This morning, before we got up, DH told me he was in bad shape. I asked what was wrong. He said his left hand was all numb and so was his left foot. I lay there with him for a minute and asked him if his leg, arm tonge, etc. felt numb. No.
I said I thought he should see a doctor and was preparing to call 911 when out he came and said he was all better.
The thumb, index and middle fingers on his left hand have been numb for over 5 years. No other numbness. I really questioned him but he swears nothing but his fingers are numb. Said the only thing wrong is a pain in the left side of the back of his neck above his shoulder.
He says he's cold and has been sleeping most of the day. But, he's always cold and sleeps a lot during the day.
I'd feel really funny calling 911 now. And it would take two transfers to take the bus. He seems ok. No slurring speech, no limping, etc.
I just hope I did the right thing. I just hope I didn't do the wrong thing. This disease makes me second guess myself a lot.
My DH claims his feet are both mostly numb and has for a year. He has mentioned it to the Dr. but they don't seem concerned. They look at his feet and sometimes check a pulse. It is hard to tell how they feel.
My Mom claimed she was in no pain, before she passed. The Hospice Nurse said she might not be able to tell if she was in pain or not.
It is not uncommon for my hand and arm to be numb form the position I sleep in. Happens most every night, but goes away as soon as I change position. Perhaps this is what happened to your DH. DickS
They say: "See your doctor if the signs and symptoms of a pinched nerve — including pain, numbness, tingling or muscle weakness — last for several days and don't respond to self-care measures, such as rest and over-the-counter pain relievers."
Another possibility is paresthesia (which means tingling or numbness... gotta use those big medical words!) Lots of things can cause that, including some meds. My husband started the tingling, told me it had been bothering him for a week. We were due to see his doctor the following week, and it is a side effect of one of his meds. He was fine the day after he complained, and the doctor (who I trust) wasn't worried since it stopped.
If he complains about it again, you might have a chat with his doctor ... but unless Marsh or Sandy D come along and say otherwise, it doesn't sound like something to worry about right now.
The worst situation would be a stroke. (blockage of blood flow in the brain)
Testing for sensations is 100% subjective and therefore unreliable in our AD spouses.
An objective and simple test (developed for paramedics) is to have the person stick out their toungue. It should stick straight and not veer to one side. Next ask them to stick their hands/arms out straight forward palms down. With their eyes closed do both arms/hands stay in the same position? If one hand/arm drops it is indicitive of a POSSIBLE stroke.
Having them speak a multisylable sentence is another indicator but with aphasia it may not be possible.
If there is no evidence of new onset one sided weakenss the chances of a stroke are low.
Some Stroke Screening info with a small picture of the test is here: http://www.activase.com/protocol/protocol_stroke.jsp#fast
Thank you, all. He says there's no more numbness in his foot. The only numbness is those 3 fingers. His neck has been getting more stiff and sore. I wanted him to see the doctor. He refused (naturally). I was watching him. Gave him 2 Bayer Back & Body asperin. (I don't know how many mg.) and put a pillow behind his head. 15 min later he told me I was a wonderful doctor because the pain in his neck was all gone and he feels like $1M. How's that for a quick recovery.
Today he's complaining again that his neck is so stiff. One minute he says he has a bad headache. The next he's talking about his shoulder. I offered him his lunch. Says he had no appetite. So, I made myself a PBJ sandwich and he wants to know where his sandwich is. I fixed him one and they he wondered if that was all I had for him to eat.
I gave him some more aspirin. Offered the heating pad. and he's up and walking around again. What a journey this is.
Mawzy-many dementia patients feel pain but are unable to figure out where it is. May have an earache and say toe hurts. Observe how he is moving to perhaps get a hint of the source. Sometimes I think it all is a lost cause-sorry.
Mine complains about one ache or pain after the other. THe soles of his feet. His shoulder. Of course his legs. Today his FINGERS hurt. I give him an aspirin or ibuprofen (not high doses) and he says he's better. I suspect I could give him an m&m and he'd think he was better.
