Bilateral Pitting Edema in a 25-Year-Old Male
I’m reaching out to gather insights about my current health situation. I’m a 25-year-old man and recently completed a full marathon on March 23rd. I experienced no pain or significant problems afterward, only some general muscle soreness and tightness. Immediately after the marathon, I resumed running daily, covering distances of 3 to 5 miles. However, on April 2nd, I observed pitting edema in my left leg. Concerned, I visited the emergency room, where tests including a D Dimer, an ultrasound, and an X-ray of my knee returned normal results. Though the swelling in my left leg hasn’t changed, I have noticed some mild edema developing in my right leg as well. I am generally healthy, weigh about 158 pounds, and have no previous medical conditions affecting me. In terms of my routine, I consume one pack of Drip Drop for hydration and take 10 grams of creatine daily. My water intake is around 102 ounces per day along with one cup of black coffee. I typically avoid juice and soda, adhering to this regimen for approximately six months. My diet consists of three hearty meals complemented by snacks throughout the day. I have no history of tobacco or alcohol use, and I’m not aware of any allergies. Since my visit to the ER, I haven’t resumed running and I have a follow-up appointment with my primary care physician this Monday. I’m eager to hear thoughts from others regarding my condition. What should I inquire about during my doctor's visit? Is there a reason to be worried about my symptoms? Thank you for your input!
Answers (1)
4/4/2025, 5:50:44 AM
OpenHealth AI
It sounds like you're experiencing some concerning symptoms with bilateral pitting edema after your marathon training. While it's positive that your emergency tests returned normal results, continued swelling warrants further examination.
Main Points:
- Persistent Edema Monitoring: The pitting edema in both legs could indicate issues unrelated to your recent physical activity.
- Follow-Up Actions: Prepare for your doctor appointment with specific questions and observations.
Explanation:
Bilateral pitting edema can occur for various reasons, including fluid retention, heart or kidney issues, or even situational factors such as prolonged sitting or standing. Since you were healthy before and have engaged in significant physical activity, it's essential to rule out other potential causes.
- Hydration and Electrolytes: While you maintain great hydration, changes in electrolyte balance, particularly sodium, potassium, or magnesium, can also contribute to edema.
- Activity Levels: Resuming running too soon post-marathon without adequate recovery could have stressed your body, possibly leading to temporary swelling.
- Other Factors: Weight, diet, and even compression of veins from muscle soreness should be evaluated, but your normal D-dimer suggests no current clot issues.
Next Steps:
- Document Symptoms: Keep a record detailing when the swelling appears, any changes in severity, and any associated symptoms (like pain, fatigue, or changes in urine output). This will help your doctor assess the situation more effectively.
- Prepare Questions: At your appointment, ask about:
- Potential underlying causes of bilateral edema.
- Whether any lifestyle factors, like hydration, diet (sodium intake), or exercise habits, might be contributing.
- If further tests (like blood tests, kidney function tests, or heart tests) are necessary.
- Take Care of Yourself: Until your appointment, try to avoid excessive standing or sitting, elevate your legs when possible, and consider wearing compression socks if comfortable.
Reassurance:
It’s great that you’re proactive about your health and already scheduled a follow-up with your primary care physician. Many cases of edema can resolve with adjustments and observation, so you're on the right track. Please keep monitoring how you feel and don’t hesitate to report any new symptoms to your doctor.
Related Questions
Persistent Pain in Right Shoulder and Arm After Lifting
Hello, everyone! I’m a 23-year-old male and have been engaged in weightlifting for several years now. Recently, I’ve been struggling with ongoing discomfort in my right shoulder and arm, which I haven’t been able to accurately identify. The pain manifests during particular movements, especially with lateral raises or when my arm is raised to shoulder level while rotating my wrist. Certain pressing and pulling activities can also provoke this discomfort. Rather than feeling sharp, it’s a deep, nagging sensation that sometimes seems localized in the front area of the shoulder or at the biceps tendon, and at other times it feels more like it’s situated between the shoulder and upper arm. Fortunately, there’s no numbness or tingling involved. This issue began while I was working out. I decided to take a break for around two months, but when I returned, the pain persisted. After consulting a physician, I was diagnosed with bicipital tendinitis. Since then, I’ve reduced my upper-body workouts, completely steering clear of shoulder exercises and heavy lifting, and have begun a gentle rehabilitation regimen focusing on external rotations, pendulum movements, and scapular exercises. Despite adhering to this routine for about a week, I haven’t experienced any noticeable improvement. Is it typical for this type of tendon injury to require an extended period for recovery? At what point should I consider diagnostic imaging, such as an ultrasound or MRI? Additionally, are there frequent rehabilitation errors that might impede the healing process? I appreciate your insights in advance!
