Due to the opioid epidemic, my mother's NP has prescribed 2 caplets a day of Norco. My mother is 94 and is in severe pain everyday. When I have asked the NP to increase the dosage or add another pain med in addition to the norco, she always recites how she's worried about addiction. I think this is so ridiculous. Who really cares if a 94 year old woman becomes addicted to a med if it relieves her suffering? My mother mons every morning and during the day from bursitis. Does anyone know of an over the counter med that is effective in between taking the norco? She already lives on a heating pad. Additionally physical therapy has never helped her before. I'm lost.
So, until/unless you can find her more Rx pain meds on a regular as needed basis, I'd alternate ibuprofen with acetominophen, use Lidocaine patches at the area of pain, and also alternate the heating pad with ice packs. Going back & forth between ice and heat seems to help with swelling/nflammation AND pain. When my 93 y/o mother has pain, the patches really DO help her. She uses the Icy/Hot ones while my DH uses the RX Lidocaine ones.
Best of luck. Hope some of the suggestions work
Extra-strength Tylenol taken at the same time as the other pain meds can boost the effect of the pain meds.
A cortisone shot can help too, but you can't have those too often.
And yes to seeing an orthopedist. Physical therapy, some massage and strengthening exercises, stay hydrated, ice. Everything a professional athlete would do!
It's worth it, you only get one body for life.
I honestly didn't think it would do squat BUT it did!!. He went to outpatient PT 2 X a week for 8 sessions.They gave me exercises for him to follow up at home each day too.( stretchy bands, etc)
While my dad was not happy to do them, I cheerleadered him on. It did take a few months but he has no issues now. I still have him do his few exercises 3X each day, he needs to stay strong to stay with me. ( been here 13 yrs after a stroke)
Good luck with your mom. Susan from Indiana
At age 73, I have both bursitis and a frozen shoulder in the same shoulder and it causes unbearable pain. My doctor gave me a steroid injection this past week. While initially it hurt when he gave me the shot and the following day, by the next day I could actually stand the pain. Your mother's doctor shouldn't object to giving her a shot or referring her to someone who can. The shot can last anywhere from 3 to 6 months. If he won't, I would file a complaint or an appeal with her insurance.
There are some CBD creams without THC that also help with the pain but they aren't cheap. If you want a recommendation, send me a message.
Keep fighting for your mom - you are a good daughter!
And if you're not happy with how it's working with the NP, try another. A second opinion never hurts. Sending hugs!
Good luck
Since bursitis is caused by inflammation, ask her doctor about an anti-inflammatory. That sound make a significant difference. I take one twice a day, I was really surprised at how much it helped.
And yes, drug addicts and 'street dealers' are still getting their stuff. The 'war on opiates' has been an epic fail. You know who abuses drugs more than anyone? People in the healthcare field. Drs and nurses---anesthesiologists are the 'worst'. And I know this b/c my DIL IS an anesthesiologist and when she goes to conferences--this ALWAYS comes up.
I have to see my PCP every 3 months to renew my scrip for Tylenol 3. I have arthritis in every joint in my body. Ibuprofen has caused me to have some kidney function issues and my PCP is very judicious in prescribing. I WAS on Norco until 2 back surgeries fixed the back problems, but the arthritis is a lifelong problem and isn't getting better. B/c it's throughout my whole body, covering myself in some gel or putting cold packs on the 'sore spots' and trying to function on Tylenol alone? I'd spend everyday, all day chasing down the 'hotspots'.
Nobody's pain is like mine and mine is not like someone else's. I wish we didn't even have to have these discussions. I'm 100% functional and feel capable of doing in a day what needs doing.
I won't live to 90, but I HOPE I will be allowed to manage my pain with the compassionate care of a good dr. Arthritis does NOT 'get better' as we age.
I do not see a reply where you mention where Mum has bursitis. I have had it in my right hip for 5+ years, when it flares up, I must walk funny and I get a flare up of Achilles tendonitis in my left ankle. Flare ups last up to 6 weeks and I treat them with Ibuprofen. Large doses that were approved by an Orthopedic Surgeon.
