Can walking help with water retention in legs, or only make it worse?

elphie754
elphie754 Posts: 7,574 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Some good news-I have been able to come off complete bedrest as of earlier today. I was also cleared to walk as long as it is level terrain. I am so excited.

Anyways, I have been having such swollen feet and lower legs to the point they look like they are about to burst and get really painful. I've been using Epsom salt as well as witch hazel foot baths which helps a bit but not as much as I want.

I'm wondering if maybe so light walking would help since it would increase circulation. Anyone try that before? Did it help?

Replies

  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    Walking made mine worse. I would start the day out with mildly swollen legs/ankles and the more I walked during the day the worse they got.
  • elphie754
    elphie754 Posts: 7,574 Member
    usmcmp wrote: »
    Walking made mine worse. I would start the day out with mildly swollen legs/ankles and the more I walked during the day the worse they got.

    Okay-good to know. Maybe not the best idea I've had lol.
  • elphie754
    elphie754 Posts: 7,574 Member
    Maybe leg stretches then? Compression socks haven't seemed to help.

    Looking for any/all suggestions,even if they seem dumb.
  • patslitzker
    patslitzker Posts: 127 Member
    Going to a sauna might help. They increase blood flow to your whole body and make you sweat out subcutaneous water.
  • ronjsteele1
    ronjsteele1 Posts: 1,064 Member
    Honestly, this is very individual. Until you do it once you won't know how your body will respond. You should try a short walk and see how you do. From there you can decide what your body can handle. Probably the best thing is testing the walking and then putting your feet up as much as you can off and on during the day.
  • ronjsteele1
    ronjsteele1 Posts: 1,064 Member
    #9 cell salt. 4 pellets 4 times a day. You said no matter how it sounded. ;)
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    The more i walk, the worse the water retention in my lower legs get.
  • ronjsteele1
    ronjsteele1 Posts: 1,064 Member
    ronjsteele1 wrote: »
    #9 cell salt. 4 pellets 4 times a day. You said no matter how it sounded. ;)

    It won't let me go back and edit on my phone. #9 is a water balancer. It is used for fluid retention and is safe in pregnancy.
  • Orphia
    Orphia Posts: 7,097 Member
    elphie754 wrote: »
    Some good news-I have been able to come off complete bedrest as of earlier today. I was also cleared to walk as long as it is level terrain. I am so excited.

    Anyways, I have been having such swollen feet and lower legs to the point they look like they are about to burst and get really painful. I've been using Epsom salt as well as witch hazel foot baths which helps a bit but not as much as I want.

    I'm wondering if maybe so light walking would help since it would increase circulation. Anyone try that before? Did it help?

    If your doctor cleared you to walk, perhaps she/he thinks it will help. If you're not sure, ask them.
  • elphie754
    elphie754 Posts: 7,574 Member
    patslitzker wrote: »
    Going to a sauna might help. They increase blood flow to your whole body and make you sweat out subcutaneous water.

    Can't. Saunas are a no go while pregnant.
    ronjsteele1 wrote: »
    #9 cell salt. 4 pellets 4 times a day. You said no matter how it sounded. ;)

    Haha!!

    Christine_72 wrote: »
    The more i walk, the worse the water retention in my lower legs get.

    Seems to be the consensus.
    Orphia wrote: »
    elphie754 wrote: »
    Some good news-I have been able to come off complete bedrest as of earlier today. I was also cleared to walk as long as it is level terrain. I am so excited.

    Anyways, I have been having such swollen feet and lower legs to the point they look like they are about to burst and get really painful. I've been using Epsom salt as well as witch hazel foot baths which helps a bit but not as much as I want.

    I'm wondering if maybe so light walking would help since it would increase circulation. Anyone try that before? Did it help?

    If your doctor cleared you to walk, perhaps she/he thinks it will help. If you're not sure, ask them.

    She cleared it most because I was literally begging. I'm going stir crazy in the house.
  • TimothyFish
    TimothyFish Posts: 4,925 Member
    As long as you don't overdo it, exercise is good for many things, including reducing water retention. One of the reasons professional cyclists go for a short ride on rest days is to help prevent them from gaining weight due to water retention.
  • ladyreva78
    ladyreva78 Posts: 4,080 Member
    elphie754 wrote: »
    She cleared it most because I was literally begging. I'm going stir crazy in the house.

