What will reduce swelling

Painless swelling of the feet or ankles is common and can happen for a variety of reasons. Causes of swollen feet can include:. While edema usually resolves on its own, there are some home remedies that may reduce the swelling more quickly and increase your own comfort. Here are 10 to try. Though it might seem counterintuitive, getting enough fluids actually helps reduce swelling. This contributes to swelling. Compression socks can be found at a drug or grocery store or even bought online.

Start with compression socks that are between 12 to 15 mm or 15 to 20 mm of mercury. They come in a variety of weights and compressions, so it might be best to start off with lighter-weight socks and then find the kind that provides the most relief.

Epsom salt magnesium sulfate may not only help with muscle pain. It may also reduce swelling and inflammation. The theory is that Epsom salt draws out toxins and increases relaxation. Just make sure to get Epsom salts marked with the USP designation. This means that it meets standards set forth by the U. Food and Drug Administration and is safe to use. Prop your feet on cushions, pillows, or even things like phone books, when you sleep. Aim for about 20 minutes at a time, even on an ottoman or a chair.

Try to avoid standing for long periods of time and stay off your feet when you can. If you sit or stand in one area for a long period of time like at work , this can lead to swollen feet.

In the immediate aftermath of an injury, you can perform simple steps at home to reduce swelling until you are able to seek medical attention.

When you use an injured hand, it encourages blood flow to that hand, which leads to further swelling and potentially irritating the already damaged cells. When stress is placed on an injury, the body continues sending fluid to protect it, which can cause more swelling in addition to more damage. Even if you are not experiencing pain, giving the hand a rest for a few days allows the swelling to go down and the injury to begin healing.

Cold applied immediately after an injury can help manage the pain and reduce swelling because it restricts blood flow to the area and decelerates cellular metabolism. Most people can use a bag of ice or an ice pack, though ice baths, cold therapy systems, and cryotherapy can all help as well. The cold can be applied throughout the day for no more than 30 minutes at a time, which should help the swelling clear up quickly.

Another way to reduce blood flow to an injury is by applying pressure immediately to the affected hand. Pressure can be applied on a prolonged basis using static or elastic bandages, as long as they are not so constrictive that they cut off the circulation altogether.

As swelling increases and decreases, the bandages will likely need to be adjusted to accommodate the new hand size. Swelling and pain are very common with injuries.

When you have swelling, you should look for other symptoms of injury that may need to be evaluated by your doctor.

If you have a medical condition that may cause swelling, follow your doctor's instructions on how to treat your swelling. Talk to your child's doctor before switching back and forth between doses of acetaminophen and ibuprofen. When you switch between two medicines, there is a chance your child will get too much medicine.

Call your doctor if any of the following occur during home treatment:. If you have a chronic medical condition or are pregnant, follow your doctor's instructions on how to prevent swelling and when to call to report your symptoms. To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment. You can help your doctor diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to answer the following questions:. Blahd Jr. Author: Healthwise Staff. Medical Review: William H.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use.

Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. Updated visitor guidelines. You are here Home » Swelling. Topic Overview Swelling is an increase in the size or a change in the shape of an area of the body.

Causes of localized swelling include: Injury to a specific body area. Bruising hematoma from an injury is caused by tears in the small blood vessels under the skin. Bleeding can also affect the joint hemarthrosis or the area that cushions and lubricates the joint traumatic bursitis. Swelling can affect just one area or may involve large sections of the body, such as swelling that occurs following a motor vehicle accident.

Infection, which can occur in a joint or under the skin. An abscess is a pocket of pus that forms at the site of infected tissue. Cellulitis is a skin infection that can cause mild or severe swelling. Burns , which can cause swelling at the site of the burn or in a larger area around the burn. Inflammation that occurs when tissue is irritated by overuse or repeated motion.

Swelling of the tendon and swelling caused by a series of small tears around a tendon tendinosis can occur together or separately. Swelling of the sac that cushions and lubricates the joint bursitis can be caused by prolonged or repeated pressure or by activities that require repeated twisting or rapid joint movements.

Insect bites or stings. Most insect bites or stings cause a small amount of redness or swelling. Some people have an allergic reaction to a bite or sting and develop a lot of swelling, redness, and itching. Other causes, such as swelling related to a sac-shaped structure with clear fluid, blood, or pus cyst or a swollen gland, such as a salivary gland.

Causes of generalized swelling include: Allergic reaction. Sudden swelling of the hands and face may be a severe allergic reaction anaphylaxis and needs immediate medical evaluation.

Autoimmune diseases , such as lupus , rheumatoid arthritis , and scleroderma. These diseases can cause swelling when the body produces antibodies and other cells that attack and destroy tissues in the body. Some medicines change how body fluids circulate, causing swelling. Swelling may also occur as an allergic reaction to a medicine. Circulation problems related to certain medical conditions, such as peripheral arterial disease , heart failure , diabetes , or kidney disease.

Thrombophlebitis causes swelling of an extremity when a blood clot interrupts blood flow in a vein in the arm or leg. Fluid that accumulates in the abdomen ascites because of other problems, such as malnutrition, cirrhosis, or liver disease. Check Your Symptoms Is swelling your main concern? You may have concerns about swelling around the face, in the arms or legs, or in the belly or groin.

How old are you? Less than 12 years. Are you male or female? Why do we ask this question? The medical assessment of symptoms is based on the body parts you have. If you are transgender or nonbinary, choose the sex that matches the body parts such as ovaries, testes, prostate, breasts, penis, or vagina you now have in the area where you are having symptoms.

If you have some organs of both sexes, you may need to go through this triage tool twice once as "male" and once as "female". This will make sure that the tool asks the right questions for you. Could you be having a severe allergic reaction? This is more likely if you have had a bad reaction to something in the past. If it is a lower leg injury like an ankle, keeping your feet up will decrease the fluid from pooling into your ankles.

This method has been tried and true for a long time serious medical issues and should not be ignored. If the RICE method does not seem to be working for you and swelling continues to linger or worsen, please do not hesitate to contact your doctor and get evaluated. Physical therapy can play a major role in the reduction of swelling within the body.

Therapists can use modalities such as ice, electrical stimulation, heat, laser, and soft tissue mobilization to help you get rid of swelling within your body. If you would like to read more articles by JOI, please follow this link for home remedies for foot pain. To schedule an appointment with an orthopedic specialist, please call JOI , schedule online or click below.

Some negative effects can be as follows: Decreased range of motion in joints. Slowing of overall healing process. Increased swelling in more areas than injured site. Swollen Feet Treatment Since gravity is so important with reducing reducing swollen feet, it is important to place the feet in a position that allows gravity to help. Elevating your feet will help swelling Compression stockings may also help to encourage excessive fluid to move way from the injured or swollen area.