How to make feet swelling go down fast

To understand the cause of your edema, a health care provider will do a physical exam and ask about your medical history. This might be enough to figure out the cause. Sometimes, diagnosis might require blood tests, ultrasound exams, vein studies or others.

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From Mayo Clinic to your inbox
Common causes of swollen ankles, feet and legs
Check if you have oedema
How to ease swelling yourself
Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:
Urgent advice: Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:
Immediate action required: Call 999 if:
Treatment for swelling and oedema
How do I reduce swelling in my feet ASAP?
How long does it take feet swelling to go down?

Treatment

Mild edema usually goes away on its own. Wearing compression garments and raising the affected arm or leg higher than the heart helps.

Medicines that help the body get rid of too much fluid through urine can treat worse forms of edema. One of the most common of these water pills, also known as diuretics, is furosemide (Lasix). A health care provider can decide about the need for water pills.

Treating the cause of the swelling is often the focus over time. If edema is a result of medicines, for example, a care provider might change the dose or look for another medicine that doesn't cause edema.

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Swelling in the ankles, feet or legs often goes away on its own. See a GP if it does not get better in a few days.

Common causes of swollen ankles, feet and legs

Swelling in the ankles, feet and legs is often caused by a build-up of fluid in these areas, called oedema.

Oedema is usually caused by:

standing or sitting in the same position for too long
eating too much salty food
being overweight
being pregnant
taking certain medicines – such as some blood pressure medicines, contraceptive pills, hormone therapy, antidepressants or steroids

Oedema can also be caused by:

an injury – such as a strain or sprain
an insect bite or sting
problems with your kidneys, liver or heart
a blood clot
an infection

Information:

Find out more about swollen ankles, feet and fingers in pregnancy

Check if you have oedema

Symptoms of oedema include:

Swollen or puffy ankles, feet or legs.

Credit:

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Shiny or stretched skin.

Credit:

SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/260060/view

Changes in skin colour, discomfort, stiffness and dents when you press on the skin.

How to ease swelling yourself

Swelling in your ankles, feet or legs should go away on its own, but there are some things you can try to help.

Do

raise your legs or the swollen area on a chair or pillows when you can
get some gentle exercise, like walking, to improve your blood flow
wear wide, comfortable shoes with a low heel and soft sole
wash, dry and moisturise your feet to avoid infections

Don’t

do not stand or sit for long periods of time
do not wear clothes, socks or shoes that are too tight

Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:

1 or both of your ankles, foot or legs are swollen and:

it has not improved after treating it at home for a few days
it gets worse

Urgent advice: Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:

you have swelling in 1 ankle, foot or leg and there's no obvious cause, such as an injury
the swelling is severe, painful or starts very suddenly
the swollen area is red or feels hot to the touch
your temperature is very high, or you feel hot and shivery
you have diabetes and your feet, ankles or legs are swollen

You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.

Immediate action required: Call 999 if:

you feel short of breath or are struggling to breathe
your chest feels tight, heavy or painful
you're coughing up blood

You could have a blood clot in your lungs, which needs immediate treatment in hospital.

Treatment for swelling and oedema

Treatment for swelling or oedema that does not go away on its own will depend on the cause. Your GP can help you with the right treatment.

How do I reduce swelling in my feet ASAP?

7 Helpful Ways to Reduce Swollen Feet and Ankles.

Walk it Out. ... .

Drink Lots of Water. ... .

Sleep on Your Side. ... .

Enjoy Some Pool Time. ... .

Limit Your Salt. ... .

Wear Compression Socks. ... .

Elevate Your Feet..

How long does it take feet swelling to go down?

Swelling normally lasts for a few days. In the first two days, you will experience the most swelling, and it should start to reduce by the third day. Following treatment from your healthcare provider reduces the amount of swelling you might experience.