karintina

Member since August 14, 2008
1 Discussions Started, 1 Replies

Bio

I am a high school teacher and am having a difficult time trying to help my parents who life in a retirement community about 20 minutes from me. My dad who is 89 has dementia. He is able to attend Alzheimer's Adult Day Services 3 days a week which gives my mom some respite. She, however, has recently encounted back problems. She will be 83 in December. She has a buldging disk which is pressing on a nerve in the L4, L5 spinal column. She does not have back paid but leg pain from the thight down. She has a hard time walking and uses a cane. She also has arthritus and curvature of the spine. We have been to a spine surgeon and she has had 4 epideral spinal injections without any relief. Pain medication has not helped either. The only hope would be surgery and at her age there is increased risk and no assurance that it will work. I have read on blogs and talked to people who have had surgery and still suffer. On top of that she has macular degeneration. I have spent the most part of the summer with her taking her to appointments, shopping, banking, at some "girl time" but I can't get her out of her depression. She doesn't want to think anymore. I have also visited care homes if she feels she cannot handle my dad anymore and looked into companion care. No decision is made. Do you think surgery would be a reasonable avenue to follow. I know recovery time could take up to a year and if it didn't work I don't know what that would do to her state of mind. Help please.

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