Caring For Aging Parents Support Group

Caring for aging parents can be a difficul time as we become the caretakers for our parents. This broad responsibility can encompass such services as assisted living, adult day care, long term care, nursing homes, hospice care, and in-home care. Whether you have just started caring for your parents or just need a place to talk, we're here.

852 Members
2,506 Posts
0 Online
Seniors
/ Caring For Aging Parents Support Group

pain

crazyenough2
crazyenough2
Ok ,so I take my mother to the doctor, she is 80 years old. They give her narcotics, pain relievers for inflammation, I know she is an addict and therefore will not try to detox her at this time, The deal is that she always complains of pain. Level 10 she says, What I cant figure out is aren't the pain pills helping?
Recent trip to the hospital and they are giving her physical therapy. Not much seems to help? Seems to me ,which I feel helpless in this case that no matter what we do the pain doesn't lesson.
She has very little interest in anything ,watches same programs at night every night ,wont take care of herself. I've made many suggestions, no interest. At a loss here to solve the problem,
deleted_user
deleted_user
HI crazyenough2, I just lost my mom and dad in March in April, and still read the posts here, feel all you are friends and it's the sharing of experiences that are so helpful and supportive here.
My mom, 87 when she passed, always complained about pain too. and dad too, at 89. I did everything I could to solve the pain issue, I won't go into everything, but finally figured about that it was part of their depression. A person with a pain scale of "10" acts differently then a "5" or "6" and their activity, eating, etc. is affected. Plus the medication for pain numbs their brain too, so they don't want to function. And moving hurts, so they don't want to move, or do anything. I am sorry, but physical therapy increases the pain. And if there is not improved function from it I would stop it. There is only so much you can do. Life in the 80's is painful, and often depressing. Make your mom a picture board of all the family, in happier times and post it on her wall. Grab it and go through some of those happy times with her. Laugh, hug her and appreciate her and the family. This is VERY difficult! Don't be hard on yourself. Hugs
billwfriend
billwfriend
again hugs and welcome...my mom is in constant pain too at 91 next week....her back is bad...she takes oxycotin....all day....on schedule which she keeps track of on pad of paper...she is mentally sharp as a tack
crazyenough2
crazyenough2
Denise
I am sorry for your losses, I do hug her tell her I love her, buy her the things she likes to eat. I guess acceptance is the answer, I know my self I have some issues with my health, and getting old watching TV all the time cant be any fun for anyone. She does take an anti depressant,.
Its been a long hard road ,working ,then coming home and working more, I know its all worth it .So I'm glad you are still here,Thanks
pd2012
pd2012
Unfortunately, addiction is a side effect of taking any kind of narcotic. I would work directly with her doctor on whether your mother would require withdrawal assistance medication or an incremental dosage reduction process. If pain medication is needed to help a patient lead a more productive life, then that's what they need. It's hard to treat a specific illness or injury in the elderly due to the fact that they usually have multiple illnesses where pain is involved. She may be depressed in which you could talk to her doctor.

Not an easy position for you as I'm sure you'd like to see her more active with a better outlook but sometimes, we can't make those changes in them.
Posts You May Be Interested In