Home Remedies For Foot And Ankle Swelling

What is Swelling?

Swelling occurs whenever the organs, skin, or other parts of your body enlarge. It is typically the result of inflammation or a buildup of fluid. Swelling can occur internally (within the body) or it can affect your outer skin and muscles. A range of conditions can cause swelling.
Insect bites, illnesses, or injuries often result in external swelling. Internal swelling is often a side effect of medication or the result of a serious injury. You should seek immediate medical attention if you experience rapid unexplainable swelling, especially if you also have unexplained weight gain and pain.

What Causes Swelling to Occur?

External swelling is often caused by insect bites, injuries or natural causes, such as pregnancy. Inflammation in your bones, tissues, or muscles can result in external swelling. Cysts and tumors may also cause visible swelling. Although fluid retention is an internal condition, it may also cause external swelling.
The most common causes for external swelling are:
** insect bites
** rash
** hives
** injury
** fluid retention
** pregnancy
** menstruation
** hormonal changes
** infection

External swelling can be localized or widespread.

Localized swelling refers to situations where just one specific area is swollen. For instance, a person with an eye infection may experience swelling around the eyes. A person who has been stung by an insect may experience swelling in the area of the sting.
Widespread swelling occurs over a large area of the body. According to the National Institutes of Health, this is usually a sign of serious illness. (NIH) It is often due to fluid retention or an allergic reaction. Other common causes of widespread swelling are:

** kidney failure
** other organ failure
** anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction)
** venomous insect bite

People with diabetes or certain forms of cancer can experience widespread swelling, or swelling in their extremities, such as their fingers and toes. This form of swelling may appear periodically.


Inside of your body, swelling is often the result of organ inflammation, fluid retention, or flatulence. This can occur in people with chronic diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, and cancer.

Symptoms of Swelling

Sometimes, instances of slight swelling may go unnoticed, especially since the condition does not always cause other symptoms.
For external swelling, the enlargement of skin or muscles is normally visible. However, other signs of swelling include the buildup of fluid in the affected area; an imaging scan that shows an enlarged organ, muscle, or bone; or stomach pain. These signs can help diagnose internal swelling, which is harder to identify.
If your swelling was caused by an injury, sting, or disease, you may experience a wide range of symptoms as well. These may include:
** itching
** vomiting
** flatulence
** pain in the affected area

If the swelling is not visible or if it is internal, you may experience the following symptoms:
** nausea
** vomiting
** dizziness
** fever
** fatigue
** insomnia
** flu-like symptoms
** pain

Remedies For Foot And Ankle Swelling

Rest the foot or ankle that has been affected. For most people, that means avoiding walking whenever possible, or at least placing as little pressure as possible on the area. It may be a nuisance to have to avoid walking during this process, but it will help your recovery move along much faster.

Ice your foot or ankle with a cold pack, some ice cubes in a baggie or a bag of frozen vegetables. These are all good options because they can be shaped to surround the affected area. Put ice on as soon as you can after the injury occurs. Leave the ice on for only about 10 to 15 minutes, then repeat the process every few hours thereafter. The ice will help reduce both pain and swelling.

Compress your injured foot or ankle for both stability and swelling reduction. Make sure that the wrap or bandage is snug on the injury without cutting off circulation or causing more pain.

Elevate your foot or ankle while doing all of the steps listed above. Ideally, you should lie on the ground, in bed or on the couch so that your injured foot can be elevated slightly above your heart to reduce swelling more effectively.


Crutches: If you happen to have crutches from a previous injury in your home, utilize these as you heal to keep pressure off of the affected area.

Vinegar: Some people soothe their injured foot or ankle with vinegar. Just mix equal parts vinegar and water, heat it in the microwave then soak a towel in it. Wrap it around the affected area and let it sit for five minutes.

Cucumber: Cucumbers can help absorb excess fluids and reduce swelling. Simply slice up a cucumber and place the slices on the affected area. Hold the slices in place with a bandage.

Vitamin E: Eat foods that have lots of vitamin E to help your swelling go down faster. Great foods for this method are spinach, sweet potatoes, sunflower seeds and almond oil.

Water: Drink lots of water to help reduce the swelling in your foot or ankle.

Salt: You actually want to avoid salt when you have a swollen foot or ankle. Keep to a low-salt diet while you recovery as salt can increase fluid retention, which worsens swelling.