    Then be careful not to over do it. You might want to start with short 5 minute walks. Enough to get you out, get you moving a smidgen, but not risk over doing it.

    I know it sucks, but you don't want to risk being put back onto strict bed rest because you over did it. :wink:

    Then you can always judge how good/bad the movement is for your water retention. If it's bad, limit yourself to the bare minimum you need to prevent the stir-crazyiness. If it's good, work on building up slowly.

    Oh and... please stay out of the kitchen. I don't even want to imagine the result of a stir-crazy you and your erm... kitchen skills mixing...

  • tiny_clanger
    tiny_clanger Posts: 301 Member
    Not sure if it's come up in a previous thread, but what are you on bedrest for - is it prem. labour risk or some other aspect of pregnancy? Swollen ankles can be warning flags for serious pregnancy related illness, so make sure you are monitoring your legs and watching out for other symptoms - rash, headache, etc.

    Gentle walking will help, but do be very sensible - gentle means gentle! You can also try elevating your legs whenever you are lying down or sitting. Try and avoid sitting as much as possible - either take regular short walk breaks or get those feet on the couch. Gentle ankle and lower leg massage may help - get your partner to do flowing strokes from the feet upwards, no downward strokes.

    Compression socks will help with support - you don't want strong compression, just enough to support the skin and stop it stretching out. Keep hydrated
  • elphie754
    elphie754 Posts: 7,574 Member
    ladyreva78 wrote: »
    elphie754 wrote: »
    She cleared it most because I was literally begging. I'm going stir crazy in the house.

    Then be careful not to over do it. You might want to start with short 5 minute walks. Enough to get you out, get you moving a smidgen, but not risk over doing it.

    I know it sucks, but you don't want to risk being put back onto strict bed rest because you over did it. :wink:

    Then you can always judge how good/bad the movement is for your water retention. If it's bad, limit yourself to the bare minimum you need to prevent the stir-crazyiness. If it's good, work on building up slowly.

    Oh and... please stay out of the kitchen. I don't even want to imagine the result of a stir-crazy you and your erm... kitchen skills mixing...

    I know. Last night I did a short walk literally around the block. Felt pretty good, although back started to hurt when I got home. Today I went shopping which felt good just to get out of the house for a bit.

    lol I am staying out of the kitchen although we may have to ban Male SO from kitchen too. He set stove on fire earlier this week and then set the smoke detector off yesterday while cooking with a new copper pan we were given for Christmas. Guess premade meals it is lol.
    tiny_clanger wrote: »
    Not sure if it's come up in a previous thread, but what are you on bedrest for - is it prem. labour risk or some other aspect of pregnancy? Swollen ankles can be warning flags for serious pregnancy related illness, so make sure you are monitoring your legs and watching out for other symptoms - rash, headache, etc.

    Gentle walking will help, but do be very sensible - gentle means gentle! You can also try elevating your legs whenever you are lying down or sitting. Try and avoid sitting as much as possible - either take regular short walk breaks or get those feet on the couch. Gentle ankle and lower leg massage may help - get your partner to do flowing strokes from the feet upwards, no downward strokes.

    Compression socks will help with support - you don't want strong compression, just enough to support the skin and stop it stretching out. Keep hydrated

    I was on bed rest for leaking amniotic fluid. The leak has stoped according to OB and amniotic fluid levels around baby are normal.

    Soaked feet last night in a water/witch hazel soak. Felt amazing! Woke up today and my feet are sort of red, but not swollen this am!
  • elphie754
    elphie754 Posts: 7,574 Member
    Continuing the witch hazel and water soak. Seemed to have helped the most. The short walking seemed to make it worse, so just taking it easy and elevating for now.
  • fupthesides
    fupthesides Posts: 71 Member
    Are you allowed to swim? It would let you move your legs but low impact and less stress on your body.
  • elphie754
    elphie754 Posts: 7,574 Member
    fupthesides wrote: »
    Are you allowed to swim? It would let you move your legs but low impact and less stress on your body.

    I was, but on Monday I had a really nasty abscess that had to be drained and it's not completely closed yet, so no swimming for now.
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