My father (aged 90) is not very mobile. His legs become swollen due to water retention. He cannot lie flat due to arthritic hip and sleeps sitting up in a chair. This makes swelling even more likely. For a few weeks now he has been wearing tight-fitting stockings to prevent the swelling but complains they are uncomfortable and wants to take them off.

Is there medication that can force the body to get rid of excess water so it passes out of the system through the bladder? Would any such medication remove the need to wear the stockings?

Thanks in advance.

It sounds like he could have gout
Change his diet and see if that helps.
Also get him to a dr. My dad had gout and the next thing he knew he also had prostrate cancer.


Try these and see if it helps any
Cut out meat and animal fat, gravy, bad oils like Crisco/Wesson, beer,

Have him eat lots of cherries and drink cherry juice and fruits and vegetables, omega fatty acid or flaxseed,

diet for gout - Live Search

Yes, there are medications that reduce edema, which is the medical term for water retention. This class of drugs is called diuretics, but you may be more familiar with the term "water pill." They require a prescription. Common diuretics include Lasix (furosemide) and hydrochlorothiazide.

Will diuretics eliminate the need for the stockings? Possibly, but I'd tend to doubt it. However, I'd venture a guess that getting the water retention under control would make the stockings at least a little more comfortable! If a doctor says he doesn't need to wear them anymore, then fine... but their purpose is to prevent blood clots from forming, so he should definitely wait for the doctor's OK before getting rid of them.

Has your dad talked to his doctor about this? If not, please suggest he do so soon. Swelling in the lower extremities is often a symptom of congestive heart failure, which is a fancy term for a "weak heart" that just isn't as efficient as it should be. As it progresses, water can build up around the heart and lungs.

I'm guessing, though, that he has seen his doctor and it was the doctor who recommended the stockings. If that's the case, he may already be on diuretics and could just need his dosage adjusted. But dosage adjustments have to be done carefully; diuretics can throw off potassium levels, lower blood pressure, and dehydrate people.

So to sum it all up, yes there are medications that can help, and he should talk to his doctor soon so that the edema can be treated safely. Best of luck to both of you!