All medication needs to be reviewed by attending physicians, none of us here know what other medications Mum is taking, nor what medical conditions would preclude some treatment options.
Voltaren is OTC here in Canada, and it helps with the Achilles Tendonitis, but cannot get deep into my hip joints.
There has been discussion by prior posters about the benefits of heat or cold. I worked for physiotherapists for 11 years. Although the general rule of thumb is cold for inflammation, it does not apply in all cases. Some people tense up when cold is put on them, defeating the purpose. Many people respond well to alternating cold and hot packs.
Mum is a volunteer in our local hospital. A couple years ago she met an elderly (probably younger then Mum) woman who had become addicted to Oxycodin, post hip replacement. She was in a terrible state, trying to deal with withdrawals.
There is no THC in this oil. I hope this helps! My dad takes it every night to help him sleep. He is in an assisted living facility. It has helped him to not be so anxious. He also has dementia. His cardiologist and primary care said it was fine for him to take it.
Seems a pain management doctor referral would be a good start. He/she can try other non-narcotic approaches: oral prescription meds, prescription creams or gels, steroids, heat/cold applications... He/she could also help you with finding the best dosing schedule for mom's narcotic.
The problem all health care practitioners must consider with older patients is that narcotics can decrease respiration and older folks clear medications much more slowly than younger folks. That is probably the reluctance your NP has to adding more narcotics to your mom's regimen.
Just wondering, does mom live with you or in a facility? If in a facility, they keep the narcs under lock and key. If mom lives with you, please keep her meds secured.
My sister is on Meloxicam (RX) for severe arthritis of her knee. She remains ambulatory. Might ask her NP/PCP to consider/try it.
They will actually treat her pain.
You're right, she's 94. Give her, what she wants. The Dr might be covering his/her butt, by "over" prescribing.
Have you tried OTC patches? I'm an in home caregiver & my client swears by "Salon Pas" patches (sold everywhere but best buy is at Costco). Also, Lidocaine patches 4% is OTC. So is Aspercreme patches.
My client also swears by Vinegar. She applies it liberally to her feet. (Takes away her restless leg pain) She also wears sweat bands on her wrists, to help with pain in her wrists & hands & fingers (just regular ol' sweat bands. We got a whole pack of different colors on Amazon) So cheap but they work (for her)
She's also on Tramadol but still needs these other products.
You name it, she's tried it. She's 92
Hope this helps.
Dof is more worried about in this case your mom's breathing than addiction worries
And as far why patients are left suffering in pain.....that is America for you. Sure there are definitely doctors that are overprescribing but the solution isn’t to cut off people with documented painful conditions. Unfortunately what is happening in this country is that people are being cut off from opioids and left to suffer debilitating pain and what is happening is that many of them suffer until they can’t take it anymore and they commit suicide.
I can understand why doctors are afraid to prescribe opioids these days but.....cutting people off isn’t the answer. Most people who OD on them obtained them illegally in the first place.
Punishing the other 93% is just like our over reactive powers that be.
Laws only change when a lawmaker is affected personally.
Yes, all OTC meds all have dosing levels and precautions that need to be heeded, that definitely needs to be considered.
And I agree that opiates have too often been given pro forma when other meds could do the job just as well - neither myself or my BIL came home with a script for any opiates after surgery, and we were just fine.
I too wondered if addiction and withdrawal could be behind at least a part of the OP's mother's distress - the thing is I don't think this is the appropriate way to tackle the over prescription of opiates, what gain can there be in withholding meds for a person this age no matter why she has come to depend on them?
OP, in this case talk to your mom's NP about diclofenac sodium gel. It's a topical NSAID for joint pain relief. Because it's topical, the medication isn't distributed systematically through out the body. Thus the concerns about using NSAIDs are greatly reduced. That is as long as the area it's applied to isn't overly large.