Have you ever taken your shoes off after a long day only to be welcomed by two puffy, balloon-like feet? Whether you’ve been on your feet all day, travelled for hours, or experienced the joys of pregnancy, swollen feet can be frustrating and uncomfortable.
Baleseng Mmatloa from Pretoria shares that she mostly experiences swollen feet during walk tours, especially if standing for long and wearing flat shoes.
“Swollen feet cause discomfort for me and a bit of itching as well. My feet also get swollen a lot during the winter. In that instance, I don’t even have to walk around a lot or travel; I just wake up to swollen feet,” she says.
“To manage the swelling, I sometimes soak my feet in hot water filled with bath salts. Massaging them with lotion and wearing thick socks always does the trick as well.”
Baleseng Mmatloa
For Joy Mkhize from Durban, her feet experience swelling during extended sitting or walking during travel and on hot days. She says this began during her pregnancy three years ago, but it is unclear if pregnancy is the direct cause.
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It’s in the veins
“My feet often swell on hot days, and this started during my pregnancy three years ago. I don’t know if that is the cause or where it stems from. I don’t take any medication for it, but I usually soak my feet in lukewarm water with Himalayan salt,” says Mkhize.
According to Johannesburg-based podiatrist Vincent Molepo, swollen feet are normally caused by impaired circulation by veins that help return the blood from your limbs to the heart.
“In the vein, there are valves that help push the blood back to the heart. If a vein is not working as it should, you may get swollen feet caused by venous insufficiency.”
Podiatrist Vincent Molepo
“Sometimes the swelling is generally caused by an injury or standing for long periods. This can then be treated by elevating the limps, icing, or compression. For swelling caused by venous insufficiency, we prescribe compression stockings, which can be provided by orthotics and prosthetics practitioners,” Molepo explains.
To avoid swollen feet, Molepo suggests trying to change positions of your sitting as much as you can when you are travelling, as this will get the blood moving. He also suggests wearing less restrictive shoes, avoiding tight shoes like sneakers, and opting for sandals.
The right RICE approach
“Swelling normally goes down in two days, but if it does not, you can try the RICE approach (rest, ice, compression, and elevation).”
The RICE approach means resting and protecting the injured or sore area. Ice or a cold pack should be used as soon as possible. Compression, or wrapping the injured or painful area to prevent swelling, and elevation (propping up) the sore area.
“If the swelling persists, you can use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) tablets; these are your anti-inflammatory tablets, like Neurofens, etc., but consult your pharmacist first. If the swelling does not go away, you can visit your doctor to find out if there are any serious underlying causes.”
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