My MIL is struggling to move her head from left to right. She has to move her whole body or just look at you out of her peripheral vision. She also looks like her head is becoming a part of her shoulders and always look down when she walks. Has anyone experienced this with their loved one? She was diagnosed with vascular dementia, but I see so many other things happening that look like other dementias.
My mom does the same thing, she has vertigo issues, but also has back problems.
My Husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer's but I strongly suspect he had Vascular dementia as well.
Has she seen a doctor for this particular condition?
It might take more than 1 doctor, more than 1 visit.
It could be Muscular. It could be Neurological, It could be Skeletal.
How long has this been a problem for her?
Has she had a fall recently?
Did she reach for something and "twinge" a muscle?
I know as the dementia progressed my Husband became more and more stiff in the arms and legs.. More of muscular contracture. Although he also lost trunk support though so he would slump to one side.
I had a whiplash injury about four decades ago. At the time I didn't think it was that much. Let the driver go with a wave. But in fact it was life changing and the effects grew worse over time with aging added on. The cervical spinal injury caused tightening of muscles leading to of tendons, leading to neck and shoulder pain and eventually even pain going from cervical spine down shoulder to arm to down arm through elbow and to two small fingers in my hand which would just "let go" of whatever I was holding. I thought a stroke. I also took to not looking far to left and far to the right and neck got more and more stiff and affected.
Finally told doc I need PT, and between massage to make these muscles "let go" and a whole set of exercises I still do today, I am back.
Don't know your mom can cooperate with all that, but I do think worth seeing her doc and asking for a PT consult, because just the massage was a great deal of help.
Good luck.