Thick feet

Thick feet are a relatively common complaint that can be acute as well as permanent. Elderly people are particularly prone to fluid build-up in the feet that causes significant swelling. Since serious illnesses of the internal organs can be behind the complaints, a physician visit is urgently recommended with repeated occurrence.

contents

• definition
• symptoms
• Causes of fat feet
• Swollen feet due to diseases of the joints
• Cause cardiovascular disease
• Thick feet due to disorders of the lymphatic system
• diagnosis
• treatment
• Naturopathy with thick feet

definition

The term "fat feet" describes an unusually large extent of the limbs below the ankle. This can be due to a particularly high percentage of body fat or massive obesity and permanently present or occur as acute swelling of the feet. Acute "swollen feet" thus form a subgroup of fat feet.

Thick calves and feet can be associated with general overweight, but are also found for example in cardiovascular diseases. (Image: bluehorse_pl / fotolia.com)

symptoms

The symptoms can be very different for thick feet according to the causes. The symptoms may be chronic or acute, localized or affecting the entire foot. For example, if fat deposits in the foot area are the reason for the thickening, this sometimes runs completely without any further physical discomfort. Only from an aesthetic point of view and because the footwear constantly pushes, the affected feel affected.

In acute swelling, for example, as a result of injury, fracture (fracture) or rupture (torn ligament), sufferers usually suffer accompanying massive foot pain. In addition to the acute swelling of the feet, patients may also complain of sore feet, heel pain and ankle pain. Not infrequently, the pain pulls up to the lower leg or the leg.

Occasionally there is a tingling sensation in the limbs or a numbness in the legs. Accompanying it numerous other symptoms are possible, which are explained afterwards in connection with the respective causes more exactly.

Causes of fat feet

People who are generally overweight (here: obesity), this is also associated with an increased fat deposition on the feet. Although some tend to form more body fat in the foot area, but who is normal weight, generally has no problems with fat-fat feet.

However, other forms of swollen feet can also affect normal weight. Thus, diseases of the internal organs, especially of the heart, the liver, kidneys and thyroid sometimes cause acute swelling. For example, a so-called congestive liver can lead to fluid accumulation in the feet.

One possible reason for water retention in the feet is hypothyroidism. Other typical symptoms are here e.g. Tiredness, pale skin and depressive moods. (Image: nerthuz / fotolia.com)

This also applies to hyperthyroidism (hypothyroidism). Symptoms of hypothyroidism include chronic fatigue, listlessness, facial paleness, brittle hair and nails, and sexual aversion.

Kidney infection may be associated with swollen feet. Accompanying the sufferers here often suffer from kidney pain and more unspecific symptoms such as fever, chills, flank pain, dizziness, nausea and vomiting.

The accumulation of fluid is sometimes due to the intake of medication. For example, certain antirheumatics, hypertensive agents or cortisone-containing medicaments come into question here. Frequently, sufferers complain not only about complaints in the area of ​​the feet, but also about water in the legs. Alcohol abuse sometimes has a similar effect. This also applies to allergic reactions, for example due to a food allergy.

Swollen feet due to diseases of the joints

The trigger may be a joint disease, such as osteoarthritis or arthritis. The swelling is, as well as the accompanying pain, usually limited to the area of ​​the affected joints. Due to a joint disease, the ability to move or load capacity can be significantly reduced.

Thick feet can occur as a result of atherosclerosis. It is a widespread disease in which the arteries are severely damaged by vascular deposits. (Image: crevis / fotolia.com)

Cause cardiovascular disease

Diseases of the cardiovascular system can cause circulatory dysfunction, which can lead to circulatory disorders and thus to marked foot swelling. These include on the one hand diseases that directly affect the blood vessels, such as arteriosclerosis, phlebitis or thrombosis (vascular occlusion),

Furthermore, heart conditions such as coronary heart disease are a potential trigger for swollen feet. Breast pain or heartache, palpitations and heart stumbling may occur as accompanying symptoms.

Thick feet due to disorders of the lymphatic system

Trigger for fluid accumulation in the feet can be disorders of the lymphatic system. If the lymphatic drainage is impaired, a backwater in the feet, which leads to massive swelling. These are called "lymphedema".

