Curled in legs?

[Kellsbelles]

Hello all, I hope you’re all doing well My dad (who has PSP, if you don’t remember my previous posts) has been in a care home for the last few months. Some good news is that he has finally qualified for CHC funding. I’ve been fighting for this all year, so I can finally breathe a little bit! I haven’t been able to see him due to Covid since July (before he was in hospital for a month) and pictures I have seen recently, his legs are pulled up when he’s sitting- basically curled into himself. I’m just wondering if anyone else has experienced this or noticed this with their loved ones? Should I ask that a doctor look over him? I’m sorry if this seems a really silly question! I’m just unsure what is normal or not. Thank you!

[Pjgil]

Hi.

Great news on the funding!

Sorry to read that you haven't been able to see your dad. We have dad at home and I see him most days, I can't imagine not seeing him for several months.

To answer your question, yes psp sufferers do curl up. Its happening on my dads right side, his fingers are curling into his palm so I have given him a stress ball to hold which keeps his fingers open a little more and stops him from digging his nails into his hand.

His right ankle is turning inwards and he no longer puts his foot flat on the floor.

Some days the ligaments in his legs go very tight and pull his leg up into a tight bend. We have to patiently massage him until the tendons relax enough for him to straighten his leg.

Hope that you get to see dad soon

Pj xxx

[Kellsbelles in reply to Pjgil]

Thank you! It’s a relief!

It’s been awful but he’s divorced and I don’t have any other sibling to help, oh and I’ve got a toddler to look after, so I have no other option but to place him in a home. I’m hoping they can arrange a visit for Christmas.

Thank you. That is very helpful. I’ll have to speak to his care home and see if they’re is anything they will do for him regarding his legs. Xxx

[racinlady]

Yes, it is normal with PSP. You can see more about this if you look at the post, "right side stiffness" by penny1956. If you do a search, you will find many more posts about this subject.

Pat

[Kellsbelles in reply to racinlady]

Thank you but my search doesn’t work I don’t think. It brings up all sorts from other groups. I did try.

[racinlady in reply to Kellsbelles]

I'm sorry I gave you the short answer. It was late here when I answered you. I should have told you to search for "right side stiffness". Type that in where it says Search HealthUnlocked in the banner at the top of this page. It is a current thread that has several people's answers to this problem including mine. That search should work.

You should talk to the care home and his neurologist about what they are doing to help him because it can be painful. We didn't try botox, but many people say that it helps. It wasn't available to us. Also regular massage helps some, but nothing will make it go away entirely. I hope this is a little more helpful. I'm sorry you are going through this with your dad. Trying to care for someone with these diseases can be a lonely, heartbreaking job especially with all of the covid restrictions. My heart goes out to you.

Pat

[daddyt]

There are no silly questions concerning PSP.

Tim

[Dosco]

My wife's right foot was curling and the neurologist injected her with Botox. The injection was delivered below the right knee on the tibia and it seems to have ameliorated the curling in the foot. I would seek advice from the neurologist on whether a Botox injection would address the problem.

[Kellsbelles in reply to Dosco]

Thank you I will definitely look into that!