Swollen Ankles – Ayurvedic Treatment, Diet, Exercises, Research Papers, Yoga & Pranayama

The ankles and legs are common sites of swelling because of gravity’s effect on the fluids in the human body. However, fluid retention from gravity is not the only cause of a swollen ankle or leg. Injuries and subsequent inflammation can also cause fluid retention and swelling. A swollen ankle or leg can cause the lower part of the leg to appear larger than normal. The swelling can make it difficult to walk. It may be painful, with the skin over the leg feeling tight and stretched out. While the condition is not always a reason for concern, knowing its cause can help rule out a more serious problem.

Signs & symptoms

            Swelling in the ankles & feet

            Difficulty to walk

            Ankle joint pain

Causes

  • Foot or ankle injury
  • Cellulitis
  • Side effect of certain medications
  • Chronic venous insufficiency
  • Blood clots
  • Pregnancy
  • Preeclampsia
  • Lymphoedema
  • Obesity
  • Heart failure
  • Kidney failure
  • Venous insufficiency
  • Leg infection
  • Liver failure
  • Gout
  • Arthritis

Pathophysiology

Oedema results from increased movement of fluid from the intravascular to the interstitial space or decreased movement of water from the interstitium into the capillaries or lymphatic vessels. The mechanism involves increased capillary hydrostatic pressure.

Diagnosis

        Physical examination

            Medical history

            Blood examination

            Urine examination

            X ray

Treatments

Mild swelling from pregnancy or a mild injury usually goes away on its own after delivery of the baby or with sufficient rest.

Diuretics are used in congestive heart failure, which affect the kidneys and stimulate them to release fluids.

Symptomatic treatment is needed in rheumatoid arthritis.

Bone resetting, a cast, or surgical repair is needed in injury.

Anti-inflammatory medication, such as ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen sodium (Aleve) are used in swelling with pain.

Prognosis

Prognosis depends upon the cause. Swollen ankles can develop due to long time sitting etc, but they can also indicate a potentially serious disorder, such as congestive heart failure, deep vein thrombosis, and liver failure.  So, it is important to get a proper diagnosis.

Complications

  • skin ulcers and infection.
  • Deep vein thrombosis,
  • increased swelling
  • redness or warmth
  • sudden and severe pain
  • chest pain lasting for more than one to three minutes
  • fainting or dizziness
  • confusion

Disease & Ayurveda

        Paadasopha/gulphasopha

Nidana

        Causative factors for the vitiation of Vaata and Kapha

            Chronic systemic diseases or Fasting can cause ksheena in a person.

            This tired/emaciated person when subjected to –

  • Excessive usage of Guru, amla, snigdha, seta, lavana, kshaara, teekshna, ushna
  • Saaka (leafy vegetables)
  • Ambu (water intake)
  • Swapna-jaagaram (sleep and wake up schedule)
  • Mrith (soil)
  • Graamyamaamsam (meat of domestic animals)
  • Vallooram (dried meat)
  • Ajeerna (indigestion)
  • Sramam (exertion)
  • Maithunam (sex)
  • Padaathe margagamanam kshobhinaa yaanena vaa (pedestral travelling or travelling by shaky vehicles)
  • Swaasakaasaathisaararsojatharapradarajwaraa: – asthma & other breathing disorders, cough, diarrhoea, piles, ascites, leucorrhoea or other bleeding disorders, and fever
  • Vishoochika-alasaka chardi garbha visarpa paanduta – (disorders of delayed digestion, vomiting, pregnancy, herpes, and anaemia)

Purvaaroopa

                Not mentioned separately

Samprapti

        Due to the causative factors, the vitiated doshas travel along the channels in the body. When they get lodged in the ankle joint, they produce oedema there.

Lakshana

        Sopha in gulpha – oedema of ankles

Divisions

  1. Nija
    1. Aagantu
  • Sarvangajam
    • Ekangajam
  1. Prithu
  2. Unnatam
  3. Grathitam
  • Vaatika
    • Paittika
    • Kaphaja
    • Samsargaja
    • Sannipaataja
    • Abhighaataja
    • Vishaja

Prognosis

Saadhya in new cases without complications

Chikithsa

In oedema other than that due to an injury, fasting should be observed according to the strength of the patient. Then after light food intake, pratisarana choornas should be given in warm water. If the doshas are highly vitiated, gomootrahareetaki should be given for cleansing the body. After proper cleansing and enhancing digestion, medications are given for rakta suddhi and srotovisodhana.

