Pain with arthritis. What do we do?

I was told about using DMSO for arthritis pain. I talked with our PCP about it and we agreed to try it. I helped us a lot. talk with your healthcare provider before trying anything. They wiill be able to analize this for you.

I can tell you that my DW had pain and it could not be located. During one of her episodes and was cognitive I ask her to put her hand on it. It turned out to be her kidneys. After I told the nurse, he ordered an ultra sound and found a small kidney stone. It was treated and she quit yelling in pain.
The pain could be most anything. I would have all possibilities explored.

Thank you ALL for wanting to help me. I am going to call the doctor in the morning about the patches and over the counter and see if there is something out there that may help. He doesn't want to put her on med pain at home because it would cause drowsiness and I wouldn't be able to get her around. I think its more about me than her. She's about 200 lbs and he knows I can't help or hold her up if she was dead weight. Her regular doctor was out of the office last week and the other doctor there was the one who tried the prednisone so I will talk to her doc tomorrow. You have to have a diagnoses of 6 months to live to receive hospice and mom is healthy except for aches and pains. Thank you everyone. I will keep you posted.

I second the Lidocaine patches. My mom got those and they worked wonders for her back pain. They are expensive and my mom's insurance had to approve them, but they're definitely worth asking about. They essentially numb up the area where they are applied. An easier thing you can try is BioFreeze. I just got some more yesterday at my wellness center (gym) through my hospital. Its active ingredient is menthol and you rub it on and it really helps with my shoulder pain which is supposedly from arthritis. You could also try something like IcyHot, which is a similar product I think.

I also have taken a prescription NSAID, Etodolac. My brother just got another NSAID prescribed and its name is Mobic. They're both for arthritis. They help quite a bit. But they can be hard on your stomach. Good luck, it sucks to have so much arthritis pain.

My mother finds relief from 325 mg of encapsulated aspirin - most of her pain is from arthritis inflammation. Since aspirin tends to be hard on the stomach, Mom takes one encapsulated aspirin after eating her morning bowl of cereal - usually for 1-3 days per flare. Because aspirin interacts with or magnifies the effects of other medications, please check with her doctor.

I've done a little reading about prednisone as a treatment for arthritis - it is used for inflammatory types of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis but is not recommended for osteoarthritis.

Have you considered hospice?

I question the doctor's aversion to treating her pain - is she just supposed to grin and bear it? You might consider a consult from pain specialists or a geriatric doctor who may have a little more sympathy for her discomfort. Some on the forum have mentioned pain patches, and I wouldn't completely rule out oral pain medications since the benefits may outweigh the risks, plus not all people suffer from side effects.

Shes on a powder that keeps her regular. The doctor said it was arthritus. I am calling the doc tomorrow. Thank you so much for your kind words.

Donna, you may just have to absolutely INSIST that sibs help out. They won’t ask even though they know you need help. It’s the “squeaky wheel” and all that. God forbid, but what would happen if you were unable to care for her? They’d HAVE to step up, right? Call, text, write emails, get their attention and give them a list of where they need to be, what needs to be done and when.

As for Mom’s back pain, I was told I have arthritis in my joints too. However, my worst pain comes from muscle spasms. When those hit, I can’t even reach for a pen in the end table drawer. The pain is sudden and breath-taking. I was told not to take Ibuprofen due to kidney function, but I do take drug-store brand aspirin. That works the best of anything.

Hi Donna

About the pain.
I’m glad you had the X-rays done. If she was impacted from constipation that would have shown up. Or at least it did with my aunt. Big time.

My mom had a fracture and the thing that worked the best for her was lidocaine patches. Ice and heat rotations and physical therapy. Exercise helps arthritis. A tens machine would also help. It’s like a pulsing electrical charge on the body if you aren’t familiar. It gets the circulation going in the area that hurts. There are many alternative treatments for pain.

If she’s like most people the pain meds would probably also make her constipated.

I, myself, am trying GBD oil and finding it works amazingly well. There is another poster here who is giving it to her mom and finding that it really helps her pain.

I was introduced to this by a cousin who is giving it to her mom who has Parkinson’s and dementia and has been on hospice for the past few months. My aunt started talking again and has improved in many ways. You want to make sure you get a quality product.

I think it’s the inflammation in the body that it helps with.

Do a little research on GBD oil online and if you want to know more about it let me know. My cousin who has been a 24/7 caretaker for her mom and dad for several years was really stressed. She takes it also. Her sister who has terrific migraines just started in an effort to get off of Excedrin. Both cousins are worried they will get dementia since their mom and grandmother have/ had it so are also taking it for that.

At 100 I would try anything that made her comfortable.

About your siblings. I know it’s a lot easier said than done. Forget them.
Don’t judge them. They have made their choice just as you have made yours. Own it that you chose to take care of your mother. Right, wrong or indifferent, in the final analysis you made the decision to take care of your mom. Believe me when you accept that, you will have dropped a load of anxiety and stress. Quit expecting people to be who they aren’t.
Since you are having such a hard time with it, make arrangements for your mom’s care should something happen to you before she dies. Then put it aside.

Tell your mom’s doctor you would like her evaluated by a physical therapist in your home. My mom had this for years. My aunt has it now. Medicare will pay for it and it helps.

Come back and vent anytime you need to. People here understand where you are.

There are many little places in life to get stuck. Small actions to move forward can really help.
Hugs to you and mom.

As for you, your age, and having a life, you need to arrange a set time each week, (even twice a week) for you to leave the house and have a sibling care for Mom during those times. It is called RESPITE CARE. If a sibling won't come in, insurance will often cover a week in a facility to give you a break.
If you are to continue caregiving during this time, when Mom requires an increase in care, it is imperative that you get help at home. It could be as simple as a housekeeper/cook and you take 4 hours off. Or even a sibling visit bringing in a casserole to visit you too!
Still, I hear you, at age 70, if you were not doing a life review and wanting something different than caregiving, I would worry about you. Your mother will require more care
at a time that physically, you may be more challenged to provide even the same level of care.
Can Mom live with other siblings?

Put on some relaxing music for you and your Mom.

Donna,
A R T H R I T I S has cycles of pain, and can fluctuate with emotions, (as you said), and even the weather. You are trying so hard, and it appears you are doing many things right. Can your Mom take a low dose of Tylenol (acetaminophen)? Dr. Leslie Kernistan writes recently that the safest over-the-counter medication for the elderly is under 3000mg. Tylenol. But don't take my word for it, get a second opinion, or ask your doctor
again. Do your own research.
I am of the opinion that the less medication is best.
However, when a person is suffering as you describe, one must weigh the benefits and risks more closely, as well as the age of the patient. A doctor can discuss this with you.

Learning by reading the comments by so many caregivers over the years, I have seen elders live on Hospice for 3+ years, taking morphine and other meds.

None of us want our loved ones to suffer.

Shes on a powder that keeps her regular. The doctor said it was arthritus. I am calling the doc tomorrow. Thank you so much for your kind words.

hi im sorry you have so much on your plate. you will get some replies soon.
I think I read another post somewhere. that someone had a back pain and it ended up being constipation(?) please don't take that as MEDICAL advice.
again im sorry your family doesn't step up as much as they should. seems this happens to a lot of us.

edit. omg 16 years....