Hello to all...

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in HIV/AIDS, Dementia, Psych.

Hi everyone, my name is Alicia. I have been reading this board for a few days now, and decided it was time to introduce myself. I am 29 years old, and I have been an LPN for 4 years. I did home care upon passing my boards and I'm now working in a skilled nursing facility which I really enjoy. I work on a unit comprised of mainly young people. We have a lot of MS and MVA residents. I enjoy it because I get to teach people how to form a new life for themselves in our facility. Everyone is much like a family and we all get along well and help each other out when the need arises. Our administration is relatively new and there are a lot of kinks to work out (our clinical director is terrible!) but hopefully in time the kinks will work themselves out. This board seems very friendly and it's nice to be able to learn new things from other nurses. I learned EVERYTHING about being a nurse once I hit the floor and I realized you can't learn this profession from any text book! On that note, I have a question...:D

I have a 54 year old paraplegic MVA resident who I noticed yesterday has a boggy 10cm round lump in the lumbar area of his back. It is not discolored in any way and it's raised about 3-4 cm. I vaguely remember learning something about this in school, that it's some type of edema? I have not said anything to the resident yet, as he has HIGH anxiety and I'd like to discuss it with the Dr. first so I can give him a little more info about it when I bring it to his attention. Does anyone know what this might be and what might cause it? Thanks in advance for any assistance!

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This could be sacrum edema, there are many causes but it could be positional. With limited movement the fluid will build. I would try frequent re poistioning

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Specializes in MS Home Health.

Nice to meet you and welcome. I agree with sixes......but hard to say since we cannot see it.

renerian

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Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

Welcome to the forum. I too have no idea what it could be. Let us know after you talk w/ the doctor?

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

Could be a number of things - my first thought is a lipoma - but still could be a lot of others

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I don't have advice but I wanted to welcome you to the boards and please let us know what you discover about this. :)

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Specializes in HIV/AIDS, Dementia, Psych.

Thanks for the replies and the warm welcome...I'll be back to work tomorrow and will ask the good doc what he thinks and let you know :)

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Welcome to the best nursing BB.

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Welcome aboard:)

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Specializes in Hemodialysis, Home Health.

Welcome, Alecia ! If you have questions, SOMEBODY here is bound to have an answer ! You've come to the right place!

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Specializes in everything but OR.

Hey, not claiming to be a know-it-all but it sounds like a CSF leak. How long ago was this guy's MVC and what kind of stabilization procedure was done on his spine after the accident??!!

Cath

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No words of wisdom, but WELCOME !!!!

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