Had a pretty tense weekend.  My mother ended up in the hospital.  Lots of pain, but not life-threatening.  A pinched nerve that had been bothering her for a long time finally reached a tipping point and went from annoying to excruciating.  The first few phone calls she was miserable, but coherent.  Once the pain meds kicked in, well, Mom wouldn't make a very good junkie -- morphine turns her into a delusional zombie.  Add to that the fact that she's deaf as Beethoven but refuses to admit it, and the hospital staff was convinced she was flat out demented.  Fortunately someone took her off the dope, and by the time my brother got there he was able to demonstrate that she was deaf, not senile.  So -- while she probably should go to a rehab center for some intense physical therapy, she refuses, feeling that it's just a stepping stone to a nursing home.  It'll be home health worker, and we'll see if she gets the therapy.  She's heading home tomorrow, my brother will return next weekend to check on things, and we'll be seeing her in April as planned.

Y'know, it's really nice having you guys to vent to!

You go, Mom!... ...

Yea doc, this is a great vent zone!  

Glad your Mom is doing better.  How old is she?  And what did they do about the pinched nerve?

Well, now she's not going home till tomorrow.  They're waiting for the results from one more test, if it's as expected she's outta there.

The big question is whether she can still drive.  I guess that's the "carrot" to put her through the "stick" of the PT.  If she can, she'll be back in her own place.  If not, there's a seniors apartment building close to my brother's place and across the street from Trader Joe's.  She could rent out her condo -- it's close to the beach and would more than cover an apartment that's not close to the beach.

However, for now at least, she's out of pain, and hopefully on the mend.

Thanks for some sympathetic ears to bend!

First I'll say, "There's no place like home." But we fail to mention that many who go into nursing homes come out in 6 months feeling better and go back home. My wife worked in a NH in social work and medical records for 17 years. I never even realized it myself until she told me. Being around other people and a little physical activity seems to be what humans need. The results are amazing with some, and their will to live is restored. Good news.

Doc, nice to know she is home. Sorry to hear though
that she refuses to wear her hearing aids. Yet isn't their
something in her records that tells the workers she wears them?
If not, then their should be.
I remember when I was a CNA that we had records on our patients
that stated what they had, ex hearing aids, dentures, pace maker, etc.
All they have to do is read that she should be wearing them, check and
see their not in her ears and, that would help with the problem of her
being mistaken for being senile instead of hard of hearing.
Then again, when she persists not to wear them when home or out and about, it does propose a problem.
I wish her all the best in her recovery. Hope the fact that she is home for  now will help with the p.t.  Hug her and enjoy every min, stubburn or not.. kim

Thanks Boofer and I agree.  It has been awhile since I was an CNA and
in fact looking into getting back into the field.
Wish now I had stayed with it and gone onto nursing school.
I would gladly take care of Doc's Mom if she lived closer.. kim