need lots of help | Arthritis Information

I don't even know where to start. However due to medical issues I had to move my mom to live with me. I brought all the prescriptions the dr gave me at the hospital and all the medications I could find at her house. I found only one thing with her arthertic drs name on it and it was Tramadol 325-37.5 mg

She has had probems walking for several yers mostly due to falling and breaking an ankle and had several pins put in in(not due to the arthertis. SHe has Rheumotis arthertis and they have in the past recommended knee replacement which she refuses. She has trouble getting around but always in the past just used a cane and could manuever around the house or short distances.

Since she has gotten out of the hospital she is using a walker and one of the prescriptions they gave her was Prednistone for 5 days. Two day after she finished it she complained of her shoulders hurting so I tried to get her to sleep on the other side so then that side hurt. Yesterday I checked on at lunch and 10 she was fine no complaints. 10 minutes after I left she called my husband was in pain she couldn't walk her leg felt like it weigh 300 lbs and her jaw hurt.

near 3 am we carried her to the restroom she was crying i pain and refused to go to the emergency room (I almost cal anyway) and she kept saying she needed her prednistone she said her dr where she used to live kept her on in. Come to find out there was a refill at her drugstore and I had it transfer and gave to her this am

10 minutes later she said she wasn't hurting any more. Does this stuf work this quick? Also after she took the Tramadol she said she saw pretty pink and blues. SHe is normally a very strong sane woman but she seems like there is a lot going on some real some imaginery and I have never experienced anything like this,

PS I can't get her to an arthertic de without a referral and I had to make a new patient appt for her here and am waiting for that appt to get the referrral

So sorry to hear that she is having problems. Prednisone has never worked that fast for me although at times I wish it would, it usually takes 24 hours to kick in. Tramadol isn't a narcotic so it's hard for me to imagne her having hallucinations or even something like 'em. I have heard of people staying on prednisone indefinitely but that decision should be made by and between the patient and doctor. Hope this helps.Tramadol can indeed cause hallucinations. It is a synthetic opiate with SSRI activity. If taken on an empty stomach, its effects can hit quickly. It can also interact with other medications, increasing the likelyhood of hallucinations, seizures, etc. What other medications is she on? P.S. if she is hallucinating and/or losing feeling in her limbs it is a medical emergency and you need to call 911. She doesn't get a choice. Her brain is not acting properly and she needs someone else to make the call for her. Please call.

Thanks for the info. I didn't think it could possibly work so fast. ANd yes she took the tramadol on an empty stomach. Thats another major issue (eating) that I am dealing with. She did has some issues that are now resolved however she doesn't want to eat cause she thinks she will vomit ( but that was resolved at the hospital) she just things she is going to so I have to keep persuading her to eat. ALl that stuff I can handle but I physically cannot get her to the restroom or shower but she used to be able to do that. She says its the rheumotid artheritis and I figured it would take a while for the predistone to kick in.

As for other meds I can give you the exact names if you want but she is on one for blood pressure, one to prevent strokes, 2 for her stomach and she takes another for anxiety in the evening and now of course the prednistone twice a day.

And to be honest Jasmone Raon if I thought it was an emergency I would have called 911 but there seems to be a psychological component here. It seems every time I try to go back to work she is sick or passes out or something..ie first she said I didn't here her and she called and called me (I am a very light sleeper) the next night I sleep on the floor next to her and she said I still didn't here her and she was vomiting all night (no signs of it) The third night I slept on the floor in the door way and there was no way she have past me and she said she got up and was sick again and when I told her I slept in the door way she said I must have dreamed it,

I love her and am very concerned but I need to work yet every time I go back even for an hour there is a new problem. But when I am home with her everything is ok. Obviously there are real problems and fears maybe from being uproute from her home etc but the dr wouln't discharge her to go home alone.

I am trying to get the medical issues worked out and have already done everything but I just was unaware of the prednistone....but I am curently tired and worn out and don't know what to believe and how bad she is....

Prednesone works that fast for me. If I have been taking it daily and skipped a day, yeeeooow. Since I take it first thing in the morning, by noon I am in big trouble with out it.

It is very important if someone is on pred that they get it daily and close to the same time every day. Morning is best as it can keep you up. It is not a pain med but a strong anti inflammatory that works by the same system as your adrenal gland. Because your adrenal gland gets lazy on pred, it can cause serious complications not taking it even one day.

Jas stated that tramodol is a synthetic opiate with SSRI activity.

