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After 2 falls that broke both femurs in the last 7 years my ...


Sent to Health Experts June 10, 2006 9:11 p.m.

After 2 falls that broke both femurs in the last 7 years my mother can not walk and because of her inactivity and high blood pressure she has sever edema in both legs, sever enough to cause the legs to nearly double in size and be very red and slick looking with blisters. She also gets cortosone shots in her knees every 3 months due to arthritis. I have heard cortosone can cause swelling, is this true? Also Dr wrapped her legs for one week. No change in swelling but left leg was bloody and weeping when bandages were removed. Now only the left leg is wrapped. what else can we do?

Optional Information:
Female , Age: 61

Already Tried:
Mother is 84. have tried wrapping and other dr.'s advice. is allergic to lassix
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Status: Closed   Value: $8   
Info Request
June 11, 2006 2:04 p.m. (16 hours and 52 minutes later)
REPLIED to Info Request Check Mark

Hello,

What city and state do you live in? There may be a clinic that specializes in this at a University Medical School.

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PictureDeborah  -- Nurse (RN) -- 98% Positive Feedback on 2322 Health Accepts
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Reply to Deborah
Sent June 11, 2006 2:12 p.m. (8 minutes and 20 seconds later)

Danville California. We know that Stanford has a lympodemia clinic but we have been told that is'nt what she has. We belong to Kaiser and go to the Walnut Creek facility but sometimes when questioning the Dr's, I have information to give them that they did not know. An example, her personal physician did not know that their was a clinic 1 floor above him that supposedly handled these problems. When we finally got to it, they bandaged her legs for 1 week. When we went in the 2nd week, they said that the bandages did not do any good so we'd have to try compression socks. They don't make compression socks big enough! Also the left leg was bloody and when they wiped the blood off they found a blister has broken and was weeping all over, so they rebandaged that leg and told her to come back in another week. We are at our wits end.
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
June 11, 2006 2:19 p.m. (6 minutes and 45 seconds later)
ACCEPTED Check Mark

Hi Neighbor,

I am in San Ramon.

I would still recommend Stanford for an accurate diagnosis and treatment as they are quite savvy in helping to heal these type of leg swellinga.

I am quite concerned that she may develop a nasty infection due to the breakdown of the skin that is apparently already happenimg. Has she been given any antibiotics at all?

http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2000/february2/lymphedema-22.html

Edited by Two_Westies on June 11 2006 at 2:21pm


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PictureDeborah  -- Nurse (RN) -- 98% Positive Feedback on 2322 Health Accepts
Registered NP - Multispeciality
Reply to Deborah
Sent June 11, 2006 2:26 p.m. (6 minutes and 31 seconds later)

No she has'nt. I too am concerned and that is why I keep searching the internet. In addition to the edema, she had a small stroke 3 years ago and it effected her swallowing. She chockes. In addition her body manufactures copasiuos amounts of phlem. When she chokes on something the phlem comes up and sometimes she turns so red and bug eyed that it scares us. After a session like that she has a headache. I believe that this huge amount of phlem is related to the fluid build up in her legs in someway but the DR's say no.
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
June 11, 2006 2:27 p.m. (1 minute and 14 seconds later)
REPLIED Check Mark

Has she had a cardiology and pulmonary specialist consult.

I am concerned she may have CHF (congestive heart failure)

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PictureDeborah  -- Nurse (RN) -- 98% Positive Feedback on 2322 Health Accepts
Registered NP - Multispeciality
Reply to Deborah
Sent June 11, 2006 2:46 p.m. (19 minutes and 11 seconds later)

Cardiology yes and according to them the valve in the rear of the heart is 75% blocked and since she is 84 and they would have to lift the heart up and out in order to operate they don't want to. They say that is not the problem, not the cause of the problem and not to worry. She has not to my knowledge had a pulmonary specialist examine her. I am also concerned with CHF. Her doctor says her blood shows serious anemia and he wants to do a stool test (3 day) we start that next week. He says it will show if there is any internal bleeding. I told her I had a friend who's 103 year old mother was on a blood thinner that started with a P and doctors have found that she is bleeding internaly because of it. My mother takes warfrin. He said that's why he wants the stool samples.
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
June 11, 2006 2:50 p.m. (3 minutes and 59 seconds later)
REPLIED Check Mark

It is prudent to have a stool test, it may be the blood thinner is the culprit in causing internal bleeding.

CHF could be the culprit in causing the extensive leg swelling. Does she experience SOB (shortness of breath) especially when laying down?



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PictureDeborah  -- Nurse (RN) -- 98% Positive Feedback on 2322 Health Accepts
Registered NP - Multispeciality
Reply to Deborah
Sent June 11, 2006 3:08 p.m. (17 minutes and 33 seconds later)

Yes she does.
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
June 11, 2006 3:12 p.m. (4 minutes and 44 seconds later)

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PictureDeborah  -- Nurse (RN) -- 98% Positive Feedback on 2322 Health Accepts
Registered NP - Multispeciality

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