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by Holly
Hi, I recently started working after being on unemployment for a year. My new job is in a warehouse and it requires me to walk on concrete floors for up to 8.5 hr/day. For the first two weeks, I wore a pair of old tennis shoes and my feet hurt so bad that I could barely walk by the end of the day. My ankles became very swollen as well. I finally was able to buy a pair of very good running shoes and my feet no longer hurt. However, my ankles and feet are still very swollen. When I get out of bed in the morning the first few steps are so painful. After a couple of hours at work, the pain recedes a little, but by the end of my shift my ankles are hurting again. My mother gave me a water pill, and after a few hours the swelling was gone and for the first time in a month (since I started this job) my ankles do not hurt. I know the job has something to do with the swelling, but why? And what can I do about it? My mom wants me to get my heart checked out. I don't cough at all. I get a little short of breath, but I think it's because I am overweight. I had borderline-high blood pressure over the last year, but I quit smoking cigarettes and my blood pressure has been back to normal (average of 105/70) for the last couple of months. I am a 42 year old female. Always been healthy but gained A LOT of weight with pregnancy 7 yrs ago and have never lost it. Why the sudden fluid retention in my ankles and feet? I thought I'd lose weight from the warehouse job- my arms
University of Rochester Medical Center
American Academy of Pediatrics
Columbia University Department of Rehabilitation