At a loss as to what might be happening?

[Linbrusco]

Mum 77 with moderate/severe stage Alz. Diagnosed 5 yrs ago, in care 2 years.
At various times over the past 2+ yrs Mum has complained of a sore back. Had been checked over many times and put down to wear & tear & age. Never more painful than needing paracetamol.
Since being in care there has also been the odd time that Mum has leaned to one side when sitting, standing or walking. Otherwise well. No constipation. A few days later back to normal posture.

6 weeks ago, her care home noticed she was more sleep in the day time and with a pronounced lean. Wasnt complaining of any pain. She then couldnt walk or stand, she was checked over for signs of stroke.
They couldnt obtain a UTI test so they started anti Bs, pain relief and ordered a hip/back/pelvis xray in case she had had a fall not witnessed. Everything was OK.
Within the week, after having to use hoists, mobility chairs and a pressure mattress as she couldnt turn herself, she suddenly started walking.
Past 6 weeks Mum has been fine.
2 weeks ago they suspected a UTI as she was agitated and aggressive with personal cares, so GP decided to keep her on a low dose anti B for a month.

Weekend gone Mum was complaining of a sore back and leaning to one side. so pain relief was started and GP checked her over. All obs fine but blood tests taken.
Since yesterday back to not standing or walking again and sleeping.

Has anyone got any ideas here?
Or one of those things that has no answer?

 

[try again]

It has been said on here that constipation may be a factor

 

[Linbrusco]

No constipation and tummy not tender.
Just reading that it can also be caused by medication.
Mum has been on anti psychotic Quetiapine for a year, but also Donepezil for 5 yrs.
Mum used to lean now and again before even Quetiapine.

 

[Grannie G]

It could be drug related or infection still not cleared. We found with my husband , antibiotics became less effective as the dementia progressed.

 

[Louise7]

You say that the x-rays were 'OK' - did they identify any problems at all? My Mum had back pain after a fall and had an x-ray as she was in pain when sitting/standing/walking. All was stated to be 'OK' although we now know that some spine 'abnormalities' were noticed but put down to 'wear and tear'. After a few days there was no further problems with sitting/standing and Mum was walking fine and not on any pain medication.

During a subsequent hospital stay 3 months later they stated that Mum's sudden inability to stand up & walk the day after admission was due to 'dementia'. We now know, having had a second x-ray 10 months after the first, that the hospital missed a 'compression fracture' on the first x-ray. This is caused by osteoporosis and can be very painful, with the pain being more severe when standing/walking than it is when laying down.

So mistakes can be made, and sometimes things can be missed on an x-ray. An MRI scan would be much better at identifying any problems so that's a possible option if all else has failed and the problem seems to be a physical one.

 

[Linbrusco]

It could be drug related or infection still not cleared. We found with my husband , antibiotics became less effective as the dementia progressed.

Interesting Grannie G as Mum has Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and they have been loathe to treat her long term with anti bs when she gets a UTI due to potential resistance

 

[Linbrusco]

@Louise7
Mum shows discomfort with her back but not verbalising pain or shouting out... then she wont mention it for quite a while
An MRI would be a mission. Mum needed sedation when taken to hospital back in March for a CT to check for signs of stroke and a chest xray

 

[Louise7]

I can sympathise, we are in the same boat. The doctor prescribed a sedative prior to Mum having her second x-ray. Not ideal, but it meant that the problem was finally identified. Mum's pain is still there but as she is now on pain relief medication it is showing as discomfort rather than obvious pain.

 

[AliceinWonderland]

Mum 77 with moderate/severe stage Alz. Diagnosed 5 yrs ago, in care 2 years.
At various times over the past 2+ yrs Mum has complained of a sore back. Had been checked over many times and put down to wear & tear & age. Never more painful than needing paracetamol.
Since being in care there has also been the odd time that Mum has leaned to one side when sitting, standing or walking. Otherwise well. No constipation. A few days later back to normal posture.

6 weeks ago, her care home noticed she was more sleep in the day time and with a pronounced lean. Wasnt complaining of any pain. She then couldnt walk or stand, she was checked over for signs of stroke.
They couldnt obtain a UTI test so they started anti Bs, pain relief and ordered a hip/back/pelvis xray in case she had had a fall not witnessed. Everything was OK.
Within the week, after having to use hoists, mobility chairs and a pressure mattress as she couldnt turn herself, she suddenly started walking.
Past 6 weeks Mum has been fine.
2 weeks ago they suspected a UTI as she was agitated and aggressive with personal cares, so GP decided to keep her on a low dose anti B for a month.

Weekend gone Mum was complaining of a sore back and leaning to one side. so pain relief was started and GP checked her over. All obs fine but blood tests taken.
Since yesterday back to not standing or walking again and sleeping.

Has anyone got any ideas here?
Or one of those things that has no answer?

 

[AliceinWonderland]

Hi All. Having done a lot of reading about all kinds of dementia and brain related problems, (because I find it interesting as well as it affecting 3 members of my family) leaning seems to crop up in Parkinson's type problems, and I assume Lewy Body dementia as my partner leans.

 

[lemonbalm]

Mum 77 with moderate/severe stage Alz. Diagnosed 5 yrs ago, in care 2 years.
At various times over the past 2+ yrs Mum has complained of a sore back. Had been checked over many times and put down to wear & tear & age. Never more painful than needing paracetamol.
Since being in care there has also been the odd time that Mum has leaned to one side when sitting, standing or walking. Otherwise well. No constipation. A few days later back to normal posture.

6 weeks ago, her care home noticed she was more sleep in the day time and with a pronounced lean. Wasnt complaining of any pain. She then couldnt walk or stand, she was checked over for signs of stroke.
They couldnt obtain a UTI test so they started anti Bs, pain relief and ordered a hip/back/pelvis xray in case she had had a fall not witnessed. Everything was OK.
Within the week, after having to use hoists, mobility chairs and a pressure mattress as she couldnt turn herself, she suddenly started walking.
Past 6 weeks Mum has been fine.
2 weeks ago they suspected a UTI as she was agitated and aggressive with personal cares, so GP decided to keep her on a low dose anti B for a month.

Weekend gone Mum was complaining of a sore back and leaning to one side. so pain relief was started and GP checked her over. All obs fine but blood tests taken.
Since yesterday back to not standing or walking again and sleeping.

Has anyone got any ideas here?
Or one of those things that has no answer?

I wonder if it might be due to muscle spasms? Residents in care homes stay so long sitting in one position, fall asleep in their chairs and get so little exercise. It might explain the intermittent nature of the problem. Muscles can get very tight from inactivity or being in an awkward position for a long time, and a spasm could cause the lean, possibly put pressure on a nerve, making movement very difficult. Pain might explain the aggression.

 

[Linbrusco]

Mum is still not independantly standing or walking. Still on anti bs & codeine.
GP has now checked her twice, lying down and sitting. Checking and feeling her back, spine & pelvis.
No moans & groans. Denying anything wrong, but yet cant turn herself in bed. Still leans and slumps to her right in a lazyboy chair.
When attempts are made to reposition her, move her from bed to chair she resists and gets agitated, and obvious pain.
As soon as shes sitting, pillow behind her back immediately calm.
Physio is seeing her tomorrow.

Anymore thoughts?