Hubris inevitably followed by Nemesis

[cyclonefence]

Well, I complained here a few hours ago about being treated like an old feeble person, so when I went to the grocery store I decided not to take my cane. All was well until I tripped on my goddam non-slip soles and fell straight down, banging my forehead good and hard. I have a magnificent goose-egg and ever-darkening bruise.

Of course, the worst happened: everybody in the damn store but the butcher it seemed clustered around me wanting to help me get up. I told them I was fine, which I was, and to let me sit a second and then hold on to the counter to get up. Which I did. But by then the store manager was there and wanted to make sure it wasn't the store's fault (or make sure I wasn't going to say it was the store's fault), which it wasn't. It was my own damn fault. If I'd had my cane I wouldn't have fallen.

Shit shit shit.

[MLAA]

1. Sending hugs for your bruised head and ego!

[erronis]

2. I find myself tripping up on those crepey soles (non-stick). Walking along fine and then whoops!

Of course I tell myself to lift my feet up a bit more with each step - easy to remember for about 5 steps. My walking stick(s) helps a lot when I'm on a trail.

The worst fall I had was in the Pentagon - walking down one of those immaculately waxed floors in some Rockports and then flat on my face (I was a youngster - around 35). These floors are made with poured concrete and covered with high-gloss/waxed linoleum. You don't realize that they aren't perfectly even and have subtle waves - guess there wasn't a whole lot of time to get that huge building constructed during WW-II.

[cyclonefence]

4. I need new shoes

that have leather soles, the good old slippery kind that old people are not supposed to wear. Problem is, I wear compression socks, which means the shoes have to be wide enough to accommodate those thicker socks. I'm going to head over to Designer Shoe Wearhouse when I get a chance. Right now I'm working on Mushroom Bourgignon over Creamy Polenta, which was the reason I was in the damn grocery store in the first place.

And the poster above is right--don't tell anybody you fell. Next thing you know, it's The Home.

[ShazzieB]

8. Ouch!

Hope you're all better soon!

When I trip and fall, I almost always land on my knees (especially the left one, for some reason), and it always hurts like hell. It hasn't happened in a while, thank goodness.

[XanaDUer2]

3. I'm sorry

Hope you're ok. Falls are scary

[cyclonefence]

5. Only my self-respect

[GPV]

6. *hugs*

[mercuryblues]

7. When the butcher shows up

Then it's time to worry. Especially if they have a meat cleaver in their hand.

Glad to hear you are ok.

[littlemissmartypants]

9. So sorry to hear about your fall.

I fall frequently. The last bad fall was a couple of years ago. I broke my ankle and my leg. Can't be too careful these days.

Please take care of yourself, cyclonefence.



❤️

[LoisB]

10. I am glad you feel ok but if you hit your head, you really should have that checked. Just my two-cent opinion.

[surfered]

11. Check for concussion

Headache
Confusion
Memory loss
Blurry vision
Slurred speech
One pupil different size than the other

[JoetheShow]

12. Been there, done that. Next time take the damn cane!

If nothing else you can use the hook to get stuff off the top shelf that is otherwise out of reach.

[cyclonefence]

13. Actually

I'm thinking about using my cane to trip other, younger, shoppers.

[Lulu KC]

16. LOL

And you can shake it at them when they ask if you need help. "Leave me alone! I'm fine!" Now I know how cranky geezers get that way.

[KS Toronado]

14. Hoping the goose egg doesn't cause you problems.

[Lulu KC]

15. Perfect!

You made me laugh very sympathetically. Shit shit shit is right. I hope your goose egg calms down quickly.

[LatteLady]

17. Falls are not a normal part of aging, many are preventable

If you are older than 60 yrs & have fallen with no medical reason like blacking out, and no large external force knocking you over, the odds that you will fall again in the next year are pretty high unless you act to participate in fall prevention interventions.

Please go to CDC.gov/Older Adult Falls to learn much more about your own individual risk of falls and steps you can take to reduce that risk.

Please let your primary care person know, especially if you have fallen 2 or more times within the last 12 months (recurrent faller). Ask to have your medications reviewed and managed to reduce medication-related fall risk.

If you have access, please see a physical therapist who is board certified in neurology (NCS) or geriatrics (GCS) or who is certified or credentialed in balance and fall prevention. If your main issue is dizziness, find a PT who is certified in vestibular rehabilitation. A specialized PT can do a very comprehensive balance and falls assessment and work with you to improve your balance and increase the steadiness of your walking. Google “Find a PT”. If you are over 75 and/or more frail, the Otago exercise program may be very helpful.

Please get your vision checked. Not just acuity for reading/driving, but also depth perception, contrast sensitivity, and visual fields. These latter three are very important for perceiving your environment, recognizing hazards so you can avoid them, etc

If you are already a recurrent faller, please have a PT or Occupational therapist (OT) come to your home to do a home safety evaluation and make recommendations about home safety.

If you haven’t fallen yet, or have only fallen once and we’re not injured and we’re able to get back up again by yourself, look for community fall prevention
programs near you (Area Association on Aging, YMCA, etc). Some programs emphasize education: A Matter of Balance or Stepping On or Bingocize. Some are exercise programs like Enhance Fitness or SAIL (Stay Active and independent for Life) or FallProof, and the YMCA often has Tai Chi for Arthritis and Tai Chi Moving for Better Balance.

Studies consistently show that exercise (balance, or balance and leg strength) can substantially reduce your fall risk from 25% to 50% depending on your baseline risk and how much moderate to high intensity balance (not aerobic) exercise you do. Medication management, vision care, and home safety modifications can further reduce risk.

Stay steady everyone!

[marybourg]

18. And sometimes the floor just has a slick spot and down you go, at any age.

[birdographer]

19. REALLY should get it checked before you go to sleep

Brain bleed can be going on in the background. Bob Saget (Full House, etc.) bumped his head, didn't think anything of it, went to bed and never woke up. Not to be Debbie Downer or anything.

[cyclonefence]

20. I did

About 8 p.m. I suddenly thought about Natasha Richardson, Liam Neeson's wife who had a skiing accident in which she banged her head. She felt fine, refused medical attention, went to bed, and died.

It took until 11:30 in the ER, but I'm fine in the brain department (hah!). I do have a sinus infection, so the CAT scan was not a total wash.

I also realized, when the doctor found no bruises or pain in my knees, that I must have totally face-planted. Can you imagine? Falling straight down on your head, without catching yourself with your hands or falling to your knees first? I feel like I was in a Bugs Bunny cartoon or something.

[birdographer]

21. So glad you went!

I worry that my spouse would not go and I would have to make a huge scene. You feel fine, it's a bump, you got them all the time as a kid, no big deal. And then you die in your sleep.

So, Bugs, did your head make a boiiinnng! sound when it hit?

[cyclonefence]

22. It kind of did

There was the initial landing, then boing! up and down again. Hope I don't owe royalties.