18 replies to this topic

[Anna16]

I've been talking with a couple of people and some are saying that if you have a complete injury, you can't feel a pulse, like say in your feet. I saw on an ER (real life) show that someone had a spinal cord injury and they tried to find a pulse on the back side of his leg, and the doppler couldn't find anything. I mean, in a way it makes sense, but then in another, it doesn't. Your heart is still beating, so wouldn't your blood still pump throughout your body, despite (possible) poor circulation? Then someone mentioned having an incomplete injury and you would be able to feel a pulse despite some paralysis.

It doesn't matter either way. It was just an interesting conversation.

[greybeard]

I'd say false. Just about as false as it can be.

Unless the injury to the spine also severed the blood supply to the limb (don't see how that could happen, but there's always the exception), in which case, if there was no arterial supply (pulse) the limb would die fairly quickly.

[Tetracyclone]

Downright silly. Blood pressure may be lousy, but if I cut off your leg, dear, you are definitely going to bleed to death!

maybe that is not the greatest analogy. Ok, If I cut off Q Bounce's leg...

Edited by Tetracyclone, 04 July 2012 - 10:44 PM.

[moorlandlady]

Got to be false, I still have legs!

[Dovely]

definately false! by any means

[Anna16]

If there was no pulse or anything, the tissue could die, right? Because even though the limb doesn't work, the body is still supplying it some life.

I went to the podiatrist the other day and the doctor said the pulse on my feet were strong. I mentioned that in the discussion, and they just like... dismissed it. I thought I was right, but I didn't want to go on and on then be proven wrong, hahaha. Thanks everyone for backing up my initial thoughts. :]

[richo]

i am t4 complete, and still have normal blood flow in legs and feet.so has too be a pulse..........NO BLOOD FLOW=NO LIMB

[bongorum]

I'm guessing here, but probably because of all the atrophy and general lack of use, the paralyzed limbs have a far less vigorous pulse and reduced blood supply than those constantly called upon to perform; and, therefore, the pulse is much less prounounced in them.

At any rate, Dr. richo is right. No blood flow means necrosis and eventually no limb.

Edited by bongorum, 04 July 2012 - 11:46 PM.

[wheeliebear75]

Yeah I'm gonna go with perhaps a reduced or more faint pulse in effected limbs but NO pulse would lead to the tissue dieing.

[Ratticis]

Downright silly. Blood pressure may be lousy, but if I cut off your leg, dear, you are definitely going to bleed to death!

maybe that is not the greatest analogy. Ok, If I cut off Q Bounce's leg...

Well let's test this, just to be sure . . .


Anywhoo, sound like bull
The dopler was able to find the pulse in my feet, maybe the so called "expert" using it on TV forgot to turn it on

Edited by Ratticis, 05 July 2012 - 12:25 AM.

[steelchariot]

My nurse checks the pulse in my feet regularly, case closed.

[Hotrod78]

My nurse also checks the pulse in my feet regularly. I have been told some days it's harder to find but I also have poor circulation, bad water retention (lately) , and I tend to have a very low blood pressure on a pretty regular basis which all contribute I'm sure

[Tatiana]

I was talking to a guy on tuesday...we were sharing a lift to our spinal unit and he was telling me that he was having checks carried out on his heart because on his last assessment they could not find a pulse in his left leg. He has already previously had the veins in his leg widened so he does have circulation problems.

From what he was explaining it certainly isnt normal to not find a pulse. It may be that there is a pulse but its difficult to find due to a problem like this?

[davjed]

Having been a vascular ultrasound tech and working in medicine many years, I know there has to be a pulse if there is going to be viable tissue. No pulse=gangrene. If they can't find a pulse it's not because of SCI but probably athrosclerotic plaque build up in the arteries above. Pulse is a result of arterial flow not venous circulation. SCIs have poor venous flow resulting in swollen legs, ankles, and feet. This may make it difficult to feel an arterial pulse but it has to be there.

[wheeliebear75]

Quote from my Mother "An expert; well a spurt is a drip, & an ex is something that once was....so an exspurt is a drip that once was." Some "experts" are ALL WET.

[Scrappy]

I'm pretty sure if there was absolutely no blood circulation your limbs would fall off r die and decay. But since there.is circulation you should have a pulse but probably very difficult (do to poor circulation)

[Iain]

I've been talking with a couple of people and some are saying that if you have a complete injury, you can't feel a pulse, like say in your feet. I saw on an ER (real life) show that someone had a spinal cord injury and they tried to find a pulse on the back side of his leg, and the doppler couldn't find anything. I mean, in a way it makes sense, but then in another, it doesn't. Your heart is still beating, so wouldn't your blood still pump throughout your body, despite (possible) poor circulation? Then someone mentioned having an incomplete injury and you would be able to feel a pulse despite some paralysis.

It doesn't matter either way. It was just an interesting conversation.

Its nonsense. As others have said no circulation, no limb, However, the pulse pressure may be low, as a result of both changes to the sympathetic nervous system affecting arteriolar tone and low overall BP

[rAdGie]

i went to get my toe nails checked, cut etc by podiatry clinic and for the first check they test alot of things, one was pulse in 2 parts of your foot with an ultrasound thing, so i guess even the smaller pulses are working just alittle weaker

[Parachute]

Hi Beautiful

Not sure which question it is that you wanted answering. The title asks True or False: Paralyzed Limbs Don't Have A pulse? = True, they have a pulse. Also, if you have an injury C4 Complete and above, you won't feel anything nevermind a pulse. You may feel a pulse at possibly C6 Complete depending on how good your hands are.


Parachute