At night when I put my husband to bed, he suffers atrophy. He cannot just lie down. He is unable to straighten his legs. Sometimes after I put the blanket on him I can get them down some...most of the time he keeps them bent until, after he falls asleep, I notice that they are straight. Just wondering if other spouses have this problem????? He does have FTD, not Alzheimer's.
Kadee, My husband has FTD with the Motor Neuron Varient. There are several medications that can help with the atrophy/neuropathy pain: Neurontin is one of the best. Jim can no longer feel his feet or his legs up to the knee and beginning to progress to his thighs. He also has atropy pain in his upper body, lungs, possible bowel and bladder. He is currently in the hospital having been admitted for a bowel obstruction that finally cleared itself, and a belly unbelievably extended by fluids his body was unable to rid itself of. He has a UTI, had a Nasal Gastro Tube, catheter, etc. He is finally functioning "on his own" If he continues to improve he may be able to come home after 7 LONG days with me there for 12 hrs a day. Hang in there, read all you can about the Motor Neuron Variant. It is very rare. Arms around, Susan
Thanks to everyone who replied to my post. I have noticed that he relaxes his legs after he falls asleep. I am sure it also is the reason he has a hard time getting up from the toilet...when he will use it.
He was diagnosed 4 years ago - he has trouble with language comprehension, word finding, verbal impulse control, but handles it well in public, and still is able to socialize and join the guys in games, movies, dinners, outings. But the muscle component is not good. Needs a cane or walker.
You might want to check into magneseum for the legs. It helps relax the muscles and blood vessels. HB was having leg pains at night so I started giving him the magneseum with his evening pills and he has not had the problem.
Thanks Joan, My husband is further along than your friend in everything but mobility. He shuffles, however, doesn't need a cane or walker. Charlotte, I will try the magnesium, if it can be crushed. He will not take medication, without hiding it in something.
About the magnesium, I was put on it by the neurologist that was checking how bad my nerves were. I've got dead nerves in both legs, but the night cramps in my feet were not from the dead nerves. It was from a side effect from two medications I was on. I take the magnesium and I no longer have night cramps.
I would definitely check on both magnesium (I was put on Slow-Mag) and fish oil with your doctors before I went on them. They are both drugs, even if they are over the counter, and you need to make sure they don't interact with other medications.
Too much can. I take it to keep me from getting constipated, plus it helps me sleep better. We only take 250 mg. My hb has always been prone to diarrhea but this doesn't seem to have affected him that way.
FWIW, my nutritionist advised me to take 'magnesium chloride', specifically, as a digestive aid. Mine are 520mg and I take one first thing in the morning and sometimes one before bed. His adamant advice was to never ever take it within an hour or two of a meal. I learned why that was the hard way:>) But I've not had any problems since I take them now as he advised.