Mum visited the Orthopaedic Surgeon

[Taffy]

Mum visited the orthopaedic surgeon yesterday RE the shoulder she injured in a fall last August. The outcome wasn't very good, as the specialist said mum needs a shoulder replacement.
He went on further to say that everything was against mum, her age (83) plus the risk factor in using anaesthetic and the possibility of the trauma worsening the dementia. His main concern also was mum's ability to be able to cope with the physio after the operation, which is crucial.
Mum wasn't having a very good day, even though she was on her best behaviour she was quite vague to the point of been clueless at times.
So this is the care plan, regular pain relief. The possibility of a cortisone injection which may or may not work and he seemed to think that more likely it wouldn't. Ideally he would like to give mum stronger pain relief but is hesitant because of the drowsy affect and greater chance of having a fall. Try to get mum to use a walking frame as she has started to shuffle at times.
If any further injury occurs then the shoulder will have to be replaced he can't understand that mum never complained years back about her shoulder as the damage has been there for ages and the fall just worsened it.
The care home is going to encourage mum to use a walker and this is going to be a very difficult task I thanked them and said, all you can do is try. Mum is passed been able to rationale, when I pointed out how the others managed so well and felt safe against falling, she said they were only acting for attention and that they should be on the stage. Mum has had two falls since the August fall and has no memory of this. We can only try, if I was a betting person I would put my money on mum not using the walker. Regards Taffy.

 

[clarethebear]

Hi Taffy

So sorry to hear about your mum's fall. It is so worrying when they have a fall as you don't know just what damage they can do to themselves.

After my Nanna's last fall she is now in a wheelchair. I was wondering if you mum was arty in anyway, maybe if you decorated a walking frame with her she may try and use it.

I don't know if that would work or not but maybe it is worth a try.

I will also ask at my Nanna's home if they may have any ideas you could try.

Take Care

Clare & Jack

 

[Grannie G]

I pointed out how the others managed so well and felt safe against falling, she said they were only acting for attention and that they should be on the stage. .

Oh Taffy, that`s just the reaction I`d get if I suggested to Dhiren anything he wouldn`t feel able to do.

When he broke his arm 2 years ago, he was in a much better frame of mind then, but still couldn`t cope with the physio.

He had a cortisone injection years ago for a frozen shoulder and it worked. I know it`s not the same as your mother`s injury, but the cortizone injection may or may not work in many situations, so it might be worth trying. Definitely better than surgery for your mother. I don`t think it could do any harm.

Love xx

 

[Mameeskye]

Hi Taffy

(((hugs)))

After surgery my Mum was classed as needing a zimmer but she had more falls with it than without. Speaking to the nurses in the EMI unit they tell me that it is a complicated task to use a zimmer as it requires much co-ordination and that, unless you have used a zimmer before the dementia gets bad, you rarely can learn to use one.

Mum now needs staff help to walk following some recent TIAs but is occasionally trying herself again but we just have to bear with it and hope that she doesn't fall. Generally she cannot get out the seat herself so quite often sits in a lower sofa for safety!

Love

Mameeskye

 

[Skye]

After surgery my Mum was classed as needing a zimmer but she had more falls with it than without. Speaking to the nurses in the EMI unit they tell me that it is a complicated task to use a zimmer as it requires much co-ordination and that, unless you have used a zimmer before the dementia gets bad, you rarely can learn to use one.

I was told the same when John was in hospital and had lost mobility. The physio asked if he had ever used a zimmer. I said no, he'd been fully mobile before the infection. They said in that case it would be no use to him, he wouldn't be able to use it. The dementia would make it too difficult for him to learn.

Taffy, I'm so sorry for your mum. I hope the cortisone injection helps. She might also be able to take cortisone orally. My bil developed polymyalgia, an was prescribed the tablets. His mobility improved within two hours of taking the first tablet. I know it's not the same condition, but it might be worth asking.

Love,

 

[Margarita]

complicated task to use a zimmer as it requires much co-ordination and that, unless you have used a zimmer before the dementia gets bad, you rarely can learn to use one.

Wonder where they got that theory .



I know every one with AZ is different

My mother was in late stages
co-ordination gone when she got her Zimmer frame , Ok she can not go in a straight line , but she lift it up , and that only happen when she out side in street and I tell her she going wrong way when day-center bus has not park right in front of our house .If she turn without Zimmer frame she would fall ,
She just can't walk alone anyway anywhere , but she can still walk if you get what I mean


Inside house it help her hold her weight balance in getting out of bed , chair walking to kitchen , toilet , other wise she holding her hands against the walls to hold her balance , more likely to have a fall .

