My mother has dementia and has some very vague pain that, at times, has her in tears. It comes and goes with no correlation to time of day or activity. She says it hurts all over. She's had every scan, ultrasound, and blood test done, all coming back normal. She gets bounced back and forth from her PCP to GI to Neuro, with no real solution. She's on Amitriptyline, Zoloft, Exelon patch, and lorazepam at night. Tylenol and Tramadol have no effect. I'm at my wit's end and just want her to be comfortable. I'm an RN and I feel like I'm failing her because a solution can't be found. Does anyone have any experience with a situation like this? I'm at a loss of what to do to help her.
Aside from the primary doc we have a neurologist and palliative doctor.
Mom is on zoloft for depression, remeron for psychotic issues, remeron for sleep ( along with melatonin)..... along with tylenol 2-3 times a day.
It was only after she went on a very low dose of liquid methadone (twice a day) that the calm kicked in. Mom no longer complains of pain.
There’s an evenness to her life. She now sleeps at night, is less agitated and is pain free.
If you can, find a geriatric specialist in neurology and palliative care.
Elderly patients are unable to vocalize when they’re in pain. It may manifest itself as agitation.
The palliative doc explained that studies have proven a low daily dose for elderly frail patients has proven to be more successful than random pain medication that not only takes too long to work and is a higher dose.
I resisted the thought of so much medication but the results have proven the doctor spot on.
My heart goes out you you and Mom.
She cries out about pain whenever we mover her. After watching her over and over, I found that she cries out in pain with noises, her body just lightly touching part of the Hoyer. Almost any outside stimulus causes her to cry about pain. She cries out in pain not so much due to pain but as a complaint about whatever stimulus she experiences.
Today, I asked the aide to push the diaper under my wife. She waited about 30 seconds to get the Velcro tabs covered but my wife cried out as soon as she picked up the diaper.
Psych drugs can prolong the QTc interval that leads to deadly dysthymias, torsades and death. She really needs to be monitored with more frequent EKGs. Unless she is on hospice, be aware of all the dangers of polypharmacy.
Has your mom had shingles? Sometimes that pain can return and actually may never go away and this drug is sometimes given for that. My husband was given it for neuropathy like pain in his foot. He just takes it at night when his foot hurts.
I was given it for a bad headache that was thought to be neuralgia. I didn’t get sleepy or dizzy. My husband said he rested better when on it. so it doesn’t affect everyone the same. Neither of us took it long term. Just as needed.
I would hope to never advise anyone not to feel. Your feelings are real and valuable. and coming here is helpful. So if your wits end brought you here, then your “wits are about you.”
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Afierce years of trying to get relief, finally my RA doc tested me for fibromyalgia. I have 16 positive markers out of 18. He prescribed Cymbalta. In 3 days the severe nerve pain in my leg was gone. The "touch neuropathy" in my arms, legs, back, neck is down to about a 2 or 3 on the pain scale.
The added benefit of Cymbalta is it is an anti depressant and I have found it very beneficial helping me deal with my husband's Dementia.
Can you have your mom assessed for fibromyalgia? Hugs to you
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