X-rays???

[yolanda]

My Dear Mother slipped off the toilet onto the floor about a week and half ago. The worse part about this is that she is not ambulatory.(sp)We bathe her while she sits on the toilet, my sis and I are the only 2 of 6 kids here in town to assist my Dad in caring for Mom. He takes care of her all day, getting her up, into her wheel chair, into the bathroom and gets her ready for the day. Gives her meds and gets her meals. My sis and I trade every other night coming to get Mom bathed and pampered and help Dad lift Mom into bed. We have a beautiful set up that allows us to thoroughly clean her body on that toilet since as of about 2 years ago we just could no longer safely get her into the bathtub.
3 years ago a brain tumor was found, the surgeon said she had probably had it for 17 years, they were only able to remove 70% of it, it was not malignent but was found in the optic area of the brain. About 6 months later we started radiation thinking she would one day be back to some kind of norm but after treatmeant she did not regain her sense of balance and other things indicated that something was off. She was given parkinson meds and responded to them, therefore, light onset parkinson was a new challenge. Oh this gets better, before all of this, a blood clot had formed in the left leg, we got her on cumintin, eventually she got one in the right leg and just recently one again in the left, that was a week in the hospital just a month ago. Back on the cumentin for life. Mom is 76 and diabetic.
I said all this to give some background on this beautiful lady. We had xrays taken and they saw nothing broken. This accident happened because our routine was changed. We had family come in to relieve us just a bit for a few days over the holidays. The worse part is, I was there trying to relieve a sister who had been doing our routine for several days. I go to bathe Mom and didn't notice that one of the grip rugs that sits in front of the toilet grip rug had been pulled up after getting soiled earlier that day and had not been place back, her feet slipped and even though I had her arms she did slip to the floor with legs straight out. Can an xray see everything? She is on pain meds, being treated for pulled muscles but I am scared to death because although she is in pain when we lift her from bed to wheel chair and to toilet, she says it's her lower back and that it doesn't feel like a pulled muscle. She sits in her recliner all day as she always does, doesn't seem to be in much pain until we have to move her. As she slid down, her back was against the potty chair that sits over the toilet so we thought maybe part of the pain was from rubbing against the hard plastic front on the chair but when we touch, massage her back she says it doesn't hurt. Would a mri tell us more if this doesn't show signs of getting better in the next 24 hours. We pride ourselves in the great care we give our Mother, the Doctors just think we are her angels and then this happens, I can't tell you the guilt I feel, even though that's not the issue here! Just miserable, Yolanda

[gillmings]

It could just be a really bad bruise. If she landed on her tailbone, I know they are notorious for taking a long time to quit hurting, even with no breaks (do you remember slipping in a wading pool or off the end of a slide when you were a kid? OUCH!). She could have also subluxated some vertebrae, which would be relieved by a chiropractic adjustment. A skilled, experienced massage therapist might be able to give you some clues. My heart goes out to you (and her!).

-Moyne

"She is too fond of books, and it has addled her brain." -Louisa May Alcott

[MomAtHome]

I tend to agree with Moyne that a very bad bruise could act this way in an infirmed person and time could be all that's needed. It's actually very encouraging that her skin is no more harmed than it is - skin tears for a person on coumadin (sp?) can be bad news.

First, remember, you helped break her fall. Without you it would have been much worse. Also, the rug needed to be moved - that wasn't frivolous, but helpful. Since none of you are computers, you can't communicate every little thing every time. Think instead about how many times you have each given help right when it was needed.

How much difficulty would there be for your mother in traveling to get an MRI? I wonder if it would be worth it until you have more evidence that you need one? The question to her gen practitioner, I think, would be whether those x-rays encompassed the area she now describes as painful, and even if they did, is he/she satisfied there's not more to learn.

I think you are all doing remarkably well, btw. I have found that the morning routine is the most time consuming for eldercare, so your dad is to be commended for handling it all himself, but you are wise to give evening help with moving, since your mother's own strength is sapped by that time. Let us know how things go.

M.H.

[yolanda]

Thank you so much for your encouraging words. She does so much better later in the day. Getting her up in the mornings is still very painful as we put her to bed at about 730-8 and my Dad is getting her up at about 915-30 the next morning. No doubt that she is stiff in her back. I think I wll have him turn on a heating pad for about 10-15 minutes before moving her just to help warm up those muscles. We will give it a few more days to hopefully see some improvement in the mornings. Thanks again! Yolanda

[doulachic]

If it doesn't improve, or it gets worse, an MRI would definately be a good idea. is she having pain in one or both legs? a regular x-ray is just for checking bones, but does not pick up on other things. if she were to have a ruptured disc (the squishy pads between the vertebra) it would only show up on the MRI and not on an x-ray. as a veteran of two back surgeries, i know!

like i said, if she does not improve, or gets worse, you should look into an MRI.

so sorry this happened! Sometimes things happen that are out of our control, don't beat yourself up too bad. it sounds like you are an awesome daughter and are very good to your mom.

Tricia

"Labor is the dance of new life...Birth is beautiful."

[yolanda]

Thanks for all your support! I am very Happy to report that over the last 2 days and this being the 3rd that she seems like she just improved greatly!!!
I have been so sick over this that I almost didn't believe healing could be so dramatic, so quickly:0)She is doing very well and even has been refusing the pain pills and only using the tylenol a few times during the day. I am so relieved!
I will keep a very close watch on her and we do see the Dr next week for another apt. The grimacing in her face has even stopped as long as you are careful. She still has morning stiffness but I think overall her healing for her condition is on track. I have been just sick over this, as any child would seeing their Mother in pain.
I am just now sleeping at night as that has been difficult knowing that she would wake with so much pain and wondering if she would ever get better.
I have prayed many a prayer and I think prayer and time has worked for the best. I hope I didn't break any rules here? Thanks for all your good wishes and support! Yolanda