A Patient Is Admitted in Sickle Cell Crisis with Symptoms

A patient is admitted in sickle cell crisis with symptoms of dyspnea and leg pain.The patient's significant other asks,"I don't really understand why he is hurting so badly." Which response by the nurse is best?

A) "The pain is due to a disturbance in cellular metabolism."
B) "The bone marrow is expanding with the sickled cells and that causes pain."
C) "Clumping of abnormal red blood cells blocks the flow of blood through the capillaries."
D) "Bleeding in the joints occurs because red blood cells are being rapidly destroyed by the bone marrow."