Last week my nearly 91 year old mother was dropped by a CNA during a transfer from the bed to wheelchair. This was strictly against protocol as she was only supposed to be lifted with a Hoyer lift. Both her femur bones were fractured.
The worker was let go that day. My mother had surgery on the leg that did not have an existing knee replacement. She was released from the hospital today. I will go to the facility tomorrow. She will require PT which she generally likes if she has energy for it.
It has been so hard to process this happening. She was not mobile with her legs but she had learned to navigate the wheelchair in the facility. Now I wonder if she will regain that. The femur in one leg will have to heal on its own if possible..I am just putting this out there for any thoughts on the healing of fractured femurs or any other thoughts. Prior to this unfortunate incident I have felt her care in this facility was decent. I am at least comforted with the taking of responsibility and stating the truth on their part which they probably would have had to do. I imagine the hospital wanted exact facts.
She could barely communicate today and when she did it was about great pain where bedsore is. They aren't giving her any food or stronger pain medication due to gastric issues. They do have her on IV's. Apparently she arrived dehydrated and with some heavy constipation. Another issue I kept bringing up at SN facility. When we were there we would have her drink but I am doubting they did. Just have to go soon and clear out her room. I can't see sending her back there.
Osteomyelitis. Oy. My teenaged brother developed it for no good reason when he was like 14. Long hospital stays. I V antibiotics. He recovered, but he was 14 ad strong like ox!
https://www.medscape.com/answers/190115-82463/what-is-the-treatment-for-osteomyelitis-due-to-pressure-injuries-pressure-ulcers
I would want to have a frank private talk with the treating doc about whether this is a road you want to walk. (((((Hugs))))
Consider calling 911 to get her transported so she cam get IV antibiotics, if that is how you want to proceed.
I am so sorry that your mom is going through this.
I pray that she is comfortable and rests, praying the doctors do right by her and her treatment.
Great big warm hug!
I want to add: before mom went on Hospice (which my brother refused) the NH assured me that if we got to "end of life" they would be able to give her pain meds that would keep her comfortable.
Mom fell during a transfer and went downhill. Was clearly in pain, and on heavy duty pain meds. I ran to the nursing station and asked what they could do.
Fortunately, the facility doc was there and said "why isn't she on hospice?".
I gave him a short precis of my bro's objections and he said "your brother needs to get here right now".
I called my brother and explained the fact that mom appeared to be in terrible pain (facial grimaces, etc) and bless him, he came over. We got mom on hospice, got her on morphine and she passed peacefully 3 days later.
There are such hard choices to be made at the end. Blessings and hugs to you.
I wish you and your mother peace.
Today she seemed faded. Very little appetite and mainly wanted to sleep. I am my own worst enemy because I ask myself why I didn't feel more joy around her when she was in AL. I have mentioned how our relationship was not ideal but I know I tried to meet all her needs once she was in a facility. Now I have to search out staff for her pain medication etc. I guess I am wondering what untreated osteomyelitis might lead to. It is located where her bedsore is. I literally don't have any friend to reach out to. Am so grateful for this site and those who help me here.
Is she not on hospice now? If not, why not? You say, "I am not trying to finish her off." Of course you aren't, but by the same token, continuing to administer harsh drug treatments now, like IV antibiotics for osteomyelitis, is taking drastic measures to prolong her life AND her pain when she's declining further all the time. Doesn't it seem that way to you? It may be wiser to stop medical treatments at this point and allow hospice to give her comfort meds to keep her pain free and relaxed. This is the course I would take with my mother, should she find herself in a similar situation.
I know this is very difficult for you, but the signs are pointing towards hospice being the right next step, especially since you have to transport the woman to the infectious disease doc who can't even see her till early November!! You just want peace and no pain for her now, that's the only goal. When the ailments just keep piling up and UP, the treatments become too much to manage and that's how you know that hospice is likely the right decision. When my dad's brain tumor grew, the only meds were steroids which would make him very sick and wouldn't really DO anything to get rid of the tumor, so that's when we knew hospice was the best call. A bone infection can be a very hard situation to get rid of. My sister in law had one for months & months and it would not clear up, so her foot had to be amputated up to the knee. And she's only 64.
Sending you a big hug and a prayer that God will guide you to the right path w/o punishing yourself in the process.
The NH promised me that at the end, even without hospice, they would be able to relieve her pain. They weren't . There were apparently limits beyond which they couldn't prescibe.
Have you spoken to the Medical Director of the NH? That's who helped me out, and who was abke to talk to my brother, sensibly, about relieving mom's pain.
I have to agree with Barb about hospice. To many people bring them in to late and lose so many of the benefits.
Remember, you don't have to allow the amount of meds prescribed be administered. My sister had wound care, on hospice and she decided what she would or wouldn't take. (Until she couldn't and then her mom decided, whole drama)
It is definitely worth speaking to them, at least.
Big hugs for all of you.
I don't know how effective it might be. In my thoughts., Cancer patients need the very strong stuff but maybe the simple elderly might be fine with the basics. Of course if a hospital is necessary that would happen. I had a first cousin who planned for home for her end but the multiple cancers she had were so strong and required much pain relief so she had to go to a hospital and died there. Her pain required only what allowed by hospital.
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I think folks who have great relationships with their parents have one kind of terrible time letting go. Those of us with ambiguous relationships are always second guessing ourselves (at least I was).
Be at peace with getting your mom good pain relief.
Is palliative care keeping her relative pain free? If not, ask them what can be done so she is not suffering.
My sister believed that she would utilize hospice to help her get better, so no thought of it being the end. Unfortunately, she had breast cancer that had metastasized to the bone and she would get spontaneous breaks in her spine when she moved. It took 5 of them before she sought medical treatment and at that point, it was too late. Treatment only offered an 8 week survival. She actually lived 10 more weeks without anything but hospice care.
Right to the end she believed she would walk out of that room completely healthy. She did, just not in the way she thought.
I pray that they can heal your mom and restore her to better health.
Warm hug! This is such a challenging time for your family. May The Lord strengthen you all.
One thing that I would verify, are they giving her pain meds as needed or on a schedule? Because it takes time for oral meds to work, sometimes as long as an hour, so perhaps she is in pain.
My granny was in tremendous pain near the end and she was unconscious but, we could tell by her face and body movement that she was hurting. It took getting upset with the doctor to get enough prescribed so she could be comfortable.
Prayers for God's will to be done.