My mother is currently only 69 years old, but her body has been seeing many health concerns, both physical and mental, that have really taken a toll on her. She's a former gymnast, a cancer survivor, and someone who's dealt with mental health issues all her life. As such, she has a number of issues colliding right now; the worst of them being in so much pain that she can't exercise, which is normally how she keeps her mental health in check. So, both aspects of her health are really beginning to suffer.
So on the short term, what are some good ways to help Mom stay active when she's in so much pain? Also, what are good medications for pain that have minimal risk or side effects? She's that one person who gets all the side effects.
Some more info on her pain: Her current pain stems from her back (a nerve?) and a bunion on her foot. Mom is very terrified of surgery, taking more medications, or even having a shot in her back. She has a history with anesthesia negating her anti-depressants which she needs to function on a daily basis, and her last surgery a few months ago was particularly traumatic. She just canceled an appointment to get a pain-relieving shot in her back because she's afraid of being paralyzed. On that note, what kind of doctor is most qualified or skilled to do anything around Mom's spine?
My health network includes a large, reputable ortho practice that includes a pain management clinic. It's its own department. Or, I would see an orthopedist who specializes in back issues. If she doesn't know what's actually wrong, she may do more damage by attempting to exercise a damaged part of her body.
She won't exercise unless her pain is under control. She will need to keep experimenting with different treatments to get relief. She may need to decide any "side effects" are worth being pain-free.
Do you know what the side effect is if she doesn't just choose to take a risk? She won't exercise and her mental and physical health will continue to decline. She can't have it both ways -- there's no miraculous medicine out there with no side effects. She can have bunion surgery, too.
I'm sorry she's had so many health issues. I wish her a peaceful and pain-free 2025.
The same with getting a shot in her back. If your mom has been diagnosed with nerve pain in her back and her doctor says that the shot(s) should help, why wouldn't someone at least give it a try?
I've had several shots in my back over the years and sometimes they helped and sometimes they didn't, but I never had any negative side effects from them.
Plus I've had 2 foot surgeries, and the doctor used the mildest of anesthesia for both.
I can't really feel too sorry for someone that says they're in pain yet doesn't want to take the necessary steps to get out of said pain.
Your mom may need to talk to her doctor that prescribes her anti-depressants to see if they might need to be adjusted, as again this seems to be more of a mental issue than anything else.
Oh and by the way, it was an orthopedic doctor that gave me all the shots in my spine. They have orthopedic doctors that deal strictly with the spine/back, and that is who did mine.
Good luck.
1) I have a bone spur on the top of the ‘bunion’ big toe joint, not the side as is usual. I’ve been told that I can have it cut off (ie surgery) but for now I am coping with a special choice of sandals. I only wear sandals (and one pair of aging helpful shoes) where the straps don’t cover the bone spur or put any pressure on it. I’m not even sure if I will ever opt for the surgery. Finding shoes takes a bit of looking, but is worth it.
2) I have a lot of back pain from scoliosis, 55 degree thoracic curve, 51 lumbar curve. I have unlimited codeine phosphate tablets (my scrip is 180 at a time). Codeine has not been addictive for me, I don’t take it if I don’t need it. Usually about 3 a day, sometimes more, occasionally none. It takes 45 minutes to kick in, and sometimes if the first doesn’t work I take another immediately. Rarely the pain is particularly difficult, and I have endone available. I have taken 4 endone tablets in 6 months, it’s addictive and I avoid it if possible. I have refused pain injections because short term relief would be pointless, and I would not contemplate surgery - much too risky for me, and anyway it has not been offered (they look at my xrays etc and think again) . I was one degree curvature short of getting surgery and implant rods as a teenager, and I am very glad about that - 60 years later they seem to cause problems.
3) I have to be very careful with exercise, because twists in particular will always result in pain later. I spend a lot of time reading, and also a lot of time on the computer and in particular on this site. My interest in this site has been a god-saver for me. I control my weight very carefully, which reduces pressure (and looks a lot better than many 77 year olds). I know my limits, and restrict exercise rather than look for more. Strength is more important for me than exercise. Perhaps your mother’s history in athletics means that she expects more than is really good for her. Those beautiful little girl athletes strained a lot of joints. Sometimes 'coping' is more realistic than 'fixing'.
Best wishes to you both, and I hope this level of detail helps. Margaret
I am very sad to hear of what your mother is going through - suffering.
Perhaps contact a holistic medical provider?
PT?
Massage?
Accupunture / pressure?
Is her pain beyond cold / ice packs or heat / pads?
What does her MD say?
My friend has gout (he trained to be in the Olympics and should have been as he qualified for the possibility to win gold ... in any case, he's been an athlete all his life and now, approaching 90, he has episodes of gout causing severe pain.
He takes pregnoson (sp?) which provides him relief.
Gena / Touch Matters
My own journey has been a little different. I’ve tried physical therapy, cortisone injections (three times—did nothing), acupuncture. If any of these medical interventions helped me it was not noticeable. However, the body can heal itself. In fact, that’s what the doctor who administered the injections told me; the actual goal of the injections is to provide temporary pain relief while the body heals itself.
I am now doing much better than I was. I still have bad pain days, after extra exertion I’m sore. But I walk every day with much less pain.
I guess my suggestion is she just needs to start exploring the options. Physical therapy is probably what they will start with. Not what she wants to hear, I’m sure.
If M over-strained her body as a child athlete (and I'm coming to the conclusion that it is often close to child abuse for parent and coach ambition), it won't 'heal itself' - that's more for recent injuries. Lifelong impairment is permanent, and M may have the right approach - learn to live with it. Look for appropriate drugs for the worst times, and focus on 'mental health'. Anyway, that's how I cope with my own (quite substantial) problems.
The bunion on the foot will do better with well-fitted shoes that do not rub or bind too tightly. Take her to a foot doctor for evaluation of the bunion and treatment options. Also take her to a store that sells orthopedic shoes. The sales people in these stores can help with recommending and fitting of shoes that will work best for her.
As for exercise, ask her usual medical doctor for a referral to physical therapy. The physical therapist can evaluate her movement and pain issues in order give her guided exercise routines to help with pain. The routines will also help strengthen muscles to protect the area of her back which is injured.
I can understand your mom's fear of injections; I'm leery of them, too, mostly based on widely varied levels of success with pain relief and the rare instances of paralysis. I am in pain at a level 4-6 every day and 7-8 at times. I can no longer do many of the activities I once did. Even housekeeping and grocery shopping have gotten more challenging. I take a low dose of Tylenol #3 which helps some. I need stronger medication which, in these days of the "opioid crisis" (which I had nothing to do with!), is very difficult to come by.
I've tried physical therapy (probably will try it again this year), acupuncture, chiropractic, massage and many non-narcotic pharmaceuticals (all of which had limited benefit). It is VERY difficult to exercise when in serious pain. I hope your mom can find relief; at 69, she is still young with much more life ahead.
My scoliosis gave me fewer problems from age 20 to age 49, but I can see if someone has been pain-free to 69, adjusting would be a challenge. It’s interesting that you and I both have very difficult problems, and neither of us rush for surgery or injections. Coping is where it’s at!