Dear Juliemac,

People with advanced Parkinson's may have circulatory compromise in their lower backs due to pressure from immobility. My husband, because of lack of sufficient movement at night, developed a small bedsore during his last year of life. When I saw that he had developed a small area of skin breakdown, I began preparing dressings to cover it, and I turned him regularly from one side to the other. I also purchased an "air bed", a plastic mattress which sits on top of the regular mattress, inflating and deflating various chambers of air throughout the night.

Unfortunately, because he began having trouble swallowing shortly after the bedsore developed, his nutrition became compromised, and the bedsore worsened quickly as a result. In his final days he had rapid worsening of necrotic tissue (inoperable) with agonizing pain when he lay on his back, and he required morphine and frequent turning from side to side to relieve his pain.

For your friend, I would suggest he ask his doctor if it would be safe to receive gentle massage of the area of pain, along with being turned regularly. If he is still able to turn over in bed, he should do this every time he wakes up.

The root of his pain may not be a pressure ulcer, but something completely different. Still, taking steps to avoid developing or worsening a pressure ulcer will be worthwhile. Pressure ulcers can cause severe pain and can even kill.

I sincerely wish your friend luck with this problem, Juliemac.