Understanding EEG Results for My 22-Month-Old Son: Insights Needed
Could someone help clarify this for me? My son, who is just 22 months old, hasn’t started walking yet, becomes tired easily, and has been experiencing behavioral outbursts. He had a febrile seizure in February 2025, followed by another unexplained seizure in April 2025, which led us to consult a neurologist. Since he was 3 months old, he has been receiving therapy from a physical therapist for torticollis. At birth, he spent five days in the NICU due to issues with meconium aspiration. A recent MRI showed normal results, and he also had a follow-up EEG after one conducted in July 2025. The results from this recent EEG were abnormal for a pediatric patient in awake, drowsy, and sleeping states. Notably, there were brief episodes of left frontotemporal delta slowing, which occurred mainly when he was awake and drowsy. There were no signs of epileptiform activity detected. In contrast, the EEG performed back on July 3, 2025, was deemed normal for both awake and drowsy states, again with no evidence of epileptiform irregularities, although it did not capture any sleep data. This examination was prompted by the child's existing history of febrile seizures. Importantly, he is not currently on any anti-seizure medications. The EEG procedure used standard electrode placements per the 10-20 system, conducted a single-lead EKG, and included continuous video monitoring. During the analysis, the background activity was symmetric, indicating some anterior-posterior (AP) organization, with a dominant rhythm of 50-80 microvolts at 7 Hz. His drowsy state was marked by a reduced amount of eye blink activity, less breathing motion interference, and a generalized slowing in theta/delta frequencies. Stage II sleep exhibited spindles and vertex waves patterns. Additionally, there were intermittent bursts of 250-300 microvolts in the left frontotemporal region with semi-rhythmic activity of 2-4 Hz, mostly observed during wakefulness and drowsiness. No definitive epileptiform discharge was noted. Photic stimulation during the test did not elicit a strong response, and hyperventilation was not conducted during this session.
INTENSE Spine Discomfort, Breathing Difficulties, Muscle Twitches, and Sweating
To elaborate on the situation mentioned in the title, I’ve been experiencing unusual muscle twitches and spasms for the past few days, along with some discomfort in my back. However, today, I felt an unexpected sharp pain shoot through my spine, which has left my legs feeling numb and made it impossible for me to sit up straight. Additionally, I’ve been dealing with cold sweats for the last hour and struggling to breathe properly. Perhaps I’m just overanalyzing things and it’s a common occurrence, but the intensity of the pain is overwhelming—it's truly unbearable. I’m shaking quite a bit, and unfortunately, my parents aren’t responding to my attempts to reach them for help. I have a history of a chronic heart condition and arthritis, yet I’ve never experienced pain this severe, especially in my spine. For context, I am nearly 15 years old and female. My current medications include pain relievers, anxiety medication, beta blockers, and some vitamins, though those specifics may not be particularly relevant. I don’t smoke; however, I have tried vaping a few times, which might not matter much, but I thought it was worth mentioning as it was requested.
28-Year-Old Male Experiencing Scalp Sensations Post-Amitriptyline Treatment
I am a 28-year-old man in generally good health, without any cardiac concerns. Approximately a month ago, I encountered intense pain localized to one side of my head, which was unresponsive to paracetamol. However, a single dose of a migraine treatment provided substantial relief. Following that, I began a regimen of amitriptyline, starting at a nightly dose of 10 to 25 mg. While my head pain has diminished significantly—by about 90 to 95%—I now experience occasional uncomfortable sensations on my scalp. These feelings include pins and needles, a cooling sensation, and some crawling feelings near my hairline and ears. There are fleeting moments where I feel brief throbs lasting a second, but I do not have any persistent headaches. To clarify, I do not experience any of the following: - Nausea - Weakness in my limbs - Numbness - Changes in my vision - Coordination difficulties - Seizures The symptoms I have are transient, shifting around and often intensifying when I become conscious of them or as the day progresses. I would like to know: Is it common to experience these sensations during the recovery stage following episodes of neuralgia or migraine-like discomfort? Additionally, could the amitriptyline potentially be causing these temporary paresthetic sensations? I am seeking some reassurance or advice on what is typically observed during this healing process. Thank you.
Concerns About My Toes
Age: 30, Female Currently, I am on the lookout for a reputable podiatrist in my vicinity. However, I've encountered a perplexing issue with my foot. Just last night, I noticed a growth on the side of my toe, something entirely new to me. I maintain a nutritious diet and have a demanding job that requires me to be on my feet quite often. My footwear includes brands such as Brooks Ghost Runners, Hoka Bondi 9’s, and Nike Motiva’s, and I don’t opt for restrictive socks. I also apply Vick’s Vaporub to my feet, a practice handed down from my family, and stick with simple, non-fragrant lotions like Vanicream and CeraVe SA Cream for my skin. In addition, I am curious about the my big toenail's change in color. What might be the underlying reasons for this? Also, I have these persistent dark spots on my toes that I've struggled with since my days on the runway. Despite my efforts, nothing has succeeded in lightening or diminishing their appearance. I'm just looking to determine if there might have been a factor from the past that could have contributed to these issues. I’m not sure what else to include, but I’m open to answering any questions you might have. Thank you for your attention! Best wishes from a worried soul!