painful big feet filled with water

[anneke]

I am now on the two last weeks for my trip in peru.
we are traveling around al lot by bus and my feet are swolen and my legs hurt also. anny sugestions what I can do about this. I put them up at night and I put some kream on it. I try to cool them with water but they stay the same. I also have a lot of cramps and my left leg sometimes moves without reason ( it jumps when it is standing on teh floor). I also have a sleepy feeling in my legs.

next week I am going to drive for about 26 ours in bus ( there and back again in short peaces) and at the end a long flight back so sugestions are welcome. my mother told my to put them up and cool them with water but it is not enough.

Anneke

[Amsmom]

Hi honey,
Try some ice, it's good for swelling. Also keep your feet elevated as much as possible. Good luck Anneke

[Jorgy]

Anneke, traveling long distances is a natorious cause of blood clots and you sound like you are at risk. Get those legs moving during trips!!! Stand up and move around as much as you can. Swelling in your feet could be what is called dependant edema caused also from being in the down position for extended periods of time. When sitting put them up... above heart level is the best but not too easy when sitting on a bus! To check for blood clots there is a simple test you can do. When sitting extend your legs then bring your "toes toward your nose" without bending your knees. If you feel pain in your calves at a specific site you may have a clot. Also check your legs for red, painful spots. These could be blood clots. If you do notice a spot DO NOT RUB IT! and have it checked out ASAP.
Ice is good to keep swelling and pain down. Remember, you have to MOVE, MOVE MOVE your legs as much as possible!!! Happy traveling, Sue

[jdmom]

I had shin splints when I was younger and playing a lot of softball. You might want to go to the doctor and have things checked out. Shin splints take forever to heal, and are extremely painful.
Also, make sure you wear proper shoes when you are doing a lot of walking. I still play softball, and one night last year, I was in an all-night tournament. I wore my softball cleats the whole time, even when I was not playing and I really messed my feet up. I had to go to the doctor and he told me to soak them in ice (Have you ever tried to put your feet in a bucket of ice? It's almost impossible!) and he also gave me a prescription for Celebrex (I think that's what it was). I just tried to stay off them for a few days and they eventually healed. Now, when I know I am going to be at the ball fields for a long time, I take an extra pair of shoes to change into between games.
I understand that you might not be able to get to a doctor right now, but if they are still bothering you when you are home, you might want to consider it. Try to keep them up, TRY to do the ice, take some aspirin, and wear sensible shoes. Good luck, I know how much it hurts, poor thing.

[anneke]

thanks for the ideas.

we got stuck in lima becouse the busdrivers are on strike. so now I can take care of my feet
I am going to start wit a walk (shopping) and I am going to try that aspirinne too. I dont think I have bloodclonts becouse everithing hurts the same. I am going to give myselve a massage today.
I can massage verry good but have the problem that nobothy else ever gives my a masage. and at the moment my legs hurts so much I wont let anybothy else tutch them

thanks Anneke

[Madison]

Hi,
I've found when vacationing I'm EATTING alot of foods that I shouldn't be eatting like chips/junk food/ OVER eatting and the the SALT from those products combined with alot of car driving my legs/ankles SWELL like crazy!! Be careful of what you eat and how much. That's hard with vacationing but I've learned I CAN'T let loose anymore of my diet because my legs and feet REALLY HURT!!!!! Also CALCIUM IS WONDERFUL for legs CRAMPS!!! My boy is EXTREMELY active and he suffers from leg cramps usually happens at night. I've been giving him calcium at LEAST 1000 mg a day and that really helps ALOT!! Another thing is MAKE sure you take your VITAMINS! That's important. When I was pregnant with the kids at about 3/4 months into the pregnancy I suffered TERRIBLE/TERRIBLE.....LEG CRAMPS!! It was the thighs and calfs...ALL OVER the leg. What is was I was VERY LOW in IRON! I've never heard or read about a person getting leg cramps due to low iron! But I had to take iron tablets 3 times a day with a multi vitamin to get my iron built back up. Here I was eatting GOOD and really wasn't tired at all and they too hadnt' heard of leg cramps because of lack of iron but that's what it was. Took the iron tablets and cramps totally went away. Happened with each on of my pregnancy. They thought I was anemic but I wasn't after each of my pregnancy....HOPE this helps....madison

[finnmom]

Yes. madison has a good point.
Also lack of magnesium is one thing that make´s terrible hurting in leg´s. remember to drink a lot of water, that way the swelling get´s out, it helps the liquid-circuling to normalize. keep your leg´s up and gently masage them. Good luck!
Marja