Itchy skin due to leg edema. Does anyone have experience with this?

We live this. Dad forgets to put his legs up. He gets loads of steriod creams applied daily. it helps. But he sits all day long. a month ago he got edema on his soas muscle (part of your abs sort of). Just having him lay down for a day made it go away. Good luck.

I agree with grandma that it is important to get those legs elevated. Not only for the edema itself and the resulting itchy skin, but so the weaker heart can pump that fluid out. The edema of the lower extremities is almost certain CHF (Congestive Heart Failure) at least in some portion, as the heart becomes a less efficient pump as we age. The peripheral accumulation is generally due to failure on the right side, but failure on the left may not be far behind and there will be some shortness of breath then. Try to find a cheap used recliner or zero gravity chair, even if that is a good lawn chair (as the really good zero gravity chairs can run to 3,000. They can often be found on Craig's List and other sales. This will help him find a great position in which to relax and make it easier for that fluid to be pumped out.

Honestly, getting rid of that fluid that is destroying the elasticity remaining in older skin is the only answer, while some creams and lotions, lubriderm, eucerin, may assist. I haven't heard of the cream MJ mentioned, but if nurses use it is most certainly worth a try.

I wish you great good luck.

The best cream for dry, itchy skin I ever used was called Acid Mantle. It's a weird name, but the stuff's amazing. Nurses use it and when you wash your hands it kind of reconstitutes.

It isn't usually on the shelf anywhere, but you can ask your pharmacy to order it. (Even Amazon doesn't carry it.) It doesn't require a prescription, but it's faster and easiest to just get it through a pharmacy. It usually arrives with their supplies the next day.

1. have the doctor order a bed (hospital bed) that will allow the foot of the bed to be raised. It is not as uncomfortable as having a pillow under your legs. Or if you can not get a hospital bed a wedge placed UNDER the mattress might help. Again not as uncomfortable as just a pillow.
2. Ask the doctor if there are any recommended over the counter creams that they suggest. Creams are better than lotions as they are a bit thicker and last a bit longer. Apply the cream after a shower or bath when the skin is moist already as it will help keep the moisture in.
3. Massage might help.
4. The doctor is right exercise will help even one of the bike pedal type things that you can place on the floor in front of you while you are on a chair. And obviously walking will help.