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ALEAH72 Asked August 2014

My patient (93) is in good health but complaining only of pain while walking. Any advice?

93 yrs old man pain in walking.

OwenWong Mar 2015
Look into speaking with a Physical Therapist. More often than not, the doctor will simply refer you to one after having cleared that nothing acutely serious is occurring. It is a good idea to clear that there is nothing medically acutely ill happening. If it is determined that it is a strain/sprain or degenerative in nature - physical therapy would be your best option.

homecare1 Jan 2015
Putting someone in a wheelchair is NOT the answer. Small doses of exercise even if its just walking will help. Do this every 30 min to hour but first see if you can isolate where the pain is coming from, he could have a hairline fracture or even his hip could have popped out of the socket. I have seen people with dislocated hips walking around no knowing it. A physical therapist will most likely be your best choice and because of his age look into a visiting physician

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scadvice Sep 2014
What is his stature? i.e. Posture and general appearance? Does he sleep through the night or have to get up and sleep in a chair? What does his doctor say?? There are conditions in aging that can participate pain. If his doctor approves it, try Aleve or Naprosyn for pain.

Larida Aug 2014
I notice no one is speaking about possible joint replacements and I think that's wise. Orthopedic surgeons are great at what they do but they're NOT gerontologists. Even with a "simple" epidural instead of complete anesthesia, the brain is very sensitive at this age and surgery, in the opinion of this somewhat experienced lay-person, is highly risky.

sandrabullard Aug 2014
It's important to determine
1-where it hurts exactly
2-how often
3- on a scale of 1-10 how bad it hurts
4- what kind of pain is it? (stabbing, aching,grinding,)
5- if anything makes it better or worse
6- does he have any disease processes/illnesses that he is treating for and what are his medications
7- if he has any edema/swelling of his extremities and how much
There are lots of natural cures and or dietary changes to help reduce his symptoms if you can gather up these facts.

pipruby Aug 2014
Where does he hurt??? Feet: insoles, knees: Turmeric, back: tell his MD. He might benefit from using a walker.

ALEAH72 Aug 2014
IM only his private nurse for 3 mos now..at his age we went to his office everyday he used only a stick while im assisting him on the other hand.we stop/rest for second before we reach his chair in his office from his car.evrything you said and recommend is right..the only medication he take for pain is bby aspirin..he used wheelchair when he rounds to his workshop.he is in evrything normal vutal signs evryday,tyank you so much for info your so nice guys!

GardenArtist Aug 2014
Get an appointment with an orthopedic doctor. X-rays will determine if there are issues and the doctor can script for PT.

How long has this been going on, or is it a recent onset? Does he get any exercise, especially for his legs? Is he taking any statin meds? Does he have diagnosed arthritis?

If he's not on coumadin and watching his Vitamin K, or if he is and his INR is within therapeutic range and he gets K foods on a regular basis, you could add some celery. It has Cox-2 inhibitors as well as an NSAID type pain reliever. It's worked wonders for me. But check with his primary care or internist doctor first just to be on the safe side. And use real celery, not tablets.

As long as he can still walk, a rollator might be a good option. He can use it for support while walking but also as a seat when he needs to stop for a rest.

Larida Aug 2014
Those of us of a certain age remember many people of this age using canes. Exercise is a good antidote for pain. So are some spices, but start slow. Turmeric, cinnamon, and ginger are my choices... start with a pea-size dose for the turmeric and a quarter teaspoon for the other two. Be sure to talk to your doctor first in case there are any digestive issues, but don't expect him to think "spice"; X-rays are relatively inexpensive and can pinpoint joint problems and help identify their severity. At 93 he's entitled to some pain, but don't get premature about the wheelchair... sitting all day has its own problems! Still it's a good way to get out of the house more... let him push it until he needs to sit down; think of it as a friend rather than a basket.

MaggieMarshall Aug 2014
As a 93 years old, that sure wouldn't be unusual. Talk to his doctor. Hopefully, it's self-limiting. If he doesn't have a wheelchair, see about getting him one and use it to make his life easier.

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