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docs mum · Jun 22, 2009, 04:24 AM

I was recently unfortunate enough to have to watch someone close die from sudden onset cancer. At the end, last few hours, he was rigid, ice cold and wet on hands and feet, and his jaw was locked.for the previous 3 days his eyes were backwards and un-moveable and to all of us it looked as though he was already gone. Was it rigor mortis, and can it set in while still living please? docs mum

tickle · Jun 22, 2009, 05:26 AM

Rigor mortis occurs and starts at the time of death and is caused by a chemical reaction within the muscles. This condition can last for 2 or 3 days, and after that time the body will relax.

Rigor mortis is used to establish time of death, and no it doesn't start in a living human.

What you may have witnessed was the blood vessels collapsing in the extremeties as the heart slows down and is unable to pump blood to legs and hands.

Possibly, the eye condition you witnessed, could have been a result of the blood leaving the brain, whereby the brain was already dying, however, the core of the remains rigid. No brain function, no movement anywhere.

I hope this enlightens you somewhat.

Kindest regards

Ms tickle

Nin13 · Jul 8, 2009, 10:38 AM

Rigor mortis sets in only after death of person and not before.

It could have happened due to damage to certain structure in brain like pons or medulla getting knocked off. There is muscular spasm, vasodilatation, etc due to loss of brain control over body.