Swollen Ankles?
#1
climber has-been
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Posts: 7,091
Bikes: Scott Addict R1, Felt Z1
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3417 Post(s)
Liked 3,547 Times
in
1,784 Posts
Swollen Ankles?
Has anyone here experienced swollen ankles after riding?
I noticed my ankles were swollen for the past week or so, enough that the top of my not-very-snug biking socks are leaving a dent in my ankle. I've never seen this before in all my years of riding. But then again, this is new territory for me (almost 61 y.o., week 9 of comeback training plan after 4 years of inactivity, recent longer rides with more climbing).
This morning, they're back to normal. Weird.
Anybody else gone through this before?
I noticed my ankles were swollen for the past week or so, enough that the top of my not-very-snug biking socks are leaving a dent in my ankle. I've never seen this before in all my years of riding. But then again, this is new territory for me (almost 61 y.o., week 9 of comeback training plan after 4 years of inactivity, recent longer rides with more climbing).
This morning, they're back to normal. Weird.
Anybody else gone through this before?
__________________
Ride, Rest, Repeat. ROUVY: terrymorse
Ride, Rest, Repeat. ROUVY: terrymorse
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: West Orange County, CA
Posts: 1,112
Bikes: '84 Peugeot PH10LE
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 397 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 55 Times
in
39 Posts
I'm 64 yo. I'm on warfarin for that very reason. It's called DVT's, commonly known as blood clots. Go see a vascular specialist. At the very least get compression stockings and wear them religiously. I live in a knee-high on my left leg. You might think about socks for diabetics. They are light weight, loose weave and won't leave the dent in your leg.
Jon
Jon
Likes For Jon T:
#4
climber has-been
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Posts: 7,091
Bikes: Scott Addict R1, Felt Z1
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3417 Post(s)
Liked 3,547 Times
in
1,784 Posts
#5
rebmeM roineS
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Metro Indy, IN
Posts: 16,216
Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 653 Post(s)
Liked 347 Times
in
226 Posts
I'm 64 yo. I'm on warfarin for that very reason. It's called DVT's, commonly known as blood clots. Go see a vascular specialist. At the very least get compression stockings and wear them religiously. I live in a knee-high on my left leg. You might think about socks for diabetics. They are light weight, loose weave and won't leave the dent in your leg.
Jon
Jon
Compression stockings or calf sleeves can help control lower leg swelling. https://www.webmd.com/dvt/choose-com...on-stockings#1
__________________
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Likes For JanMM:
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Down Under
Posts: 1,936
Bikes: A steel framed 26" off road tourer from a manufacturer who thinks they are cool. Giant Anthem. Trek 720 Multiroad pub bike. 10 kids bikes all under 20". Assorted waifs and unfinished projects.
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1188 Post(s)
Liked 1,154 Times
in
640 Posts
Go and see a doctor, there's a whole bunch of reasons ankles swell, none of them are good.
Likes For Trevtassie:
#7
climber has-been
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Posts: 7,091
Bikes: Scott Addict R1, Felt Z1
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3417 Post(s)
Liked 3,547 Times
in
1,784 Posts
You're right about the myriad causes of swelling ankles, which include:
- heart valve problem
- high blood pressure
- diabetes
- low protein levels
- deep venous thrombosis
- severe lung disease
- congestive heart failure
- varicose veins
- liver disease
- kidney failure
- obesity
- pregnancy
- dehydration
__________________
Ride, Rest, Repeat. ROUVY: terrymorse
Ride, Rest, Repeat. ROUVY: terrymorse
#8
Pennylane Splitter
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 1,878
Bikes: Yes
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1784 Post(s)
Liked 1,437 Times
in
987 Posts
Go see your doctor ASAP. If it is DVT its nothing to put off. Blood clots could break free from your legs and migrate up to your heart and plug a vein in it. I have it in only one leg, occurred suddenly when I got out of my car and thought I'd pulled a muscle. I've been taking warfarin, too, keeps it in check but it'll never go away. I can walk and bike ride normally, but by the end of the day my lower calf is noticeably swollen. I never used the compression socks.
#9
Forum Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Kalamazoo MI
Posts: 20,636
Bikes: Fuji SL2.1 Carbon Di2 Cannondale Synapse Alloy 4 Trek Checkpoint ALR-5 Viscount Aerospace Pro Colnago Classic Rabobank Schwinn Waterford PMount Raleigh C50 Cromoly Hybrid Legnano Tipo Roma Pista
Mentioned: 58 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3085 Post(s)
Liked 6,570 Times
in
3,767 Posts
Thread moved to 50+ Pills and Ills
#10
just another gosling
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Everett, WA
Posts: 19,528
Bikes: CoMo Speedster 2003, Trek 5200, CAAD 9, Fred 2004
Mentioned: 115 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3885 Post(s)
Liked 1,938 Times
in
1,383 Posts
Good advice, I'm on it. Now all I need to do is navigate the medical bureaucracy. My primary care doctor has quit, and none of the other doctors are accepting new patients.
