Legs are weak....

M5M

DH is moving slowly into another phase, he is sleeping some most days and has mentioned several times his legs "are sore." I asked if that meant weak, and he said yes. Some days he works a little weeding and would do more if he could see well enough or could handle tools much….but often he doesn't have very much exercise. We do walk the circumference of our little neighborhood, but that is not enough to keep his leg strength up over time.

I can see that we may get to a wheelchair at some time. I'm wondering how things change at that point, advice from those who have been there, done that.

CampCarol

My DH was the same way, and I tried many different things to get him stronger. H could barely get out of a chair. Nothing was working, then somebody told me about Aquatherapy. This has been a game changer for us. It’s basically doing very gentle, slow moving exercises in a very warm (92 degrees-ish) pool. There are usually a few other patients there at the same time, so he gets a little bit of socializing as well. He is so much stronger now, he no longer uses his walker, he’s graduated to a cane (except for up/down sloping walkways). There are a few days when he kind of shuts down halfway through or so, but for the most part, he tolerates it really well. It’s a bit of a drive to get there (there aren’t many in our area), but the results have been well worth it. And the people there couldn’t be kinder to him, so he feels included. He’s stage 5, and I will continue this as long as I can.

SDianeL

as the disease progresses many lose muscle memory and require a wheelchair and then become bedridden. Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy no longer work because the person can’t learn or remember. At Stage 6, my DH could not learn to use a walker.

​fesk

I would recommend ruling out any medical issue in case there is something that can easily be done to help. Is it possible arthritis is bothering him? I'd also recommend doing some exercises to keep his strength. I don't necessarily agree that PT and OT don't work. They can probably do functional exercise - core, sitting/standing, walking, mimic leg lifts, etc. to build strength. You don't know unless you try. In my opinion, the ability to stand/walk/transfer is enormously helpful in day-to-day care. I recommend doing whatever you can to keep/enhance that ability.

M5M

WooHoo!! Thanks to your suggestions, I asked doctor about aquatic referral and received it immediately! This was from a pain specialist who had seen hubby and knows we do not want surgery, but to address weakness and pain……now I have to get him to go! Thank you !!

CampCarol

Good luck, I hope it helps!