Swelling in ankles- Methotrexate to blame? | Arthritis Information

 

Does anyone have swelling or fluid retention in their ankles? I haven't had this happen until I started Methotrexate. Curious if other's have run into this problem. I showed my PCP, he says it's nothing to really worry about unless he makes a dent when he touches my ankles..( pitting edema??)

I have swelling due to RA not MXT.  Usually if there's fluid retention there's some pitting and if too bad there's treatment.  I don't think I'd worry too much about a slight bit of swelling.  It could be diet, weather, body changes, etc.   LindyI've never had any swelling due to mtx.I have swollen ankles ...due to RA... MTX alone is not enough to give me my ankles back... but enbrel has given me my ankles back!! hmmm, well, just something else to try and figure out! LOL... thanks guys!I've been using MTX for over 15 years. My periodic ankle swelling is due to: Okay, I just read this as I was eating my after-work snack of potato chips.  Too funny.  I also have periodic swelling and reading Sam's three items listed, that's probably my culprit as well. There's something about getting older.....the   equipment just doesn't work as efficiently. The salt content in some of those are terrible, but they are a necessary evil when running late and need to find something to bring with for lunch.    I don't mind cooking, but we're empty-nesters now, so find myself cutting back on cooking.  Almost easier to find a good deal and do take-out.  What with flu-season and H1N1 I'd be thinking twice about doing take out.  I get some swelling from time to time.  I think it is the RA.  I showed the RA dr. one time and he said it wasn't the RA but I think he is nutz.  It is where it all started!  In fact when first diagnosed, my ankles were huge by the end of the day--when I started the Mthx. it helped--a lot.  I lost 10 lbs in water weight.  I guess he forgot--I didn't.  (I didn't give salt in food a thought--I do eat a lot of frozen or take out too.  Althou I did stop making chili cause I did tie in the salt in that.  Too bad I love it!)  Hey Kelly, I see you are on pred. too.  It can cause fluid retention.  You should get it checked out, as many things non RA related can cause this as well.  Edema was also one of the signs of my failing heart valve, and prior to that, one of the signs of my pulmonary issues, which were RA related.

If it sticks around after you have checked you salt intake or if you get short of breath - see your doctor! 

Take care!

I just found this thread.  I do have ankle swelling that I swear is from the MTX.  On weeks when I haven't taken it, my swelling is way down.I complained about swollen ankles to my rheumy once and he said to try eliminating the Celebrex for a while.  I did, but the greatest difference noticed was that I was in more pain ... so it was re-added to the 'cocktail' of meds.  Hot, humid weather doesn't help either, and that is just when my body craves salt.  I don't think it's necessarily the MTX. One of the problems is inflammation of the synovium and build up of synovial fluid. When I had wrist surgery for teno-synovitis the orth surgeon remarked on how much fluid he had to mop up.I'm not on MTX and get swollen ankles from time to time. I think I may be falling victim to the Saltlick Theory though. ;)One way to tell about the salt theory.........halt all salty foods for a week and see if the swelling goes away. [Works for me - I'm guilty as charged for hitting the chips.]
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