If you have lupus, which is a type of autoimmune disorder, you may notice swelling in your feet and ankles. Lower limb swelling occurs in approximately half of all people with lupus. Lupus frequently damages the kidneys, which are responsible for maintaining the correct quantities of fluid in the body. When the kidneys don’t work properly, fluid can build up in the lower limbs and lead to painful swelling. A podiatrist can help you reduce swelling in your feet and ankles. This foot specialist may suggest wearing compression stockings and changing your footwear, as well as improving your exercise habits or diet. They can also prescribe orthotics to increase your comfort and make it easier to walk. To learn more about caring for your feet when you have lupus, schedule an appointment with a podiatrist near you.
When dealing with systemic disease of the feet, it is extremely important to check the affected areas routinely so that any additional problems are caught quickly. If you have any concerns about your feet and ankles contact one of our podiatrists from Michigan Foot & Ankle Center. Our doctors will assist you with all of your podiatric needs.
Systemic Diseases of the Feet
Systemic diseases affect the whole body, and symptoms usually are displayed in the feet. This condition can make a patient’s ability to walk unbearable. Systemic diseases include gout, diabetes mellitus, neurological disorders, and arthritis.
Gout – is caused by an excess of uric acid in the body. Common symptoms include pain, inflammation, and redness at the metatarsal/phalangeal joint of the base big toe. Gout can be treated by NSAIDs to relieve pain and inflammation, and other drugs that lower the acid levels in the body.
Diabetes mellitus – is an increase in the level of blood sugar that the body cannot counteract with its own insulin. Failure to produce enough insulin is a factor in Diabetes.
Diabetes of the Feet
Diabetic Neuropathy – may lead to damaged nerves and affect the feet through numbness and loss of sensation.
Peripheral Vascular Disease – can restrict the blood flow to the feet, and often times lead to amputation of the feet.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Livonia, and Southfield, MI . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.
FAQs
The symptoms of lupus nephritis may include foamy urine and edema—swelling that occurs when your body has too much fluid, usually in the legs, feet, or ankles, and less often in the hands or face. You may also develop high blood pressure. Check your blood pressure. High blood pressure can be a sign of lupus nephritis.
What autoimmune disease causes swelling in the legs? ›
Lupus nephritis is a serious problem. Its symptoms, though, are not always dramatic. For many, the first noticeable symptom is swelling of the legs, ankles and feet. Less often, there can be swelling in the face or hands.
How do you reduce swelling from lupus? ›
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): Over-the-counter (OTC) NSAIDs relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Your provider will tell you which type of NSAID will work best for you, and how often you should take it. Don't take NSAIDs for more than 10 days in a row without talking to your provider.
What is the biggest indicator of lupus? ›
Lupus involves periodic flare-ups, in which symptoms intensify, and remission, in which symptoms lessen or disappear. The most common symptoms include fatigue, painful and swollen joints, skin rashes—most notably, a butterfly-shaped rash across the face—unexplained fever, and mouth or nose ulcers.
How do you get rid of fluid retention from lupus? ›
Diuretics: These medicines help your body get rid of excess fluid and swelling. These can be used to lower your blood pressure too. Diet changes: Some diet changes may be needed, such as reducing salt (sodium) and protein in your food choices to help control blood pressure and lighten the load of wastes on the kidneys.
What does lupus look like on the legs? ›
An itchy rash on the legs could be a sign of lupus, particularly if it develops in response to environmental triggers that often affect people with lupus or if they have a family history of the disease. The rash may look similar to sunburn, cause circular lesions, or cause scaly patches with distinct edges.
What are the signs that lupus is getting worse? ›
What are lupus flares?
- Intensified symptoms.
- Increased fatigue.
- Rashes.
- A headache or stomachache.
- Pain.
- Dizziness.
- Fever.
Some two-thirds of lupus patients complain of having arthritis in their feet. Additionally, tenosynovitis and tendonitis often coexist, leading to widespread foot and ankle pain, causing considerable disability.
What are the unusual symptoms of lupus? ›
Some uncommon symptoms of lupus include angina, stroke and mini-stroke, pregnancy loss, kidney problems, and blood problems. Lupus can be difficult to diagnose, but reporting less common symptoms may help doctors make an accurate diagnosis.
What hurts when you have lupus? ›
Lupus can also cause inflammation in the joints, which doctors call “inflammatory arthritis.” It can make your joints hurt and feel stiff, tender, warm, and swollen. Lupus arthritis most often affects joints that are farther from the middle of your body, like your fingers, wrists, elbows, knees, ankles, and toes.
But like all lupus sufferers, there are periods when she feels fine and then there are the “flare-ups” that bring her life to grinding halt. “A flare may last a couple of weeks or months. The best way to describe it is a yo-yo.
Does drinking lots of water help with lupus? ›
It is critical for supporting healthy kidney function, relieving several lupus symptoms, and for helping manage the side effects of certain medications. Good hydration also prevents the effects of dehydration from masking the symptoms and triggers that can lead to lupus flares and tissue or organ damage.
What foods make lupus worse? ›
Foods that seem to trigger a flare vary greatly from person to person. So a food that causes problems for one person may have no effect on you. Some foods that have been said to make lupus worse include nightshade vegetables, and animal protein. Nightshade vegetables include potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers.
What confirms lupus? ›
Tests to Make a Lupus Diagnosis
Complete blood count (CBC): checks for low counts of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Complement tests: measures the level of complement — proteins in your blood that help destroy foreign substances. Low levels of complement can indicate lupus.
What are the early signs of lupus foot? ›
Foot problems in lupus can involve any of the tissue structures in the foot/ankle. These may include, but are not limited to, joint pain and swelling, skin lesions causing additional pain, tenderness and vascular and/or neurological manifestations in the lower limbs.
Can rheumatoid arthritis cause lower leg swelling? ›
With rheumatoid arthritis, swelling is typically associated with inflamed joints of the: Feet. Ankles. Legs.
Is lymphedema a symptom of lupus? ›
Lymphoedema in SLE is rare. Causes include pre-existing lymphatic abnormalities, lymphangitis secondary to joint inflammation, or vasculitis leading to lymphatic vessel obstruction.
