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April 3, 2006

Back Spasms

My poor mother woke up this past Wednesday morning with her back in spasm. My mother is 72 years old and very active. She over exerted herself by spending a day in the kitchen and an evening in front of her computer that does not have an ergonomic workstation.

She called her doctor for medication that would get her moving again and they gave her muscle relaxants ("the kind that won't make me groggy, please.") They're not working.

She cannot turn over in bed--has to get out of bed in order to climb in for a different position. Simple movements "catch her" back and take her breath away. Luckily she can walk and drive. I can only imagine how difficult getting in and out of the car must be.

She describes her pain just below her natural waist all the way across her low back. It has expanded this morning to include a band all the way around her torso and down to her lower abdomen.

My suggestions for self-help include pulling her legs up to her chest before she attempts to get out of bed. Also, pelvic tilt, but she says she can't do those yet. When she sits in her easy chair, I suggest she roll a bath towel to about the width of her calf muscle and place it behind the lumbar region. She lives near a park--get out and walk!! several times a day so she can keep the mobility she has.

She lives 600 miles away from me so I can't get my hands on her. My sister has been tending to her by rubbing her back when she visits. I suggested she rub her back with ice then use the heating pad while she's at rest. New medication with codeine has gotten her some relief (she agreed to that since she can't do anything anyway). She is able to get out of bed with only one attempt even after the medication has worn off. Time will probably be what gets her back on her feet. I'll get my hands on her when she comes back in May for my nephew's graduation.

Posted by linda at April 3, 2006 8:22 AM