In oedema due to injury, raktamoksha, ghritapaana, lepana with cold potency drugs, and virechana should be administered.

Samana

Lepanam with Rookshana dravyas

Swedanam

Sodhana

Virechanam

Raktamoksham

Commonly used medicines

        Bruhathyadi kashayam

            Punarnavadi kashayam

            Punarnavasavam

            Chandraprabhavati

            Gokshuradi guggulu

Brands available

AVS Kottakal

AVP Coimbatore

SNA oushadhasala

Vaidyaratnam oushadhasala

Home remedies

To treat a swollen ankle or leg at home, remember the acronym RICE:

  • Rest. Stay off your ankle or leg until you can get to the doctor or until the swelling goes away.
  • Ice. Put ice on the swollen area as soon as you can for 15 to 20 minutes. Then repeat every three to four hours.
  • Compression. Wrap your ankle or leg snugly, but be sure not to cut off circulation. Support stockings may be an option.
  • Elevation. Raise your ankle or leg above your heart (or as far above your heart as possible). Two pillows will usually give you the correct elevation. This encourages fluid to move away from your leg.

Diet

  • To be avoided

Heavy meals and difficult to digest foods – cause indigestion.

Junk foods- cause disturbance in digestion and reduces the bioavailability of the medicine

Carbonated drinks – makes the stomach more acidic and disturbed digestion

Refrigerated and frozen foods – causes weak and sluggish digestion by weakening Agni (digestive fire)

Milk and milk products – increase kapha, cause obstruction in channels and obesity

Curd – causes vidaaha and thereby many other diseases

  • To be added

Drink enough liquids

Light meals and easily digestible foods

Green gram, soups, honey

Freshly cooked and warm food processed with cumin seeds, ginger, black pepper, ajwain etc

Behaviour:

Protect yourself from cold climate.

Better to avoid exposure to excessive sunlight wind rain or dust.

Maintain a regular food and sleep schedule.

Avoid holding or forcing the urges like urine, faeces, cough, sneeze etc.

Avoid sedentary lifestyle. Be active. Avoid continuous standing,

Yoga

Regular stretching and mild cardio exercises are advised in cases of mild swelling with no restriction of movements. Proper circulation of body fluids is very important in the management of oedema. Also, specific yogacharya including naadisuddhi pranayama, bhujangaasana, pavanamuktasana is recommended.

Regular exercise helps improve bioavailability of the medicine and food ingested and leads to positive health.

Yoga can maintain harmony within the body and with the surrounding system.

Yoga for swelling in feet

Pavanamuktasana

Nadisudhi pranayama

Bhujangasana

All the exercises and physical exertions must be decided and done under the supervision of a medical expert only.

Research articles

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK53445/

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, United States. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Please consult your GP before the intake.

Dr. Rajesh Nair, Ayurveda Expert, Ayurvedic Medicine, India

Writer:
Dr. Rajesh Nair, the co-founder and chief consultant of Ayurvedaforall.Com, is a graduate of prestigious Vaidyaratnam Ayurveda College (affiliated with the University of Calicut), Kerala, India. Additionally, he holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Yoga Therapy from Annamalai University.

Dr. Nair offers consultation at two busy clinics in and around Haripad, Alleppey, Kerala, the southern state famous worldwide for authentic ayurvedic treatment and physicians. While offering consultation on all aspects of ayurvedic treatments Dr. Nair has a special interest in Panchkarma, Yoga, and Massage.

Through Ayurvedaforall Dr. Nair offers online consultation to patients worldwide and has served hundreds of patients over the last 20 years. In addition to his Ayurvedic practice, he is the chief editor of ayurveda-amai.org, the online portal of Ayurveda Medical Association of India, and the state committee member of Ayurveda Medical Association of India.

Dr. Nair is a regular speaker at Ayurveda-related conferences and has visited Germany to propagate Ayurveda. You can write directly to him-
rajesh@ayurvedaforall.com

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