People with back pain get up all the time. Even when they need to use assistive devices. Is he sick otherwise? Does he have other symptoms? How old is he? Because the treatments will vary.
How does he get to the bathroom? If he has become over-medicated with pain meds, he could have severe constipation or a blockage. If he has dementia, he maybe can no longer self-motivate. Is he sleeping most of the time? What is he doing while in bed?
Is he on hospice?
So sorry he has been so sick. You are right to seek out a solution. How are you feeling? Because this entire 24/7 care burden should not fall entirely on you.
I agree with Lealonnie. Question: Was your husband on his feet before he returned home to you? Was there talk of his going to rehab to get more mobility? Is the back pain NEW since the covid. He could be having some "long-covid" problems. You are going to need to contact his doctor. Tell his doctor that you cannot get him into the office for an exam. Ask the doctor what your next step should be for an exam. Ask the doctor if an assessment for in home physical therapy might help. Ask if your husband should have been in rehab. Tell the doctor that you are having difficulty caregiving a man with no mobility. I am uncertain what your husband's condition was prior to catching covid and covid-pneumonia, and I am uncertain what condition he was in when he returned him to the inhome setting, but whatever the case was with these two things, he is basically now bed bound without any mobility at all. It is time to have a discussion with your husband's primary MD about what might be causing this problem and what the solution is to fix it if it can be fixed. Best to you. Hope you'll update us. This is such difficult times to be experiencing these problems.
Why did your husband not get sent to rehab for at least 20 days after he was hospitalized to help him regain his strength?? Bringing him home sounds like a good idea on paper, but in reality, you are not a physical or occupational therapist who can work with him daily to rebuild his stamina! The longer he lays in bed, the worse things are going to get in terms of his future mobility! His muscles can atrophy quicker than you realize, too.
Contact his doctor right away to let him know what's going on with your husband, and how things have regressed. At the very minimum, he can write an order for a physical therapy/occupational therapy company to come into your home to help DH regain his strength. Occupational therapists help him with every day tasks like showering & toileting and how to stay safe doing those tasks. Time is of the essence!
So sorry for what you both are going through. Ask his doctor to write an order for medical home health, physical and occupational therapy. You can also search online for physicians who come to the home (it's becoming popular again). Hope this helps. Start with the order for home therapy, at least you would have professionals coming to help him regain his strength.
I would contact your doctor and your area agency on aging and ask them to assess whether he can get any PT and/or personal care assistance in your home. An Occupational therapist might also be a good idea to show him how to best use the abilities he still has and to help you learn the techniques needed to care for him safely.
5 Answers
Helpful Newest
First Oldest
First
Because the treatments will vary.
How does he get to the bathroom? If he has become over-medicated with pain meds, he could have severe constipation or a blockage. If he has dementia, he maybe can no longer self-motivate. Is he sleeping most of the time? What is he doing while in bed?
Is he on hospice?
So sorry he has been so sick. You are right to seek out a solution.
How are you feeling? Because this entire 24/7 care burden should not fall entirely on you.
Question: Was your husband on his feet before he returned home to you?
Was there talk of his going to rehab to get more mobility?
Is the back pain NEW since the covid.
He could be having some "long-covid" problems.
You are going to need to contact his doctor.
Tell his doctor that you cannot get him into the office for an exam. Ask the doctor what your next step should be for an exam. Ask the doctor if an assessment for in home physical therapy might help. Ask if your husband should have been in rehab. Tell the doctor that you are having difficulty caregiving a man with no mobility.
I am uncertain what your husband's condition was prior to catching covid and covid-pneumonia, and I am uncertain what condition he was in when he returned him to the inhome setting, but whatever the case was with these two things, he is basically now bed bound without any mobility at all.
It is time to have a discussion with your husband's primary MD about what might be causing this problem and what the solution is to fix it if it can be fixed.
Best to you. Hope you'll update us. This is such difficult times to be experiencing these problems.
ADVERTISEMENT
Contact his doctor right away to let him know what's going on with your husband, and how things have regressed. At the very minimum, he can write an order for a physical therapy/occupational therapy company to come into your home to help DH regain his strength. Occupational therapists help him with every day tasks like showering & toileting and how to stay safe doing those tasks. Time is of the essence!
Good luck!