Shuffling and Gait Changes
How many of you have observed your LOs developing shuffling and stiff gaits. My DH has recently experienced an acceleration of these symptoms. I suspect he is transitioning from 5 to6.
Comments
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My DH has a very slow shuffling and stiff gait. He has had this for the last few years. He is now in early stage 7. The gait and shuffling increase when he was on risperidone. This medication was discontinued due to side effects.
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Yes, my wife does the same. She's about stage 6c
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I have noticed the gait changes in my DW as she transitions from stage 5 to 6 and her doctors are always watching her gait every visit. My understanding is that gait changes are inevitable and needs to be monitored so as to reduce the risk of falls.
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My DW is 55 and she used to walk 3-4 miles a day. I’m 13 years older and in the past I have had to tell her to slow down a bit. Now when we walk we’re lucky to make it a mile and I am the one who has to slow my pace for her to catch up. So far I haven’t noticed that she shuffles yet.
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The changes in gait and the shuffling required some extra attention. My DW fell and broke her wrist during this stage when she no longer picked up her feet enough. We had gone to physical therapy for this where they tried in vain to teach her to pick up her feet and exercises to improve her balance. But a PWD cannot retain such training. The cast she had to wear was a constant irritant to her and she always resisted wearing the plastic protection needed to keep it dry during showers. Doctor at first wanted to rebreak and reset the wrist until he came to his senses and realized it would not be of value to someone in my DW’s state.
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Thank you for sharing. My DW primary care doctor prescribed physical therapy to help with gait. I am skeptical of the value of this given where we are in this journey and everything else we are dealing with (gait is not near the top of the list of problems). I think PCP can be caring and well intentioned, but I often wonder if the PCP really knows much about what it is like to live with this. I just got a letter from the PCP who is concerned about elevated A1C level (pre-diabetes). I am supposed to reduce DW sugar intake and increase exercise. Wish me luck with that😐️
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Your PCP is "missing the forest for the trees". A1C simply does not matter in someone with severe dementia. Also, PT for gait is unlikely to help.
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thank you. My husband did have PT a year ago. He also had a trainer until a month ago, it seems this is just an 8nevitable part of the process.
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I agree with Midge333. They say the last taste buds to go are for sweets. Why deny our LO of some happiness they have eating sweets.
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Commonly Used Abbreviations
DH = Dear Husband
DW= Dear Wife, Darling Wife
LO = Loved One
ES = Early Stage
EO = Early Onset
FTD = Frontotemporal Dementia
VD = Vascular Dementia
MC = Memory Care
AL = Assisted Living
POA = Power of Attorney
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