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Fedup45 Asked April 2023

Dementia and severe chronic pain?

My mom is in such severe pain the nursing home has increased her medication dosage. She pretty much sleeps all the time now.


 


They just sent her for an MRI on Monday. She has another on Friday. I'm assuming to rule out broken bones etc.


 


Is it common for people with dementia to have severe chronic pain without having something broken?


 


I spoke with her this morning she said her pain is everywhere. A few weeks ago it was just her leg. Now it's her legs and arms. They are still waiting for the scan results.

Grandma1954 May 2023
I'm sorry about the results of the scan.
Hospice will be another group that will keep an eye on her, keep her comfortable and help you and your family.
Fedup45 May 2023
Thank you 😊
Fedup45 May 2023
My mom's scan results came back... cancer. She lost a lot of weight and has pretty much stopped eating. I visited yesterday and I'll bring my little one for a visit Sunday.

Im still waiting on finding out more about the cancer. They said hilar and that it looks like it's around the liver and gallbladder.

Im not sure if the cancer is a blessing. I hate thinking about mom my living another 5-10 with Alzheimer's.
Riverdale May 2023
Can you start hospice now?

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funkygrandma59 Apr 2023
My late husband who had vascular dementia was in excruciating pain in various body parts(mostly arms and legs)for the last year and a half or so of his life, to which no one could figure out why.
And because of his massive stroke that he'd had many years earlier and the major damage it did to his brain, he seemed to be very resistant to any pain medications, even the opioids.
Hopefully in your moms case they will figure out where her pain is coming from so they can fix/treat it.
Otherwise it just may be time to bring hospice on board and quit putting her through needless tests and just let her be comfortable until she leaves this world. There are no happy endings with dementia. It always leads to death one way or another.
Wishing you both well.
Fedup45 Apr 2023
Agreed. My mom's diagnosis is Alzheimer's and "probable vascular dementia". She has vascular disease and has had mini strokes in the past. What were past complaints about her legs, now includes her arms as of my conversation yesterday.

It just bothers me it took months to get them moving on the scans. Originally, my husband and I were suggesting they send her to the ER. The nurse practitioner agreed to up her medication. Now they're in the process. My dad makes decisions for her. We try to make suggestions.
Catskie62 Apr 2023
I don't think dementia always= increased pain. Prior injuries, age and not being as active is bad for the body.

Fedup45 Apr 2023
I was just curious if this was a common occurrence or if many on this site have had this experience. I'm not looking for diagnosis. She is under doctors care. We're waiting on MRI results.
NeedHelpWithMom Apr 2023
I hope the MRI results will be able to explain what is going on.

Dementia symptoms are different for everyone.

When will you get the test results back?
Fedup45 Apr 2023
@sp19690

Being pregnant can destroy your core. It most definitely can cause back issues.
NeedHelpWithMom Apr 2023
Pregnancy can cause back issues but Mid’s doctor referred to her “carrying” her babies around.

All moms carry their babies. They can’t walk! We carried them or put them in a stroller.
Midkid58 Apr 2023
I think having chronic pain from whatever source is a trial to anyone, dementia or no. Keeping your mom comfortable might ease the dementia a little--who knows? Our brains are so impossible to understand.

BUT--I, for one, am all about keeping people in chronic pain comfortable. Life with pain, day in, day out is so disabling.

Just 'getting old' is painful. All those injuries from the past when we were unconquerable come back to roost in our later years.

My back is ruined and when I asked the dr WHY--he said "did you have babies?" (Yes, 5-10 lb babies!) "did you carry them around?" (Of course!) He said, "well, there's one (well 5) good reasons to hurt."

Getting out of pain and staying that way all day, everyday is honestly my biggest challenge these days.

I've noticed that my DH (who has had MULTIPLE sports injuries) is really, really grumpy on the days he's in pain. And being a liver transplant patient, he has to be very careful about what he takes for the pain. I know his QOL is not what he'd like at age 71, but he is paying the price for some stupid choices and for being a 'jock'. He's at the pain clinic right now, trying to work out the incessant pain in his neck from a motorcycle accident.

I hope you can keep your mom out of pain--having dementia on top of hurting must be awful.
sp19690 Apr 2023
I doubt carrying babies around and giving birth caused you to have chronic back pain. I would get a second opinion. That doctor sounds like a mysoginistic idiot.
NeedHelpWithMom Apr 2023
We can’t answer this question. We aren’t medical professionals.

Plus, dementia affects everyone differently.

I hope that your mom’s pain subsides. It’s hard to watch our family members suffer.

I also hope that you get the answers that you need from your mother’s doctor.

All the best to you and your family.

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