 

[Taffy]

Thank you all for your replies.

The specialist is sending a letter to the doctor that attends the home to see what his opinion is about the cortisone injection.

Today, when I visited mum she was still quite vague and somewhat confused. At the breakfast table she had announced that she was going home today and she had enjoyed her stay and hoped that I would bring her back to visit them all.

Mum had asked the attendant to take the clothes out of her wardrobe as they were not hers and that she had packed what was hers on her bed because I was coming to take her home.

When I got there mum wasn't talking clearly, more like a mumble and I couldn't understand the words she was trying to say but after awhile her words were clearer. 'We better go now, I am all packed to go home'.

I did notice that the others were either asleep or not really aware of much and I put it down to the extreme weather changes stinking hot one day.... the next very cold.... then hot again.

There was absolutely no point in trying the walking frame as mum was not sure that she even wore glasses but decided to leave them on anyway. The care attendant isn't in favour of mum using the frame at all, she felt it would be to confusing.

Mum is at a point now, where the less she has to worry about the better she copes. Her room looks like it has been burgled no photos or ornaments and the only reason the furniture is still there is because she thinks that it belongs to the home and she is always trying to give it back.

Mum wasn't to bothered about not coming home she was to vague to really comprehend anything, but she did say tomorrow I'll come home.

I will also ask at my Nanna's home if they may have any ideas you could try.

Thank you, for that Clare and your idea about decorating is also good, and I have seen some walkers that the residents have decorated for easier identification. But for mum things just seem to annoy her and her life seems such a struggle ( that is how it appears to me anyway). Her younger sister who lives interstate sent her lovely boxed flowers and mum wouldn't have them in her room she gave them to the carers and said she was to old for flowers.

Regards Taffy.

 

[Grannie G]

her life seems such a struggle ( .

So sad Taffy. I would think the priority is to make things as easy as possible for your mother, no surgery, no gadgets, nothing new to have to worry about.

Love xx

 

[Skye]

Dear Taffy, it must be so upsetting to see your mum becoming more and more comfused.

Is she taking strong pain-killers? If so, this could be causing a lot of the confusion. I know they have that effect on me!

All you can really do at the moment is just what you are doing -- giving her lots of love and attention.

I hope things improve for you, it must be so stressful for you.

Love,

 

[Tender Face]

Hi Taffy

Just an idea but mum uses a 'trolley' - not strictly a walking frame since her hip replacement several years ago .... (pre dementia diagnosis -but with hindsight her behaviour with the physios at the time indicates we were already in the throes - and she has subsequently been 'denied' the expected second hip replacement on the grounds of her dementia and the effects the op might have for her).

The trolley - provided by OT - was intended for her to be able to ferry drinks etc from kitchen to living room - but has become more like her 'personal table' and goes around the house with her ..... perhaps if your mum saw something like this as a piece of furniture which just happened to be for her use in the home it might be some kind of 'half-way house' solution?

Have to agree with Hazel too about the painkillers - consultant was horrified at how many mum was taking at one point - saying they would be enough to make anyone drowsy and confused - are there other alternatives other than the cortisone injection? - I'm thinking of those 'heated pads' people use for shoulder and neck pain - sorry - can't remember what they're called - but can be heated in microwave (by staff of course) .......

With love, Karen, x

 

[Taffy]

Mum is only on panadol gel caps, she has two, three times a day. Before mum went into the home the anti depressant cipramil she is on was taken at night-time along with one antibiotic to keep UTI's under control.

Everything was working quite well, the UTI's which were a big problem were finally under control and the cipramil helped mum sleep better, plus she was still less agitated of a day.

On going into the home this all changed. No antibiotics, reason given was that they wouldn't be needed as her personal care would be addressed properly. The cipramil would be given of a day.

I didn't want the antibiotics stopped. There were three different types of antibiotics that were used but only one tablet a day. Mum had been using this method for ages and every eight weeks a urine specimen was sent off to the lab.

I am thinking mum could have another UTI even though the home checks every six weeks it is only done by strip which isn't always correct. Today, when I visited mum she didn't seem as confused but she was nasty to another resident and I quickly pulled her up.

Out of the blue mum's brother phoned to say, he was coming to visit and would like me to take him to see mum, this is to all happen tomorrow. It has been twelve months since he seen her. Goodness knows how that will go the last time was disastrous.

Karen, I know the trolley you are talking about, as dad has one also. The heat bag is a good idea and I have seen them at the chemist they are filled with Wheat. Thanks for all the support. Take Care Taffy.