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Suggest Treatment For Severe Edema In An Elderly Person Treating Broken Pelvis

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Posted on Fri, 22 Jan 2016
Question: 96 yr old mother in nursing home due to broken pelvis. Refusing to take thyroid med--levothyroxine 88 mcg. She has developed severe edema in legs so bad her skin is breaking open and weeping. Is the edema related to refusal to fake thryoid? She has no history of edema prior to this
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Answered by Dr. Deepti Verma (11 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
unlikely due to hypothyroidism

Detailed Answer:
Hi dear,
I have gone through your question and understand your concerns.
Edema in lower limbs with breakbreaking of overlying skin is unlikely due to hypothyroidism or refusal to take thyroid medication.
The edema can be due to deep venous thrombosis, decreased protein levels in the body or due to the compression of the veins in the lower limbs caused by the pelvic fracture.
I will suggest you to get her lower limb Doppler study, protein levels to assess the diagnosis and get appropriate treatment as soon as possible.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Wishing you good health.
Regards
Dr Deepti Verma
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Deepti Verma

OBGYN, Maternal and Fetal Medicine

Practicing since :2009

Answered : 5064 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Severe Edema In An Elderly Person Treating Broken Pelvis

Brief Answer: unlikely due to hypothyroidism Detailed Answer: Hi dear, I have gone through your question and understand your concerns. Edema in lower limbs with breakbreaking of overlying skin is unlikely due to hypothyroidism or refusal to take thyroid medication. The edema can be due to deep venous thrombosis, decreased protein levels in the body or due to the compression of the veins in the lower limbs caused by the pelvic fracture. I will suggest you to get her lower limb Doppler study, protein levels to assess the diagnosis and get appropriate treatment as soon as possible. Hope you found the answer helpful. Wishing you good health. Regards Dr Deepti Verma