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What Do Swelling In The Foot When Diagnosed With Congestive Heart Failure?
Question: My mother is 92. She has congestive heart failure , (chf)usually controlled by diet, liw salt etc. The only thing she has is often a swollen left foot due to fluid, with the right one only very slightly swollen if any. Shes developed an infection in the big toe of her left , fluid swollen foot. There is a pus pocket on the sude of the nail and its puffy and a little red. The swelling from the fluid is making it sore also. She is taking an antibiotic and soaking it in warm water and epsom salt-- twice a day for 3 days now.
1. Is soaking in epsom salt bad for the fluid - swollen foot? She has lasix (furosimide) 20mg she could take to get the left foot fluid down. Does the salt from the epsom salt make the foot swell with fluid more???
2. Would the foot swelling from the chf make it difficult for the toe infection to heal
1. Is soaking in epsom salt bad for the fluid - swollen foot? She has lasix (furosimide) 20mg she could take to get the left foot fluid down. Does the salt from the epsom salt make the foot swell with fluid more???
2. Would the foot swelling from the chf make it difficult for the toe infection to heal
Brief Answer:
Questions answered one by one.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
Let me try to answer your queries one by one:
1. No, soaking with epsom salt can in fact help in reducing the swelling. The epsom salt solution is supposed to be more solute dense than the body fluids and hence draws out fluid from the swollen feet. It should not be the other way round.
2. The swelling from CHF would not directly affect the infection but will make things messy. This in turn can interfere with the foot care and hygiene and can adversely affect the infection healing.
Feel free to write back in case of further queries.
Regards
Questions answered one by one.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
Let me try to answer your queries one by one:
1. No, soaking with epsom salt can in fact help in reducing the swelling. The epsom salt solution is supposed to be more solute dense than the body fluids and hence draws out fluid from the swollen feet. It should not be the other way round.
2. The swelling from CHF would not directly affect the infection but will make things messy. This in turn can interfere with the foot care and hygiene and can adversely affect the infection healing.
Feel free to write back in case of further queries.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Please tell me if it is ok to use Vasoline or Polysporin antibiotic cream on it. And should she take a lasix?? To get rid of fluid on foot??
Brief Answer:
Questions answered one by one.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.
* Vaseline would just provide an external lubrication and would help in reducing dryness. Polysporin antibiotic cream would help in controlling the topical infection but your fasting blood sugar needs to be checked. Decision needs to be taken (by your doctor) whether you need oral antibiotics.
* Lasix will help in reducing the swelling of the feet and hence should be taken.
Regards
Questions answered one by one.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.
* Vaseline would just provide an external lubrication and would help in reducing dryness. Polysporin antibiotic cream would help in controlling the topical infection but your fasting blood sugar needs to be checked. Decision needs to be taken (by your doctor) whether you need oral antibiotics.
* Lasix will help in reducing the swelling of the feet and hence should be taken.
Regards
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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