But eat, oh, boy. At lunch, a plate of leftover noodles and beef stroganoff. I ran to the market and when I got back he'd eaten that, two probiotic yogurts, THREE bananas, an apple, and several slices of bread with mustard on them. Took him out on another errand (he asked to go) and when we got back in less than an hour he said, now can we have our sushi??
Mine also constantly complains of aches and pains, feet, legs, shoulder, back and the ever-present itching. 100% aloe vera takes care of that though. For the pains he takes tylenol arthritis. One thing gets better - then something else hurts. Never-ending.
I have to go to the pharmacy tomorrow and I'm getting some tylenol arthritis. He swears he doesn't have arthritis. I don't know why he wouldn't have it. I think almost everyone does. His mother had rheumatoid arthritis. She had a lot of trouble with it and it did cripple some of her joints--hands, one elbow. He doesn't want to go to the doctor.
I wonder if they simply don't feel good, but don't know how else to express it, other than complaining of pain. What they often need may simply be attention and reassurance. I do think the blue M&M suggestion was great -- what a simple way to get our hands on a sugar pill for whatever ails you.
Today he had some anger problems and got quite loud. We were playing cards and he got mad because this person didn't deal him a good hand. (sigh).
We got home about 1:30. It's now 7:15. He's been sleeping most of that time. Woke up to have a bite of dinner and back to sleep again. This goes on a lot. Is this normal?
Wait until he goes to sleep with the fork halfway to his mouth. <grin> My husband has gone through a stage where he slept half of the morning, most of the afternoon, most of the evening, and at night until 4 a.m.. Then he went through the phase of staying awake except for two naps - one in the morning and one short nap (dozing) during the night. Now, he takes a morning nap, dozes for an hour in the afternoon, and starts dozing in his chair during dinner and then until bedtime. He sleeps off and on all night, but is up and dressed and ready to leave the bedroom by 5 most mornings. (Of course I don't get up until 6!)
Mawzy, a lot of caregivers have commented about the bouts of sleep. It is normal. Sometimes the body requires it, and sometimes it is because they are bored, and sometimes because they realize something is wrong with them and can't deal with it any other way.
Thanks! He's still complaining about his neck aching. I think it's because he holds his head in an awkward position. Does that make sense? He says he doesn't feel really good. He eats good--sleeps GREAT. Refuses to go to the doctor. When he's awake he just sits and stares at the TV and then falls asleep. It's 11:30 am here and he still is in his bathrobe. Doesn't want to get dressed. I'm calling the dr. this afternoon to see what he thinks. Maybe he's depressed. I'd be if all I did was sit all day like that.
Mawsy, there is a bad virus going round with strep throat and flu like symptoms. i have found my DH cant express where/what really hurts so you kinda have to just guess and relay that to the dr. if hes complaining more than a day or so then prolly needs to see the dr just to be sure. my DH is suffering horrid sinus issues now with all the hot/cold weathr changes. luckily i can tell his eyes get red as the first signs and his sinus drip...now we have to be houdini to guess what is up with them physically on top of mentally:)divvi
Gosh, divvi ... I kept reading that Mawzy's husband was complaining that his neck hurt, and thinking of a stiff neck. Maybe you're right -- maybe he has a sore throat!
get him to open his mouth and shine a flashlite in Mawsy!!!!!!!HAHAH! if its red, we hit the motherlode...:) maybe to be sure spray some cloreseptic throat spray??? i use this and its great to deaden any pain,just for the record, i can get tonsilitis (yep, still got em) and my jaws,, neck and ears will hurt for days..divvi and the strep here is rampant -just everywhere..
He says he's better todoay. I've been giving him Tylonol Extra Strength (2 twice daily) and I got some of those icy-hot patches to put on his neck. He claims he's a lot better. He has no fever. He is cold all the time and wears his bathrobe even when he's dressed.
Another thing, just the last few days, he's quite talking other than just a casual comment every once in a while. No conversation. He just sits and looks or falls asleep. He refuses to go to the doctor. If he's not 100% better by Monday, I'm going to get our son to take him in and find out what's what.