Feeling pain

mpang123

My dad, 88, with VD, had back surgery and fractured pelvis. He initially was given strong narcotics but developed delirium in the hospital. So he was just given Tylenol. He hardly complained about pain and didn't even request the Tylenol while in hospital and rehab. The physical therapist said that his pelvis fractures are one of the most painful to experience. But everytime when asked if he was in pain, he says no. Does PWD have a high tolerance to pain?or do they don't recognize they're in pain? Or can't express they're in pain? It's a wonder how my dad endured the fractures without expressing pain. He is a trooper.

Emily 123

I think it may be because their brain loses the ability to identify pain, and then interpret it, and express that they’re having discomfort. The usual brain pathways don’t work well for them, so who knows about how the pain feels to them? And they may have lost the ability to know that pain relief is available, or know to ask for it. It’s just a cause and effect that will have slipped from their grasp.