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chrissykall23 Asked August 2014

My Mom has recently started constant pacing with her walker usually in the middle of the night, any ideas to stop this?

whether its in the middle of the night or during day she is constantly pacing with her walker. I have googled it and it says its part of sundowners but its at any time of the day. my caregiver coungselor is researching for me to she thought there was something to help this. I can't keep my mom down long whether in a chair or in bed.

pamstegma Aug 2014
When I wake up at 1:30am and feel restless, a little milk and cereal helps me to go back to bed and get some sleep. Possibly it is low blood sugar, so a little snack will help.

chrissykall23 Aug 2014
She has a lot of pain which we are treating with pain pills but because of her weak stomach not able to take narcotics but then she has many other drugs for her seizures . She has RA in her hips/legs/feet. Ever since she sprained her foot has had extreme pain. Been to the doctors many times they dont know what to do. Sometimes the pacing goes on for 1 - 3 hours at a time she makes my legs tired just watching her. I'm waiting for my counselor to call me back she was questioning her supervisors about some solutions someone had for this problem. I guess im fortunate she is using the walker and not trying to walk on her own because falls has been another one of her problems becaue when she does have a seizure its in her legs now and she will drop to the floor.

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MaggieMarshall Aug 2014
Are you sure your mom isn't in any uncontrolled pain? Is she taking any narcotics? That would drive me absolutely crazy. Even when mom could walk, I was paranoid about her falling. Now, she's wheelchair bound. Before that, I got a hospital bed with full rails and raised the foot and head of the bed. (Foot more than head.) She found it impossible to get out of bed that way. Only way I kept my sanity.

Does she seem to have anxiety? That can cause pacing...to work it off. Sitting still can become difficult. Perhaps some anxiety medication? Have you spoken with her doctor? I'm betting it's a trial and error kind of thing.

I hope you find the solution. Mom didn't pace, but she would get out of bed, so I equate it to that. I could hardly rest afraid she would fall.

My late husband paced constantly. Couldn't sit still. He was on heavy pain medication. That's why I asked about the narcotics.

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