The last week or so at bedtime my husband will sit on the bed, start to lie down then stop. Finally, he will lie down, but will not straighten his legs...he keeps them in the bent position. Also, will not lay his head on the pillow, keeps it up in the air. Last night I had to with all my strength, push his legs down on the bed. Happen again when he came back to bed after peeing. Anyone else had the symptom going on?
Kadee do you remember perhaps having a baby clinging to the rail of a crib and crying in exhaustion because he did't know how to let go and drop. I think it is a similar thing. Forgetting how to lie down. My husband's hand will freeze holding a spoon of food and just stay there.
yes, Kadee.He seems to have forgotten how to get in bed.I told him the other night to go on to bed while I cleaned up the bathroom. He walked up to the bed and just fell forward across the bed on his stomach. He sleeps on his side and he can't seem to pull his legs into the bed and yet he got up in the dark and walked to the kitchen last night and I found him pulling all the cereal boxes out and dropping them on the floor. When I ask him what he was doing he said I was just following the trail. Alrighty then
My husband sleeps exactly the way you describe, Kadee. He never straightens his legs all night and I gently push his head onto the pillow. For the first time he also called out for me in the night because he had been up to the bathroom and could not figure out how to get back into bed. I encourage him to use the exercise bike several times a day to keep his legs moving. He is generally becoming very stiff which of course goes with AD.
Kadee, I can only talk about our experiences. I am not a doctor. I really don't think a muscle relaxant will work. Here are my reasons:
1. Alzheimer's causes the loss of depth perception and they tighten up their muscles because they are afraid to let go, no matter what we tell them. It also causes them to retract their arms and legs.
2. Several caregivers have told me that AD causes the muscles to contract at different times, and at the latter stage 7, to remain contracted, so that they will be in the fetal position. In earlier stages, the tenseness comes and goes. It is part of the network of wires in the brain connecting and disconnecting.
I have found that for us, it is better to distract him with something else, or wait a while and try again. Trying to force their arms and legs is an exercise in futility. - for us anyway.
Sometimes trying to get them to sit down in a chair, or on the bed, or on the toilet is very difficult. As is putting on pants - getting them to lift their feet. My husband's legs wobble when he starts walking, but after 5 minutes or so, his muscles allow him to walk without wobbling for a while.
My husband won't move in total darkness. I leave the TV on all night, not only as a night light, and to help me get him to and from the bathroom, and get him back in bed. They can lock up their arms and legs both voluntarily and involuntarily.
Thanks Mary, it does help. I really didn't think the muscle relaxant would help. He also acts as if he is afraid to straighten his legs. He also is afraid to walk in the dark. Seems like he is being hit with a major decline, the last month.