Hi Dani,
There is something you need to realize honey and it's that your mom is never going to be "her happy, carefree" self again. That is one of the hardest stages to get through in recovery, realizing that we will never be our old selves. Now, just so that doesn't sound so scary, let me tell you that the new me is having a blast with life. There are times, late at night when I'm alone, that I feel sad and miss my old self, miss the expected longevity I always expected, but other then those times I live a wonderful life. What I'm trying to tell you is don't compare your mom to how she used to be. Rather, help her find her new self.
I didn't take one ounce of pain medication after the last day of my radiation, didn't feel I needed it. BUT, I had a Peg tube to rely on for nutrition and I did for months after radiation ended. I finished radiation on July 15th and spent the day with my youth team at Busch Gardens on August 8th. Others don't leave the house for months, it all depends on how our bodies react to treatment.
The exposed bone issue seems to be your moms source of pain and I would push to get that taken care of asap. Like Gary, I had ear pain for months and months. Gary was the one that made me feel better about it. Every so often I will get a little pain but nothing like I used to have.
Also, Dani, the few months after treatment are tough because we tend to get depressed. I felt better the month after treatment then I did the second month after treatment, due to my mental state.
I hope you can help her get the bone situation taken care of and that she stays on the road to recovery.
Take care,
Minnie