My mom, my husband, my 5 year old and I live together in Canada. Two weeks ago she started having an acute lower back pain adding to an overactive bladder and chronic UTIs and also already existing balance issues and limited mobility. The first week she took Tylenol and muscle relaxer. The second week a combo of arthritis Tylenol, Naxopren and morphine. At this point her pain hasn't improve even though she has been resting although still moving around to go to the washroom, eat, take her meds etc. She is scheduled for a lumpectomy for an early breast carcinoma in two weeks. I plan to take her tomorrow to the emergency room, but with I read on the internet about low back pain in elderly, I really don't know what else they could do to help. In addition I have a full time job and a 5 year old and despite things not being crazy demanding (she can go to the washroom on her own and can eat on her own) I am feeling I am starting to reach my limits on how much I can spread myself between child care, work, elderly care and my own care (my husband is supportive and helpful too). One question that keeps popping in my head is whether is too early to start thinking in a nursing home for her (hoping we can get a subsidized one).
So I guess in summary I wonder: what else could they do for her at the hospital and... Is it too early to consider a nursing home?
Don't think this will happen if she has any infection. Has she had a culture to determine what type of bacteria is causing the UTIs? She may need antibiotics by IV to clear up the UTI. Then some cranberry tablets, probiotic and naybe D-Mannose to help prevent more.
In some cases, minimally invasive procedures like vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty may be used to inject bone cement into the fractured vertebrae to stabilize the bone and relieve pain.
I had kyphoplasty in May of 2023 and it required general anesthesia. It did stabilize my spine, however, but I still experience a lot of pain when I move around a lot.
See what the orthopedist recommends.
We came to the ER and are just waiting to be seen. Hoping they order a CT scan and additional treatment ( besides physio and steroids... not sure what else it can be)
There isn't a lot that can be done about spinal compression in the elderly and the nerves. Sometimes nerve blocking agents are required, but a not fun procedure to you through in age.
Good luck.
Looking forward to your updates.
I can't know where this pain is but if it is at about waist level and on the side in flank area she may be having pain from the kidney.
Important to know where it is coming from.
So sorry, but anything we say is guesswork. Sounds like she needs a diagnosis of what's going on with the pain.
Hope you will update us.
And Yes to start looking for a care home . This is too much for you with a 5 year old and job .
Does mom have a regular doc you could consult about her back pain?
Can the oncologist refer her to someone who can do some imaging?