National Pain Awareness Month brings chronic pain to light. Around 50 million U.S. adults experience chronic pain. Over 16.5 million of those adults are aged 65 or older. When pain impacts mobility, it can impact the ability to do things for yourself.
#1 – Osteoarthritis and Other Types of Arthritis
Many types of arthritis exist. The most common occurs when the cartilage in the joint wears out after years of use. Osteoarthritis can lead to painful and stiff joints in areas like the ankles, knees, hips, back, shoulder, and hands/fingers. When osteoarthritis affects the ankles and knees, it makes it very difficult to walk around for more than a few minutes.
Other types of arthritis include rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and more than 100 others. Both rheumatoid arthritis and gout are also painful enough that they can limit mobility. If your dad has them, he’s going to struggle to take care of himself on the days that pain is heightened.
#2 – Diabetic Neuropathy
People with diabetes can experience numbness and pain in the feet and legs. It can be hard to feel temperature changes, sensitivity increases, and sharp pains are common as the condition worsens. Maintaining healthy blood sugar levels is essential.
Another problem with diabetic neuropathy is that it can lead to infections from sores you don’t feel are there. Your dad should check his feet daily if he has diabetes. Any cut, scratch, or crack needs to be cleaned and dressed to prevent infection. He won’t heal as quickly, so he needs to keep that in mind and see his doctor if he has concerns about a sore or cut that isn’t healing.
Skilled nursing care can help with wound care. If he has an open sore and can’t take care of it on his own, he needs a nurse’s help.
#3 – Cancer
Many cancers cause pain, including bone cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, and prostate cancer. Joint pain isn’t something your dad should ignore. He needs to make sure he’s seeing his doctor regularly and talking about any debilitating pain he experiences.
You know how much chronic pain can impact mobility. Your dad has gout and when it’s flaring up, he cannot do even the simplest of self-care tasks. Even standing up and walking is excruciating for him. He won’t get out of bed as it’s that bad. Talk to his doctor about options for pain management.
Skilled nursing care may be a good option when his pain is affecting his mobility. Whether he works with a therapist at his home or receives injections or IVs to help ease the pain, skilled nurses are there for him. With skilled nursing care, he’ll learn the best ways to manage pain when it’s making him not want to leave his bed.
If you or someone you know needs skilled nursing care in Blaine, MN, contact Adara Home Health. We provide quality and affordable home care services for many fragile or senior members in the communities we serve. Call us at (888) 660-5772 for more information.