Find Senior Care (City or Zip)
Join Now Log In
C
chrissykall23 Asked January 2014

Mom isn't sleeping....any ideas?

my mom is 86, has dementia, arthritis from head to toe, recovering from a muscle strain in her knee. Doesn't like blankets touching her at times, but if we remove the blankets then she is cold of course in this weather. Tonight she says she is itching which is nerves causing her trouble in her legs. Sometimes she will let me sleep and just putters through the house and will eventually go to sleep. I have tried all my normal things to relax and calm her down. Pain cream, pain pills and ice treatments are not working tonight. I have arthritis but all i want to do is lay still and relax but she is too nervous for that. I hve gone to bed several times tonight just hoping she will settle down soon. Taking her to the doctor this week again to get a recommendation for a neurologist or something that might have some different ideas or for some pain management. If they don't help me i'm taking her up 50 miles to our university hospital for some other ideas.

blannie Jan 2014
I'd try a heating pad where she hurts (my mom swears by hers for her arthritis) and maybe an electric blanket, so that she can have heat but not the weight of a heavier blanket. When my mom had a bad time, her doc prescribed lidocaine patches (Lidoderm). They were super expensive, so had to get the authorization from insurance, but they would numb up the painful area on my mom's back so she could function. It looks like Salon Pas and IcyHot may be similar. Good luck, it's tough when her not sleeping means you can't sleep well either.

pamstegma Jan 2014
Give Tryptophan either pills or in Turkey. Also Melatonin either pills or cherry juice. Peripheral neuropathy is manageable by many medications, some of which help sleep.

ADVERTISEMENT


ADVERTISEMENT

Ask a Question

Subscribe to
Our Newsletter