Re: Re: neck pain?/Everyone

[Guest guest]

Please be careful with the use of salt, it can cause

terrible swelling of the limbs. Our therapist warned us that the swelling

is also inside the body and can cause heart failure. It causes the limbs

to be just ripe to the injuries to the skin because it is stretched

so tight. Then you have trouble with sores that are difficult to heal.

We used a saline solution when the sores came. Some were caused by bumps

and scrapes.

I must tell you Ralph also had a very stiff neck but not all of the

time.

I made a mistake one day as I tried to turn his head to face me. What

pain I caused him, It hurt so bad.

It made both of us cry.

I would rub the back of his neck but nothing seemed to relax it. Then

soon he could move again. When he was in bed and had that stiffness it

was very difficult to change his position. It seemed as though it would

come and go with no specific reason. It seemed as though he was frozen

in place.

I am sad to say, a lot of what I knew was learned along the way. Ralph

wore a neck brace at times but his head was so heavy and the forward position

was so severe at times, that it was of no use. It just caused more pain

as he could not see to eat or to even read.

I hate this awful illness.

Even as I think of what we went through, there is still so much I do

not know and so much that is beyond belief unless you are a witness to

it. Like this. How can a man who is walking around the house with no help

suddenly become helpless, as though a switch has been turned of? . How

can a man who speaks plainly one minute become one who can not be understood

and cannot write to tell you what his needs are?

How can a caregiver be so optimistic as to plan for an activity and

then have to cancel it all because the mate cannot participate in any way?

How can a caregiver become so weary he/she can hardly move one more step

and with renewed strength be able to begin again the next time a call for

help is heard?

I wish all of you a good day, whatever it may bring. I am sitting here

reading all of the mail and comparing what we had to do and what all of

you are doing. We tried everything that is being mentioned but each

patient is different. Some things worked some time. Some days nothing worked,

including me.

The discouragement can be severe to all. But you just hang in

there and take one day at a time. REST REST REST and a good sound sleep

time is absolutely necessary for all. Otherwise you become a mindless robot.

And a danger to yourself and your mate.

Much love to all from Arlington, Texas where the sleet and snow are

falling but not staying for very long.

Spring is just around the corner. Be here before you know it and then

we will begin again.

BarbGod

is so good.