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What Causes Unexplained Bruises On Lower Legs, Chest, Back, Arms And Shoulder?
Question: I have several (many) unexplained bruises on my lower legs, both front and back, from the knees down and both arms, shoulder down. This condition started about two months ago. They are of various ages, some bright red, some more of the brownish color. Those on my arms are mostly small, dime size... those on my legs are from palm size to very small. I saw my GP yesterday, they took blood (no results yet) and he prescribed Naproxen 500 mg twice daily. What is your opinion, please?
Brief Answer:
Bleeding into the skin
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome and thanks for your query.
These unexplained bruises are likely to be bleeding into the skin.
It is better to exclude conditions like thrombocytopenia and disorders of the clotting mechanism. It can also occur from inflammation or fragility of the capillaries.
Do get back to me with the results of the blood examination.
Bleeding into the skin
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome and thanks for your query.
These unexplained bruises are likely to be bleeding into the skin.
It is better to exclude conditions like thrombocytopenia and disorders of the clotting mechanism. It can also occur from inflammation or fragility of the capillaries.
Do get back to me with the results of the blood examination.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Here are the results of my blood test on Aug18th as copied from my doctors Home Page:
Results
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The information provided below is in the electronic medical record. If you have questions about your health record or if you believe any information in your record is incorrect, contact Great River Health Systems' Health Information Management Department at 319-768-1900, or click here for email.
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Globulin 3 g/dL (Normal) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT
BUN/Creatinine Ratio 8 (Normal) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT
eGFR NAA 60 (Normal) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range >= 60
eGFR AA > 60 (Normal) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range >= 60
Total Protein 6.3 g/dL (Low) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range 6.4 g/dL - 8.2 g/dL
Sodium Lvl 144 mmol/L (Normal) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range 136 mmol/L - 145 mmol/L
Sed Rate 12 mm/hr (Normal) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range mm/hr - 30 mm/hr
RDW 13.7 % (Normal) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range 11.6 % - 14.8 %
Potassium Lvl 4.3 mmol/L (Normal) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range 3.5 mmol/L - 5.1 mmol/L
Platelet 208 thou/mm3 (Normal) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range 130 thou/mm3 - 400 thou/mm3
Neutrophils Absolute 5.4 thou/mm3 (Normal) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range 1.5 thou/mm3 - 5.9 thou/mm3
MPV 10.4 fL (Normal) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range fL - 99.8 fL
Monocytes Absolute 0.8 thou/mm3 (Normal) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range thou/mm3 - 0.9 thou/mm3
MCV 98.3 fL (High) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range 80.0 fL - 94.0 fL
MCHC 31.7 g/dL (Normal) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range 31.0 g/dL - 37.0 g/dL
MCH 31.2 pg/cell (Normal) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range 25.0 pg/cell - 38.0 pg/cell
Lymphocytes Absolute 2.2 thou/mm3 (Normal) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range 1.5 thou/mm3 - 4.0 thou/mm3
Hgb 14.6 g/dL (Normal) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range 12.0 g/dL - 16.0 g/dL
Hct 46.0 % (Normal) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range 37.0 % - 47.0 %
Glucose Lvl 72 mg/dL (Low) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range 74 mg/dL - 106 mg/dL
Eosinophil Absolute 0.2 thou/mm3 (Normal) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range thou/mm3 - 0.7 thou/mm3
Creatinine Lvl 0.90 mg/dL (Normal) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range 0.55 mg/dL - 1.02 mg/dL
Chloride Lvl 105 mmol/L (Normal) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range 98 mmol/L - 107 mmol/L
Calcium Lvl 9.5 mg/dL (Normal) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range 8.5 mg/dL - 10.1 mg/dL
Bilirubin Total 0.5 mg/dL (Normal) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range 0.2 mg/dL - 1.0 mg/dL
Results
Learn More
The information provided below is in the electronic medical record. If you have questions about your health record or if you believe any information in your record is incorrect, contact Great River Health Systems' Health Information Management Department at 319-768-1900, or click here for email.
View More
XXXXXXX XXXX
Filter by date range
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Globulin 3 g/dL (Normal) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT
BUN/Creatinine Ratio 8 (Normal) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT
eGFR NAA 60 (Normal) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range >= 60
eGFR AA > 60 (Normal) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range >= 60
Total Protein 6.3 g/dL (Low) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range 6.4 g/dL - 8.2 g/dL
Sodium Lvl 144 mmol/L (Normal) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range 136 mmol/L - 145 mmol/L
Sed Rate 12 mm/hr (Normal) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range mm/hr - 30 mm/hr
RDW 13.7 % (Normal) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range 11.6 % - 14.8 %
Potassium Lvl 4.3 mmol/L (Normal) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range 3.5 mmol/L - 5.1 mmol/L
Platelet 208 thou/mm3 (Normal) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range 130 thou/mm3 - 400 thou/mm3
Neutrophils Absolute 5.4 thou/mm3 (Normal) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range 1.5 thou/mm3 - 5.9 thou/mm3
MPV 10.4 fL (Normal) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range fL - 99.8 fL
Monocytes Absolute 0.8 thou/mm3 (Normal) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range thou/mm3 - 0.9 thou/mm3
MCV 98.3 fL (High) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range 80.0 fL - 94.0 fL
MCHC 31.7 g/dL (Normal) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range 31.0 g/dL - 37.0 g/dL
MCH 31.2 pg/cell (Normal) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range 25.0 pg/cell - 38.0 pg/cell
Lymphocytes Absolute 2.2 thou/mm3 (Normal) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range 1.5 thou/mm3 - 4.0 thou/mm3
Hgb 14.6 g/dL (Normal) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range 12.0 g/dL - 16.0 g/dL
Hct 46.0 % (Normal) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range 37.0 % - 47.0 %
Glucose Lvl 72 mg/dL (Low) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range 74 mg/dL - 106 mg/dL
Eosinophil Absolute 0.2 thou/mm3 (Normal) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range thou/mm3 - 0.7 thou/mm3
Creatinine Lvl 0.90 mg/dL (Normal) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range 0.55 mg/dL - 1.02 mg/dL
Chloride Lvl 105 mmol/L (Normal) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range 98 mmol/L - 107 mmol/L
Calcium Lvl 9.5 mg/dL (Normal) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range 8.5 mg/dL - 10.1 mg/dL
Bilirubin Total 0.5 mg/dL (Normal) Date Aug 18, 2015 10:30 a.m. CDT Reference Range 0.2 mg/dL - 1.0 mg/dL
Brief Answer:
A couple of tests are required in addition
Detailed Answer:
It is good that platelets and blood cells are normal. This excludes problems like thrombocytopenia and leukemia.
A couple of tests Prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time are to be checked and if these are normal a problem with the blood clotting mechanism is less likely. It is likely that fragile capillaries which may be related to age cause the easy bruising. It is not a serious problem.
A couple of tests are required in addition
Detailed Answer:
It is good that platelets and blood cells are normal. This excludes problems like thrombocytopenia and leukemia.
A couple of tests Prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time are to be checked and if these are normal a problem with the blood clotting mechanism is less likely. It is likely that fragile capillaries which may be related to age cause the easy bruising. It is not a serious problem.
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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