A patient with osteoarthritis who had a right total knee replacement tells the nurse that the other knee is becoming painful. Which of the following is the most appropriate instruction to help the patient preserve function of the left knee?
Reduce dietary purines.
Begin a jogging program.
Maintain ideal body weight.
Maintain normal uric acid levels
The Correct Answer is C
A. Reduce dietary purines.: This is more relevant for patients with gout, not osteoarthritis. Purine reduction helps control uric acid levels.
B. Begin a jogging program.: High-impact exercises like jogging can exacerbate knee pain and accelerate joint degeneration in osteoarthritis.
C. Maintain ideal body weight.: Maintaining an ideal body weight reduces stress on the knees and helps preserve joint function and delay the progression of osteoarthritis.
D. Maintain normal uric acid levels.: Uric acid levels are related to gout, not osteoarthritis. Maintaining normal levels does not directly affect osteoarthritis.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Apply a heating pad on a low setting to help relieve leg pain: Applying direct heat can increase the risk of burns due to reduced sensation in PAD patients. Heat also causes vasodilation, which might exacerbate symptoms of PAD.
B. Wear anti-embolic stockings during the day: Anti-embolic stockings can restrict arterial blood flow in PAD patients, worsening symptoms like claudication.
C. Rest with the legs above heart level: Elevating legs above heart level is contraindicated in PAD because it can decrease arterial blood flow to the extremities, worsening ischemic pain.
D. Adjust the thermostat so that the environment is warm: Keeping the environment warm helps to promote blood flow and reduce symptoms of PAD. Cold environments can cause vasoconstriction, worsening ischemia in the extremities.
Correct Answer is ["B","D","E"]
Explanation
A. Heberden nodes: These are bony swellings commonly seen in osteoarthritis, particularly affecting the distal interphalangeal joints of the fingers, not typically associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
B. Early morning stiffness: RA is characterized by prolonged morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes, which improves with activity, distinguishing it from the short-lived stiffness seen in osteoarthritis.
C. Pain increasing by activity: This is more characteristic of osteoarthritis, where joint pain typically worsens with use and activity. RA pain often improves with movement as the joints "warm up."
D. Autoimmune disease: RA is an autoimmune condition where the body's immune system attacks its own tissues, leading to inflammation and joint damage.
E. Low-grade fever: Low-grade fever can be a systemic symptom of RA due to the autoimmune inflammatory process, which is not a feature of osteoarthritis.
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