An excellent post, Ed. Very informative and helpful. Thanks. You should post more often.
Sent from my iPad Begin forwarded message: > Resent-From: [email protected] > From: Ed Tessier <[email protected]> > Date: November 3, 2014 at 10:13:04 PM EST > To: RONALD L PRACHT <[email protected]> > Cc: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: Fwd: [QUAD-L] adema or swollen feet > > swollen feet is something that I have dealt with for years. There are all > kinds of treatments that can mitigate the problem. What frustrates me most, > about any ailment, is a desire to understand the cause. Age and time since > injury aren't satisfactory explanations, especially when the condition seems > to arise so suddenly. You are sure SOMETHING is causing the problem. All too > often doctors aren't interested in exploring what might be the source > problem when age and quadriplegia as such convenient scapegoats. So we have > to become our own expert researchers into ourselves. Slowly vary possible > contributing factors. Document severity and frequency of the problem over > time. Read everything about the problem in mainstream medical literature and > then beyond, if need be. > > I have had several bad flareups of feet swelling. By researching myself I > have identified three different source causes. In one case, it was kidney > stones that was having a global effect on water retention and circulation. > Another time it was changes in circulation due to using a different > wheelchair and cushion – – they dramatically slowed down lower extremity > circulation. The third time I documented a growing intolerance for salt that > probably is related to aging. > > The various treatments I would experiment with: > > Lower salt intake – – much of the American diet is smothered in added salt > daily cardio exercise – – I use weight cuffs every morning for about 20 > minutes > compression socks > slightly elevating my legs at night – – I have an adjustable bed > be prepared to spend more time in bed or go back to bed with greater frequency > Passive activity for lower extremities – – this helped quite a bit but it is > difficult to get my attendants to do it regularly > > The single greatest treatment was repeated fulltilt pressure relief in my > chair during the day. I left my beloved Ibot and moved into a permobile which > I use to do a full pressure relief tilt every 90 minutes or so. It's a > hassle, especially when working or when I'm out with my wife and sons. I hate > doing it in public. I hate how the need to do it barges into anything else > I'm doing. Funny enough, I didn't set out to treat my edema this way. The big > change in the wheelchair and seating system was triggered by chronic skin > breakdown. > > ed > > >> On Mon, Nov 3, 2014 at 3:53 PM, RONALD L PRACHT <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> For the first 12 years of my injury I had access to a pool and a sci-fit >> bike where my feet were strrapped in and propelled around by my arm >> movement. I had no idea how much good that was doing me. In the three years >> I have been doing nothing but handcycling my body is worse off and my feet >> swell all the time. It really sucks, but there isn't much I can do about it >> sitting here at home. My primary said in ten years my feet would turn red >> and turn into a pumpkin >> >> Ron >> >> >> On Monday, November 3, 2014 3:49 PM, Larry Willis <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >> >> >> You could be right, Ron. Let's hope it isn't his heart. Some exercise might >> help as well. My problem -- I don't have anyone to move them and certainly >> can't afford a therapist. Like most of us, I reside up fecal creek much of >> the time. >> >> Sent from my iPad >> >> Begin forwarded message: >> >>> Resent-From: [email protected] >>> From: RONALD L PRACHT <[email protected]> >>> Date: November 3, 2014 at 12:21:27 PM EST >>> To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> >>> Subject: Re: Fwd: [QUAD-L] adema or swollen feet >>> Reply-To: RONALD L PRACHT <[email protected]> >>> >>> I would bet a thousand dollars his heart is fine. If one foot is bigger >>> than the other that could be something. He needs passive motion of his legs >>> and feet. Rubbing them could help if you do it enough. >>> >>> >>> On Monday, November 3, 2014 10:41 AM, Larry Willis <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>> >>> >>> Danny, wheel could be right about the heart. My wife has heart problems >>> (weak) and her feet swell something terrible. I would certainly ask the doc >>> about it. Good luck, my friend. >>> >>> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- >>> From: <[email protected]> >>> Date: Sunday, November 2, 2014 >>> Subject: [QUAD-L] adema or swollen feet >>> To: [email protected], [email protected] >>> >>> >>> Dan, it appears to be a circulation issue. I'd consider a heart >>> specialist. You might need a referral from your primary doc. >>> >>> Best Wishes >>> >>> In a message dated 11/2/2014 6:34:20 P.M. Central Standard Time, >>> [email protected] writes: >>> I know some of us deal with swollen legs and feet, but about 2 months ago >>> my feet have swollen real bad-I can only wear soft house slippers now..in >>> the past we just had to elevate my legs some at night and they got better >>> but now they stay very swelled up, my family doc. had me try Lasik A water >>> pill I think plus had me try wearing compression hose stockings, but that >>> did not help a whole lot, does anyone know what can be done or what type >>> doctor can treat this?? We are not sure if is even treatable? Anyway's >>> thanks for any information from any of you that deal with this or know any >>> more that can be done/ ? thank you ! Dan H** >>> >>> >>> >> >> >
