Complex situation. Any suggestions?

[shipdude]

My wife is dying of a super strep infection with lymphedema cellulitis in her legs while on high power antibiotics and gamma blood infusions for 5 years. She has advanced osteoporosis at age 55, diabetic, steroid dependant, multiple vertabrae compression fractures-one with a bone chip in the spinal canal (she's already on fosamax). She is on 150mg of time-released morphine a day, and ora-morph and oxycodone for pain spikes and breakthrough pain. She is still crying and screaming much of the time for the pain. Her heart beats so rapidly at such times that it does not complete each beat and her blood pressure drops (tachycardia)--making her look over medicated due to lack of O2 to her brain, when in fact just the opposite is true with regard to the pain medication. The Neurosurgeon says nothing can be done surgically and the interventional pain specialist says cauterizng the affected nerves is too risky and could actually make her pain worse. She can't fight the infection in her legs, and I just want her reasonably comfortable without being a zombie. At this point, however, she's better off as a smiling zombie than a tormented person aware of everything. Everything's been tried that we and our doctors know of. Any thoughts?

[Cindee56]

I am so sorry.  Isn't there anything more they can give your wife for the pain?  I can't believe she is just supposed to suffer this way?

I don't know if she's in a hospital or at home, but can you call hospice?  The hospice people are very good at controlling pain.

[shipdude]

We are transitioning to hospice, and stopping her gamma infusions. They will give her higher pain med doses. Thanks for your email.
Shipdude