Four Reasons Why You Might Have Swelling in Your Feet

Have you noticed swelling or inflammation in your ankles or feet?  Is the swelling worse in the morning or night?  Is the skin on your foot or ankle sensitive to touch and painful when you stand up?  Puffiness, enlargement, and irritation are just a few of the signs that your foot or ankle may be swollen.  Often times, swelling of the foot or ankle is preceded by an injury, such as a trip or fall.  However, if you have noticed swelling without an injury, you will want to contact your orthopedic surgeon in Deltona to seek medical attention.   There are a few reasons why you might have swelling in your foot or ankle if you haven't had an injury first.

Musculoskeletal Disorders

Overuse injuries or degenerative diseases can cause your ankles or feet to swell.  Because there are many ligaments, cartilage, nerves, muscles, and bones in your feet, they may show these signs before other parts of your body.  Whenever you have been overactive or physically exerted, you may recognize this issue.  It can sometimes be attributed to arthritis, sports overuse, tendinitis, and bone fractures.  

Damaged Veins

Have you been on your feet for many days in a row without much of a break?  If you spend a lot of time on your feet, you may notice swelling in your feet that is caused by damaged veins.  Gravity will cause the veins in your feet to become overworked and damaged, which can produce insufficient blood flow.  This condition, called venus insufficiency, is common in those who are overweight or who have careers that cause them to be on their feet all day long.

Diabetes

Those who suffer from diabetes may also be at risk for swelling of their feet or ankles, which is usually indicative of an infection.  If this occurs, you will also likely feel warmth and tenderness in this area.  Diabetics that notice swelling and tenderness in their extremities should seek medical attention immediately, as this can be extremely dangerous and even cause a loss of limb.

Pregnancy

Pregnant women are also prone to feet and ankle swelling, especially as they progress through their pregnancy.  During pregnancy, your body will naturally retain more fluids and place more pressure on your veins.  This condition, known as edema, will not only cause swelling in the feet and ankles, but also the face as well.

These are a few of the causes of swelling in your foot or ankle when you haven't suffered from an injury.  Some of these conditions may be complications that will need to be medically treated by an orthopedic surgeon in Deltona as soon as possible.  If you have noticed swelling in your extremities, contact us to schedule an emergency appointment with us today.