or so they are so tight below the knee I have to roll them down a bit. Jobst and some other brands have thigh high compression hose. I use these and they're wonderful for flying. Jobst also makes a sticky roll on that you can apply to your skin at the tops of the the hose. It's called "It Stays" and it really works well. I also wear a not too tight pair of bike shorts over them.

You really should use rubber dishwashing gloves when putting them on. They're also available in various strengths of compression. A medical supply store usually has stock sizes, but you can order custom fit ones (more expensive).

Also, since you're a road warriorette, you may want to ask you doctor to write a prescription for you for a pair of thigh-highs. Mine did... but of course the insurance paid nothing. I was able to deduct it from the medical expenses on my taxes, however.

Good luck

I remember a similar thread in the Travel Products (?) forum last year - many recommendations for brands of compression stockings to try and where you can buy them in France or Germany. My best friend lives in Scotland and travels quite a bit- she loves the compression tights (not sure what brand she uses) because they look like the regular black matte tights you might wear with a skirt in the winter.

Personally, I just use regular black knee length on flights but I don't have swelling issues to deal with so cannot help with that specific issue. Good luck!

You need to buy compression socks one size larger than you typically wear. I wear compression socks in size xlarge and they do not pinch at the top.

Also, you can get an inflatable travel foot rest like this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Inflatable-Tra.../dp/B003FFHO2Y

Good luck.

I'm recovering from a tib fx in left ankle and a torn MCL same leg. Happened July 10th. In an aircast for 6-8 weeks then will be fitted for knee brace. Last time I tore ACL and had to wear brace for several months.

Main issue: European trip November...90 days and counting. I know I'll have the brace, but wondering I give need the compression socks? I'm going to ask the ortho doctor at appt next week. I don't want to cause injury. I have some swelling in ankle, from a previous small bone chip in a fall in 2012. Yes, I'm a klutz.

I work out in a gym and had to stop to heal. I can now only do upper body stuff, but at home now with hand weights. I am hoping to start PT soon. I am determined to go on my trip no matter what.

For me, I think it's best for to ask the doctor, since I'll be there anyway. Heck, it may even be covered by my insurance if medically necessary.

Two of my doctors told me to wear thigh high compressions as you suggest. I also read somewhere (can't remember where) that knee high compressions could make it worse.

Bobette

I believe that because it's not just the ankles you should worry about. I have never had a pair of compression knee highs that did not become increasingly uncomfortable during the flight...so much so that I had to roll them down like the ladies in the '40s did.

Just to clear up, the thigh highs I use go to the top of my thigh, not like the ones pictured here:

http://www.compressionsale.com/activ...0-30-mmhg.html

Since I have lymphedema in one leg from surgery 25 years ago, I have to wear these when flying and mine are custom fit for length. I use the 20-30 mmHG compression gradient, although for a regular fit person, I would think you could use a lower gradient.

Definitely get the compression stockings!

Last summer I fractured ankle in May, fell & broke fibula near knee & re-fractured ankle on 4th of July, and got a DVT (blood clot) end of July/beginning of August due to the fractures. Ended up in emergency room due to DVT, on blood-thinners for seven months, and ortho prescribed compression stockings (he had a certain compression gradient that was listed on the prescription; the ones he prescribed were Jobst; knee high). I had an important in'tl biz trip 6 weeks later that was barely the time frame where you're allowed to fly after a DVT.

Once you get a DVT you're more susceptible to them, so now I wear the compression stockings whenever I fly. Actually when I'm in my home office & am not moving all day I can tell a difference, so there are times when I wear them in the home office. The stockings also help with swelling. Unlike others' experiences my compression stockings aren't uncomfortable/don't need to be rolled down.

My medical insurance didn't cover the compression stockings even thought I had a prescription for them. That was before the ACA went into effect so perhaps they would now (or maybe not). Depends on your insurance company. They're only $40 though, so even if you have to cover it it's not a lot.

Cheers.

My insurance doesn't pay for them either, but we take if off of our medical expenses on our taxes. That helps a tad.

Thanks for the link. I too have lymphedema and have been looking for a good source for stockings.


To anyone with swelling issues, if it is regularly occurring definitely talk to your doctor. I assumed I just had a fluid retention problem at first. After several months I finally consulted my doctor and we discovered it wasn't just fluid retention.

Wanted to bump this thread because on a recent trip to Germany I discovered a foot and leg cream, sold over the counter in their Apotheken (drugstores), containing, among other ingredients, red vine leaf and Arnica. This helps prevent and reduce swelling of the legs and feet. I have found it helps tremendously when my feet get swollen.

Do you know what it is called?

I know quite a few people who could benefit from something like this.

Is it something like this?
http://www.amazon.com/Nature-Yard-Ch.../dp/B00CCC4C5I

Or this? http://www.amazon.com/Nature-Yard-Cr...re+yard+arnica

It's called Gesundform rotes weinlaub bein- und fusscreme

The "ss" in fusscreme is a transliteration of a sharp "s," which Germany transliterates as "sz" or "ss". I never know the rule.

In any event, it's quite nice, and very reasonably priced.

http://www.apomio.de/preisvergleich/...vita-gmbh.html

Thank you so much, the price is very reasonable. Now just to figure out how to get some.

A mileage run maybe ??? :)

LOL or
 

or a google search:

http://www.ecco-verde.com/cmd-naturk...ot-and-leg-gel

Not on the schedule, I have a crazy busy fall!

Gretchen, thanks for your suggestion but they don't ship to the US. I ordered something with similar ingredients, we will see how it works.