Is Palliative Care right for my mom?

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baywatcher
baywatcher Member Posts: 532
edited June 2014 in Palliative Therapy/Hospice Care

I respectfully need some advise and don't know where to find it. This is in reference to my mother. She is 74 years old and has numerous health problems causing her significant pain. Starting about 10 years ago she developed back problems and had back surgery. She was given pain pills for back and joint pain, oxycontin (I think) which has caused constipation problems which have resulted in her bowels coming out of her rectum when she has a bowel movement (sorry to be graphic but I don't know how else to describe it).

She currently has severe back pain and severe pain in her right shoulder. The docs tell her that xrays show that there is bone rubbing on bone and she needs shoulder surgery. So the docs were trying to decide if they should do shoulder before back or back first. She says that she can feel her left shoulder starting to become painful. Her leg joints also hurt and she walks with a cane. Her quality of life is low. The docs want to operate everywhere but she clearly sees that her skeleton is failing.

She has not been diagnosed with cancer. She did have breast augmentation about 35 years ago with the bad Dow Corning silicone implants which have never been replaced. She doesn't want to do surgeries and she is suffering greatly from pain. She just wants pain relief. She is being ping ponged around to different doctors: a GP, back surgeon, pain doctor, shoulder surgeon. I have googled Palliative Care and it seems that is is designed for someone like her but all of her doctors have said that it is the same as Hospice and say that she is not a candidate. From what I read, it looks like she should be a candidate but I don't know what it takes to qualify or what she needs to do. She has insurance. She also has a stash of pills (Sodium Seconal maybe) that I think she may overdose on if she doesn't find some relief. And if she does, I would understand because she hurts so bad and nothing seems to help. I have told her that there is such a thing as a pain pump but I don't know if it is right for her. She lives near Columbus, Ohio.

Is there anyone who could give me some suggestions? Even another website? I feel so helpless and I don't know who to ask.

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Comments

  • NancyD
    NancyD Member Posts: 3,562
    edited November 2009

    I know at one point, pain management was being called palliative care because they believed you'd be on the pain management therapy for the remainder of your life. While that may still be the case (life-time management), I think most centers have renamed themselves as chronic pain management centers. Try Googling "Chronic Pain Management" and see if you can find a center close to you.

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  • baywatcher
    baywatcher Member Posts: 532
    edited November 2009

    Thanks for your reply Nancy. My mom has a pain doctor but he told her that she just needs to have the surgeries, shoulder first, then back, then rectal because all he can do is increase her pain meds which will make her more constipated which just adds to her problems.

    Anyone else have any advise? Is there a difference between Palliative care and Hospice?

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  • Analemma
    Analemma Member Posts: 1,622
    edited November 2009

    Yes, there is a difference.  Palliative care if for dealing with symptoms of disease, pain, nausea, shortness of breath, dizziness, fatigue... the list goes on and on.  In this way it is different from a practice that deals mostly in pain management.  It is also different from hospice.  Hospice is when all active disease treatment has been stopped and the care is purely palliative - that is, to manage and alleviate symptoms.

    My cancer center has several palliative doctors as well as oncologists.  I recently added palliative care to my treatment (chemo and radiation).  In these days where everyone's a specialist, it's hard to know where to begin, but it sounds like Palliative Care is the perfect place for your Mom.

    I am in Cleveland and go to the Cleveland Clinic.  In Columbus I would start at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Medical Center.  Good Luck.

    http://www.internalmedicine.osu.edu/general/10121.cfm 

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  • baywatcher
    baywatcher Member Posts: 532
    edited November 2009

    Thanks Analemma-

    She has already called OSU and they said she was not a candidate but I am going to call them back tomorrow and ask how she can become qualified.

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  • Member_of_the_Club
    Member_of_the_Club Member Posts: 3,646
    edited November 2009

    I think what your mom needs is active medical care from a pain specialist.  Palliative care is for the pain and discomfort that comes from disease but it sounds like pain is her disease. 

     Hospice care is fabulous and they certainly know how to control pain, but it is end-of-life care and you need a physician's referral, which it doesn't sound like your Mom would get. 

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