Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.

allnurses

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.
Discussion

a little help

I am working as a CNA in nursing home. Yesterday, when i took care one of my resident who is paralyzed right side ( cant move right arm (RA) and Right foot (RF)), i found out RF was swollen (+4) and LF was normal. it was excruciated when i moved it. it was not red but warm ( because previous CNA put the sock and cover him with blanket). I reported to the nurse and the nurse told me to elevate the affected leg with pillow. Can anyone explain why did he have edema in the paralyzed foot (not for unaffected foot)?

Featured Replies

The limb with hemiparesis has diminished movement. In order to have appropriate venous return one needs the action of the muscle. If flaccid, that action is not occurring and edema results. Therefore, circulation is impaired in that affected extremity.

  • Author

he has hemoparesis for long time. why does it happen now? if it is edema, why would it cause excruciated pain?

could be trauma, could be gout, could be cellulitis, could be any number of things..

  • Author
could be trauma, could be gout, could be cellulitis, could be any number of things..

Thank you for your info. In my opinion, it could not be any of them. First, he has been in the nursing when i worked in the facility (almost a year) and he never has any edema. Second, gout usually occur at the fingers (swollen, red and painful compared to his sign which is foot edemaous and painful). Moreover, he never has gout in the past. Last one, from what i know, cellulitis signs are red, swollen, and painful. It usually occurs at lower leg, not foot.

Thank you for your info. In my opinion, it could not be any of them. First, he has been in the nursing when i worked in the facility (almost a year) and he never has any edema. Second, gout usually occur at the fingers (swollen, red and painful compared to his sign which is foot edemaous and painful). Moreover, he never has gout in the past. Last one, from what i know, cellulitis signs are red, swollen, and painful. It usually occurs at lower leg, not foot.

Gout can occur at any joint. Just because the resident wasn't diagnosed with gout before doesn't mean he can't have it now. With cellulitis you can also get it anywhere.

Gout - Mayo Clinic

Cellulitis - Mayo Clinic

Gout most common in the great toe or foot not the finger/hand. A previous diagnosis is not necessary for a new onset

Edema can result from poor vascular return in a paralyzed limb if a sock is even marginally snug.

Cellulitis is not more common in the lower leg, it can incur in any site there is tissue it's a cellular inflammation often bacterial but can be environmental reaction, viral infection, allergic reaction. Yes it can occur in a foot or a finger or an ear

The edema if due to poor vascular return secondary to paralysis and limited mobility can be reduced by range of motion, elevation, repositioning.

  • Author

Gout, cellulitis' sign is red in the affected area but he did not have redness on the right foot and his temperature was 98.7 F. One thing is cellulitis only occur if he has a cut right? but his foot's skin was intact.

Gout, cellulitis' sign is red in the affected area but he did not have redness on the right foot and his temperature was 98.7 F. One thing is cellulitis only occur if he has a cut right? but his foot's skin was intact.

Not everything is always textbook & clear cut. Also, the PP that listed the reasons for the possibility of the redness. We are not the residents nurse, we cannot asses him or read his chart so we don't know what is really wrong with him. It could be anything.

Are you his nurse or CNA?

Gout, cellulitis' sign is red in the affected area but he did not have redness on the right foot and his temperature was 98.7 F. One thing is cellulitis only occur if he has a cut right? but his foot's skin was intact.

Not all cellulitis initiates in a cut or obvious broken skin. Not all cellulitis or gout cause systemic reactions like an elevated body temperature. Redness is one sign but not always. Warmth and edema are others. It could be painful edema due to poor circulation/vascular return that will be relieved by elevation.

Are you a nurse or CNA? Patients don't like to follow the text book rules. Without knowing the full history, current assessment anything we post here is pure speculation.

  • Author

i am in the BSN program and work as a CNA in nursing home facility

i am in the BSN program and work as a CNA in nursing home facility

Well right now you are a student & a CNA. I'm going to try to be as nice as possible. But you can't act as a nurse until you pass the NCLEX. You are still in school & have no experience. You keep saying it can't be gout or cellulitis, nothing gets under a nurse's skin more than a CNA/non nurse trying to be a nurse.

You have gotten great advice from great nurses. We really can't tell you what is wrong with the resident since we aren't there to examine him. All you can do is keep reporting abnormals to your charge nurse & go on with your day.

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Add a Comment

Currently Reading 0

  • No registered users viewing this page.

Account

Navigation

Search

Search

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.