My mom has a long list of health conditions why doc said she was not a candidate for hip replacement surgery (alzheimer's, COPD, AFIB, Osteoporosis, Chronic Kidney Disease and Chronic Anemia and Diverticulitis) this last one put her in the hospital last year and from being so long in a hospital bed, despite PT she can't walk since July 2023. She is also incontinent and always forgets she has a diaper, 3 weeks ago, she woke up one morning and tried to get up and fell of the bed, broke her hip. She is at home with me through "Home Health" so I have a nurse come weekly, a PT to exercise her other leg and arms, but she's and in a lot of pain despite oral meds and I would like to know if there's a pain injection/numbing injection that she could get, while she recovers, I also wonder will she recover?
I don't see her long surviving the extreme pain of a broken hip. And it would mean heavy medication or constant agony. A torture, really.
We recently had someone mid 90s and someone I think 100 do fine with broken hip surgery. Not replacement, you understand, but repair. I understand this would be VERY risky with the COPD to say nothing of the perfect storm of other conditions, but I think you are now at the place where the only issue is PAIN.
I myself would discuss with a surgeon. Either you are looking at surgery KNOWING the risks or you are looking at hospice and very heavy medications which are in themselves a risk.
This falls under not everything can be fixed and I over and over again say here that a fall often spells the beginning of the end.
I am so very sorry. I hope you will update us on the decision. This has to be a dreadful choice.
I don't believe there are any easy answers here, but keeping your mom as pain free as possible should be top priority.
Please call hospice.
She will not walk
Any PT will be painful
Almost any movement will be painful
Even if the fracture heals somewhat there will be chronic pain.
I think I have read statistics that a hip fracture that is NOT repaired the life expectance is about 6 months or so.
Given that and the other health problems she would no doubt be Hospice eligible.
You will get all the equipment that you need and supplies you need. As well as a Nurse weekly, more often if needed. A CNA 2 to 3 times a week and if you want a Volunteer that can come and visit with mom.
The goal of Hospice would be to manage her pain and keep her as comfortable as possible.