I was told by an M.D. who is an addiction specialist that anyone who does NOT want to take an opiate should not take tramadol. It affects the body like an opiate.

how old is your mother?For me, prednisone worked very quickly. One thing to remember is when some one is in extreme pain, they aren't breathing properly, they usually take short quick breaths that can cause hyperventilating, which can make extremeties tingle and a person see pinkish, blue purpley hues. I haven't experienced it with arthritis, but I have had this happen when I was in labor with my first daughter.

This is just my small opinion, but it sounds like there are a lot of underlying issues going on. You need to tell her doctor all of this stuff that's going on, they can't help unless they can get to the root of the problem!

Hope all turns out well~

Audrey Why was she in the hospital? Now, that she is staying with you, you are trying to get her into to see a new doctor in your area? Not to pressure you, but it sounds like you need to get her in as soon as possible, and then to a rheumatologist.

Be prepared for the doc appt. They'll probably want you to bring in all the bottles of meds, but from my experience with my mom, I typed up a list of the meds, with dose, instructions for frequency, etc. Put her name on it and date it, and as her meds change, update it, it comes in handy when you go to different docs or to the hospital.

I'm not familiar with some of the meds you mentioned, but there should be a fact sheet that comes w/each prescription about side effects, etc, or you could ask the pharmacist or the doc when you see her for more information.

I have experience with my own mother, who had several health problems, took many meds, and began to have dementia. You're dealing with a challenging situation compounded by your mother's physical limitations.

Prior to my knee replacements, I had a lot of pain and difficulty walking. So I can imagine how hard it must be for your mom. You might go online at some of these medical supply websites that have a lot of assistive and mobility aids. If your mom is having trouble walking even with a walker, consider a wheelchair (they can be rented or sometimes insurance covers them). Some people push themselves around with their feet or hands, it could help alleviate some of the pain from walking. Perhaps at some point she could see a physical or occupational therapist who could suggest ideas to get around better.

When I was going through caring for my mom, I found a caregivers online support organization which were very helpful in providing information in dealing with the many issues that come up when one has to take care of a parent w/failing health. Perhaps there is an organization like that in your area.

And, lastly, do you have any siblings that can pitch in? This is a very demanding and stressful situation, if you have someone to help or give you a break on occassion, that will keep you from burn-out.

Take care, and good luck. Stay in touch.

Hi,

I don't know that I have much to add than what was already said, but just wanted to offer whatever support I could.

I don't really feel comfortable with her medication regimen just because her meds were scattered when you got them and the prednisone was a taper to begin with. I do know prednsione is highly addictive in that you can't just stop it abruptly and sometimes a slow taper is not slow enough, also there are people who have been on so long they are prednisone-dependent will have to decrease the prednisone as the body allows.

I think the doctors need to see her and would feel more comfortable if you went to urgent care or minor medical because you usually don't need an appt and they can take a look at what she is taking and what she should be taking and maybe get her in sooner with a rheumatologist.

If the knee needs replacing she is going to be extremely limited. Both my hips need replacing, very difficult to walk in general. I do because I am all I have, but have to push through the pain. Not everybody is able to do that. I am 44 however I do have a walker, a cane for really bad days.

It is very obvious you love your mom. However, it is extremely difficult to care for her and work full-time. You will need help.

God bless. take care and let us know how you and mom are doing.

Taking care of elderly parents is one of the hardest things to do, believe me I know I had to take care of both my parents for 2 years , each had their own health problems, My mom had Alzheimer and my Dad was blind.
It is not an easy task by no means , and when I had (when I say I am including my wife) to take my parents into my home the the stress ever increase. I was an only child which also made it more difficult and in the 70's there were no support groups to assist
I might suggest you reach out to some of the support groups in your area to assist you, there are some that will come and sit with your mother so you can have some time to yourself (Very Important for your own mental health) there are also some like day care centers that maybe you could take her too so that she does not fell cut off from the rest of the world.
As far as the Pred. when I first started it the first night i was in severe pain but managed to sleep , when I woke up the swelling was gone and no pain, that lasted few weeks and then wham worse then ever. but it did work over nite for me and that was the point I was trying to get across.
If you have any siblings , you need to sit down with them and set some facts that you alone are not going to do everything, I have heard so many horror stories of when the going gets rough the siblings say , "she's living with you , you deal with it" well she raised all of you not just one of you and now it their turn to repay the love !

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