Swollen feet and legs - Myeloma

Hi Sean,

I have had loads of issues with my feet for the last 4 years since starting chemo including swollen feet and legs and I would say that probably the best thing I have found for this is an EMS machine.   I use one called a Revitive, these range from about £150 to £300 (though most sellers let you fill out an on-line form so you don’t have to pay the VAT).   The Revitive definitely helps reduce my swollen feet and legs and with some other issues I have such as neuropathy and just generally livens up my feet and makes them feel more comfortable.  I think it improves the circulation which reduces the swelling and also has some pain killing effect like a TENs machine.  It’s not a miracle cure but it definitely gives some measure of improvement and I am grateful for anything at times.   There are other cheaper ones available (just Google EMS machine for feet) and you’ll see what I mean and you can pick a cheap one up on Amazon for £23.99 which is probably a good place to start but you’d have to rely on the reviews to see if they are any good.  

Other than this you can’t beat leg and foot exercises (Google’s your friend here again), raising your feet slightly when sitting or in bed, looking after your legs and feet with impeccable foot hygiene and regular home leg and foot massages and moisturising and buying the best wide shoes and gentle grip socks you can afford because your feet don’t fit properly in normal shoes anymore and normal socks are too tight on your swollen legs.

Hope that helps,

Good luck

Jon

Hi Jon, thanks very much for replying, it’s really appreciated. It’s good to know other people have had similar issues. And the EMS machine is definitely something I will look into and with any luck might help. 

Thanks again for your help. 

Hi Sean

I think most of us have had this issue of swelling, it's is caused primarily by Dex but the major swelling  will subside in a few weeks but it's scarry at first because no one told me it was going to happen. I looked into the EMS machines but if it works for Jon there may be something in it but was told by the clinical team that these were for muscular issues not nerve damage which is what your dad has but I do know some people that have only had very mild myopathy if at all. I was also told that myopathy can disappear after treatment, I'll have to wait to find that out myself.

It's going to be a tough trip for him but people told me I would come out the other end and that can be hard to see at first but it will get better for him in time.

lockdown

Thanks very much for coming back to me too. I hope my dad can also begin to see it’s a hard trip but he can come out the other end of it too. Fingers crossed!