The spectrum of causes is wide-ranging. In addition to congenital impairments of the lymphatic vessels, for example, acute damage in the course of surgery, radiation or chemotherapeutic measures may be mentioned. Furthermore, bacterial, viral and mycogenic infections can damage the lymphatic system. The same applies to certain tumor diseases, which, however, occur extremely rarely.

The metabolic disease diabetes develops after many years of illness under certain circumstances also a so-called "diabetic foot", which brings increasingly bad-healing wounds, a cracked, sensitive skin and emotional disorders. In the course of diabetic foot syndrome, lymphedema also occurs and the tissue on the foot begins to die. In the worst case, an amputation of the foot is required

Diabetes can quickly lead to massive swelling in the feet - so-called "lymphoedema". (Image: Syda Productions / fotolia.com)

diagnosis

Initially, a thorough history is usually taken, in which patients report in detail on the location and extent of the swelling and the time of onset. This is followed by a first physical examination. Sampling and listening often provide relatively clear indications of the cause of the swollen feet.

If the symptoms are based on diseases of the internal organs or circulatory disorders, modern imaging techniques (sonography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging) are usually required to ensure the diagnosis. In case of doubt, the removal of a tissue sample (biopsy) can be performed in order to arrive at a clear finding. In turn, blood tests provide important information on possible internal diseases, metabolic disorders, protein deficiency and inflammatory processes.

treatment

Similar to the symptoms, the treatment options for fat feet vary extremely. For example, if fat storage is the cause, this can usually be remedied by a strict diet as well as lots of exercise and sports. In the case of injuries such as a broken bone or torn ligaments, immobilization is the first priority.

If the fractures or ruptures have healed again, should then follow physiotherapy, so as not to risk permanent damage. If the injuries do not heal to the desired extent, an operation in which the bones are straightened or the ligaments are reconnected remains the last option.

Circulatory disorders due to a vascular disease may require surgical intervention. In other cases, such as with a tumor disease, surgery is an integral part of the therapy from the outset.

Otherwise, it is usually tried to treat the cause of the swollen feet with medication. For circulation problems, anticoagulant and blood thinning medicines are used, for diarrhea diuretics. Patients with hypothyroidism receive hormonal preparations and anti-inflammatory drugs (depending on the trigger) antibiotics or antimyotics used.

If the fat feet are based on alcohol abuse, consumption should cease immediately and withdrawal therapy may be required.

Naturopathy with thick feet

With the help of manual treatment approaches, attempts are made to facilitate the outflow of body fluids from the feet, with osteopathy and rolfing, for example, also making use of mechanical activation of the muscle pump. Massages and lymphatic drainage are also used to relieve fluid retention in the feet.

However, manual therapies not only look at the discomfort of the foot, but also include health problems at other parts of the body in the treatment. These include, for example, back pain or back pain, neck tension, groin pain and abdominal pain.

Applications according to Sebastian Kneipp (such as treading) are very effective in swollen feet due to circulatory disorders. (Image: SusaZoom / fotolia.com)

For circulatory disorders in the legs, the proven hydrotherapy can provide beneficial support. For example, water treading is very good for the Kneipp cure in your own bathroom.

Instructions for Kneipp water treading: Fill the tub to the level of the calves with cold water Keep going slowly up and down At each step, the foot is completely pulled out of the water Important: Be sure to place a non-slip pad in the bathtub to prevent it from falling.

Another effective treatment for circulatory disorders is Kneipp's castings, which are also easy to do at home.

Kneipp castings against fat feet: Be sure to put on a non-slip pad your shower or bath First hold the cold stream of water on the outside of your right foot Then hike up to the groin with the shower on the outside Return on the inside back to the foot Then repeat the procedure on the left leg Perform the castings on each leg twice and regularly three times a day

Furthermore promise different herbal medicine and homeopathic preparations remedy. Frequently, Schüssler salts are used as part of alternative medicine therapy for thick feet. So-called diversion methods such as leech therapy help to eliminate fluid retention.

In many cases, however, the cause of the fat feet can not be remedied on the basis of naturopathy. For example, in the case of diabetes or a tumor disease, there is still no way to pass the debt-medical therapy. Home remedies and alternative procedures are not a substitute here, but merely a supplement to conventional treatment. (fp, nr, last updated on 29.04.2018)
Specialist supervision: Barbara Schindewolf-Lensch (doctor)