Mom fell about a month ago, breaking her pelvis and humerus, she's 83 w/severe COPD. She was in awful pain, begging to die, screaming. Doctor started morphine and Dilaudid. She cannot be operated on due to COPD.
One month has passed and she still is on these drugs in same quantity. She is totally out of it now and luckily remembers her childrens' names.
I've questioned doctors and social worker who consults with pain management doctor at her nursing home wing and was told that some doctors don't like to reduce pain meds for fear of having pain come back.
My brother is not accepting that these drugs have so badly affected mom's mind. He thinks they should be cut back so perhaps her mind will returns.
Since mom now has pneumonia, severe COPD, sores on buttocks and a pelvis and humerus that will not be operated on, I think we should just go with what the doctor/staff said and leave meds alone since she is comfortable physically. I think we have to face the facts that mom is never going to walk again and even if she did, her severe COPD hadn't permitted her to walk across the room, dress herself, etc., before this last fall.
Thanks for all your help.
I'd say keep her as sedated as necessary to keep her out of pain, so what if she doesn't remember people's names? That's not the issue here--her comfort for her EOL care should supercede all.
I'm so tired of us being so doggone worried about "addiction" in our very ill and old loved ones. It has such a bad connotation and shouldn't even be mentioned in conjunction with this type of situation. Just keep her out of pain!!!