Elder Pain Management

JustaMom5465
Tue, 20 Nov 2018 17:55:21 +0000

My MIL (85) is definitely miserable because of advanced osteoarthritis, in both knees and shoulders. (Hips were both replaced years ago). She’s not really a candidate for replacement, she’s terrified of the effects of anesthesia, and besides she’d never follow the rehab guidelines. She takes Tramadol and NSAIDS and (according to her) it doesn’t give her much relief. But…just as she refuses to consider joint replacement, she refuses to consider an opiod also. So we’re just stuck with her being just…miserable. I don’t think she’s tried the Salonpas but maybe it’d be an option. She’s also talked about stem cell therapies, but in researching, it’s hard to tell if it’s a “real thing” or not, her orthopod doesnt seem to think so. She’s basically got no cartilage in those joints…

It’s frustrating for H and for me, and or course more so for her…