The Physical Toll of Caregiving
It started routinely enough...
Last Sunday I was boosting Maman up in her wheelchair...and then I proceeded to fall to the floor in pain....It took me 15 minutes to get up off the floor, and that only with the help of my husband.
I had to call a friend to get Maman into bed that night because I could barely move.
An MRI a few days later showed that I now have 2 bulging disks in my lower back (between L3/L4 & L4/L5 for you medical types!). Frankly this really sucks.
I was put on 3 different meds which I stopped 6 days later because of the side effects, so now it's up to me to manage the pain...all while dealing with the reality of still having to care for Maman.
Have you ever noticed that as a caregiver, people tell you to "be careful?" Well, yeah, I'm trying, but the reality is that Maman still needs care & I ned to keep living my life...so I just take it one day at a time...and a glass of wine with dinner (now that I'm off the meds! ;-)
I start PT today...we'll see how much that helps...
How have you dealt with the the physical toll of Caregiving?
Labels: Caregivers, Caregiving, Physical Toll
posted by Liz de Nesnera @ 12:43 PM
3 Comments
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3 Comments:
Liz,
Sorry to hear about your back injury. Hope physical therapy helps.
William
Caregiving is a very physically exhausting lifestyle. I have cared for both my Grandmother and now my Mother. One of the most strenuous processes was washing their hair. Tub baths were not possible, and the shower held nightmares of falls. So, we had to figure out another way to make sure they looked their best (VERY important to both these fabulous ladies!)
We found a product that is similar to what you find in a salon but does not require plumbing, or any special fittings. It's a portable head sink called the Comfort Hair Wash Basin http://www.enablemart.com/Catalog/Bathing-Aids/Comfort-Hair-Wash-Basin. Pretty clever device. You just allow your loved one to sit back near a sink, and then use the tubing and sink to gently wash their hair. It is inflatable so you can make it as firm or soft as is comfortable.
This is a great aid to a caregiver. I know it made my life easier!!
Hope this is helpful to the others out there.
Comfort Hair Wash Basin
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