Standing for long periods, sitting for too long, or walking a lot can result in foot swelling and ankle swelling. However, if you have foot and ankle swelling that doesn’t go away or is accompanied by additional symptoms, you may need to contact your healthcare provider. Here’s a closer look at some of the most common causes of swelling in the feet and ankles, as well as advice on when it’s time to seek help in case you need ankle surgery, foot surgery, or another type of medical intervention.
Side Effect of Medications
Some types of medicines may cause ankle swelling or foot swelling as a potential side effect. These medications include:
- Calcium channel blockers (a kind of blood pressure medicine, including felodipine, verapamil, amlodipine, diltiazem, and nifedipine)
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen)
- Hormones like testosterone and estrogen
- Medications that treat diabetes
- Corticosteroids
- Antidepressants (including monoamine (MAO) inhibitors and tricyclics)
Pregnancy Complications
Foot and ankle swelling and corresponding ankle pain or foot pain are fairly common during pregnancy. However, excessive or sudden swelling may indicate preeclampsia, a serious medical condition in which protein in the urine and high blood pressure develops. If the swelling is accompanied by nausea and vomiting, vision changes, abdominal pain, infrequent urination, or severe headaches, call your physician right away.
Blood Clot
Blood clots can be very serious, and when they form in the veins of your leg, they keep the blood from flowing back to your heart, which results in foot swelling and ankle swelling. If those clots break loose and travel to the lungs or heart, they can be life-threatening. If you notice the swelling is only in one leg and you have a low-grade fever, pain, or even change to the leg’s color, get medical attention immediately.
Kidney or Heart Disease
In some cases, foot and ankle swelling may indicate serious problems like kidney or heart disease. If kidneys don’t function properly, fluid may build up in your body, causing the swelling. If your ankles swell in the evening, it could be a sign that you’re retaining water and salt due to right-sided heart failure. If you experience foot and ankle swelling with loss of appetite, weight gain, or fatigue, call your physician. If the swelling is accompanied by pressure in your chest, chest tightness, shortness of breath, or chest pain, call 911.
Foot and Ankle Injuries
Injury to your foot or ankle may also result in swelling. One of the most common injuries is a sprained ankle, which may happen if you misstep or are injured, and the ligaments that hold your ankle in place are stretched beyond normal. This can lead to bruising, swelling, and ankle pain. Fractures to the small bones in your foot or ankle have the potential to cause swelling and ankle or foot pain. If you have severe pain or the swelling isn’t relieved by basic home remedies like applying ice and keeping the area elevated, it’s important to see a physician to ensure you don’t have an injury requiring more extensive treatment like foot surgery or ankle surgery.