# Causes of foot swelling **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 19, 2014, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/causes-of-foot-swelling/686492 "2014-04-19T16:04:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sentrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac8455/32.png) [@sentrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sentrix)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2014, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/causes-of-foot-swelling/686492/1 "2014-04-19T16:04:07Z")
I woke up a couple of days ago with my left foot swollen, only my left foot, throughout the day I felt pain in my calf which extended to the knee and my ankle went big also. Today my right foot is a little swollen, the left is puffed up like a pillow. I have had no injuries, no strenuous exercise, haven’t been bitten by anything, just sitting at my desk. Really strange this. I am a smoker. Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2014, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/causes-of-foot-swelling/686492/2 "2014-04-19T16:08:16Z")
I know it’s GQ and I’m guessing but I’m sure something is interfering with venous return. **DOCTOR NOW!** ---
**Author:** ![sentrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac8455/32.png) [@sentrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sentrix)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2014, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/causes-of-foot-swelling/686492/3 "2014-04-19T16:12:11Z")
I thought it would go away, tried soaking in salt hot water, elevating it. Tonight seems its extending up my leg a sort of uncomfortable feel. Doc tomorrow, any natural diuretics I could try? ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2014, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/causes-of-foot-swelling/686492/4 "2014-04-19T16:20:49Z")
When one foot/calf swells acutely without obvious reason (such as trauma), especially with associated pain in the calf, two things come to mind: Ruptured [Baker’s Cyst](http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bakers-cyst/basics/definition/con-20023332) [Deep Venous Thrombosis](http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Deep-vein-thrombosis/Pages/Introduction.aspx) (i.e. clot) Missing the former is no big deal, but a clot you need to know about it. So, an ER/MD visit is in order. Of course, if it is actually the case that _both_ your feet are swelling, a whole new set of possibilities arise . . . ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2014, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/causes-of-foot-swelling/686492/5 "2014-04-19T16:21:54Z")
When you poke it with your finger, does it stay compressed like memory-foam mattress? ---
**Author:** ![sentrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac8455/32.png) [@sentrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sentrix)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2014, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/causes-of-foot-swelling/686492/6 "2014-04-19T16:22:24Z")
Ok doc tomorrow as its not going away anytime soon. Thanks for the replies. ---
**Author:** ![sentrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac8455/32.png) [@sentrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sentrix)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2014, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/causes-of-foot-swelling/686492/7 "2014-04-19T16:23:45Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > When you poke it with your finger, does it stay compressed like memory-foam mattress? Yes it does. Had something similar after a long haul flight. But both feet. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2014, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/causes-of-foot-swelling/686492/8 "2014-04-19T16:27:03Z")
OK, good that you’re seeing a doctor tomorrow and just killing time with us in the meantime. But that’s consistant with edema. ---
**Author:** ![sentrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac8455/32.png) [@sentrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sentrix)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2014, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/causes-of-foot-swelling/686492/9 "2014-04-19T16:31:14Z")
I’m in Asia, different time zones, the thought of seeing a doc here is a bit daunting so I thought I’d run it past the board. Always good advice. ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blue_blistering_barnacle/32/3386_2.png) [@Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Blistering_Barnacle)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2014, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/causes-of-foot-swelling/686492/10 "2014-04-19T16:53:54Z")
If you develop chest pain or shortness of breath, do not delay. See doctor immediately. ---
**Author:** ![fighting\_ignorant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ac8455/32.png) [@fighting\_ignorant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fighting_ignorant)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/causes-of-foot-swelling/686492/11 "2014-04-21T04:01:52Z")
This happened to my wife and has stayed that way for about 7 years. No pain discoloration or other ill effects, other than one swollen leg. Went to tons of dr’s, specialists, etc. Had tons of tests - xrays, ultrasounds, etc. No real diagnosis, no real treatment except compression stockings which don’t do much. Any advice would be great! ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/causes-of-foot-swelling/686492/12 "2014-04-21T04:20:52Z")
Medical advice is best suited to IMHO. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/causes-of-foot-swelling/686492/13 "2014-04-21T12:10:48Z")
This happened to me a couple of years ago minus the calf swelling. It turned out that I had cracked a couple of metatarsals without realizing it. :wishing best for the OP: ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/causes-of-foot-swelling/686492/14 "2014-04-21T13:15:29Z")
Perhaps [gout](http://www.patient.co.uk/health/gout-leaflet).