You're right about the myriad causes of swelling ankles, which include:
You're right about the myriad causes of swelling ankles, which include:
- heart valve problem
- high blood pressure
- diabetes
- low protein levels
- deep venous thrombosis
- severe lung disease
- congestive heart failure
- varicose veins
- liver disease
- kidney failure
- obesity
- pregnancy
- dehydration
How did I learn all this? My wife has had this problem for some time. She tried compression socks on the bike but didn't like it.
But yeah, see a doctor.
__________________
Results matter
Results matter
Likes For Carbonfiberboy:
#11
climber has-been
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Posts: 7,091
Bikes: Scott Addict R1, Felt Z1
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3417 Post(s)
Liked 3,547 Times
in
1,784 Posts
Update: After about 10 days of puffy ankles, they went away and have not come back. Hooray for that.
My two main hypotheses for the cause are dehydration and inadequate protein intake. Hoping that's all it was.
Still waiting to see a doctor. After searching the regional medical groups for days, I finally found one that is accepting new patients (Stanford Family Medicine). The earliest appointment I could get was October 9th.
My two main hypotheses for the cause are dehydration and inadequate protein intake. Hoping that's all it was.
Still waiting to see a doctor. After searching the regional medical groups for days, I finally found one that is accepting new patients (Stanford Family Medicine). The earliest appointment I could get was October 9th.
Last edited by terrymorse; 09-14-19 at 05:49 PM. Reason: grammar fix
#12
Randomhead
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
Posts: 24,387
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Liked 3,687 Times
in
2,510 Posts
I have had swollen ankles after a couple of grand randonnees (1200 km in 4 days). It's pretty common for your heart to slow down during a ride like that, and one of the resulting symptoms is that there is water buildup in your lower legs. It goes away pretty fast. Hasn't happened to me recently, not sure what the difference is.
Likes For unterhausen:
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Down Under
Posts: 1,936
Bikes: A steel framed 26" off road tourer from a manufacturer who thinks they are cool. Giant Anthem. Trek 720 Multiroad pub bike. 10 kids bikes all under 20". Assorted waifs and unfinished projects.
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1188 Post(s)
Liked 1,154 Times
in
640 Posts
Update: After about 10 days of puffy ankles, they went away and have not come back. Hooray for that.
My two main hypotheses for the cause are dehydration and inadequate protein intake. Hoping that's all it was.
Still waiting to see a doctor. After searching the regional medical groups for days, I finally found one that is accepting new patients (Stanford Family Medicine). The earliest appointment I could get was October 9th.
My two main hypotheses for the cause are dehydration and inadequate protein intake. Hoping that's all it was.
Still waiting to see a doctor. After searching the regional medical groups for days, I finally found one that is accepting new patients (Stanford Family Medicine). The earliest appointment I could get was October 9th.
Not quite the same, because I'm already a patient, but if I ring the doctors at 8.30am I can usually get an appointment that day!
#14
climber has-been
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Posts: 7,091
Bikes: Scott Addict R1, Felt Z1
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3417 Post(s)
Liked 3,547 Times
in
1,784 Posts
That's right, doctors can't afford to live here.
__________________
Ride, Rest, Repeat. ROUVY: terrymorse
Ride, Rest, Repeat. ROUVY: terrymorse
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,753
Bikes: 1986 KHS Fiero, 1989 Trek 950, 1990 Trek 7000, 1991 Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo, 1992 Trek 1400, 1997 Cannondale CAD2 R300, 1998 Cannondale CAD2 R200, 2002 Marin San Rafael, 2006 Cannondale CAAD8 R1000, 2010 Performance Access XCL9R
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 284 Post(s)
Liked 385 Times
in
207 Posts
I still carry excess fluid from before my weight loss surgery, still on water pills, but a much lower daily dose. I get more swelling post ride, as opposed to during the ride. But so far, no need for compression socks.
#17
working on my sandal tan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,627
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3870 Post(s)
Liked 2,563 Times
in
1,577 Posts
I have had swollen ankles after a couple of grand randonnees (1200 km in 4 days). It's pretty common for your heart to slow down during a ride like that, and one of the resulting symptoms is that there is water buildup in your lower legs. It goes away pretty fast. Hasn't happened to me recently, not sure what the difference is.
I wouldn't be surprised if this is the real culprit behind a lot of other people's hot spots, too.