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Bob350 Asked December 22, 2024

Walking

My wife is having a very hard time with walking. She injured her hip years ago, It pains her now. I have taken her to the Urgent care and Er's. They did xrays and a CAT scan. The hip is not broken. We tried to get her to do PT but that was a no go.But now she is just shuffling along and loses her balance at times.I finally got her to use her cane, most of the time, for all moves. But with dementia she forgets to use it or forgets where she put it. The search is then on. But it is never far.I was just wondering if this is just a progression of dementia or something else.Thanks in advance!

JoAnn29 Dec 23, 2024
I will tell you with Dementia the pain seem worse than it is. A child scrapes there knee andvits like they are dying. Same with Denentia. Has your wife had a bone density scan? This tells you how bad the osteoporosis is. She could be feeling discomfort from that. Was arthritis found? That would cause pain.

Bob350 Dec 23, 2024
Thank you all for the help and replies!
Looking into a walker right now.

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AlvaDeer Dec 23, 2024
It is very difficult to deal with things with Alzheimer's Bob. I am so sorry. For most of us, and you may already experience this yourself, or notice it, it is matter of BALANCE as much as pain. Add on the pain with the poor brain balance and you have a recipe for falling. As I always say of us elders -- Falls R Us. We WILL fall.
You are doing what you can.
Not that it matters, because really treatments aren't good, but my daughter in her 60s was ignored about her hip pain, told it was "coming from your back and a bulging disc" etc. until THREE YEARS later when she insisted on an MRI on her hip and they came back with evidence of two muscles TORN from insertion on pelvic bones and tendons frayed and hanging in the wind along with bursitis from chronic injury of walking. There's a lot of pain. She way asked "What happened? Did you fall off a horse and then the horse fell onto you?"
Your wife could have an injury that isn't showing. Not much reason to know as major surgery likely out of the question, and for my daughter not even the answer; seems not to BE much answer but they will in January try a surgical procedure called Tenex.

Sorry wife is dealing with the pain as well as the forgetfulness. You might eventually opt for one of those Cadillac of walkers, the one in which you stand with arms resting at chest level on the raised walker bars. They are very stabilizing, and they are HARD TO IGNORE.

I sure do wish you both the best.

funkygrandma59 Dec 23, 2024
Shuffling when walking and falling a lot are all symptoms of dementia, and will only continue to get worse.
I'm surprised her doctors haven't told you that. You may need to step her up to a walker which she won't be able to misplace and will keep her a lot more steady on her feet, even though the falls will still happen as that is part of the disease.
Wishing you well as you take this very difficult journey with your wife.

Fawnby Dec 23, 2024
We can’t really know, but my bet would be that this is mostly progression of her dementia. Be prepared for the falls that will ensue. I’m so sorry, I wish I could tell you something more positive. I’m presently going through this with my husband, and the falls have caused setbacks in his cognition. Dementia is a very unkind disease.
Bob350 Dec 23, 2024
Yes, it is a very unkind disease.

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