Saturday, March 11, 2023

Fear of Falling



Back when I was very young and my grandmother was very old (a reasonably vigorous seventy-something,) it seemed that her friends were all too often falling and breaking a hip. And all too often the outcome was not good. Later I remember my grandmother fussing when the cat would get underfoot (as cats will do) and try to trip her.

And now here I am. But it's not so much the hip breaking that scares me--hip replacements seem to be pretty routine these days. No, after hearing that a friend fell, hit her head, suffered a brain bleed, ended up in the ICU, and is now in rehab (aka a nursing home,) I'm extra cautious. And then there's the FB friend slowly recovering from a brain injury caused by a fall. 

Dang! Both of these folks are considerably younger than I. 

When I had a bout of vertigo a year ago, I made the decision to use a walking stick anytime I was outside on uneven or slippery surfaces. I had already had several falls, due to my wonky knee and crummy balance so it seemed like a reasonable precaution. It felt weird at first but it's become second nature. 

And I yell at Jenny and Otter when they rough house around me.

Yes, I've become my grandmother. She died at 92 after a stroke but she never broke her hip.


 

8 comments:

jennyfreckles said...

It's quite hard to balance sensible precautions with over-anxiety as we get older, isn't it? We learn from our friends experiences and at the same time are made fearful by them. I guess living where you are there are lots of steep and uneven paths. Round here it shouldn't be a problem but heavy trucks drive over the pavements and crack the flagstones so they are all very uneven. Yesterday in the snow I took my walking pole, it does help with navigating the hazards.

Anvilcloud said...

Sue and I both had falls this past winter, but they were trips from unlaced boots. We need new boots for next winter.

Barbara Rogers said...

I am glad you've made the decision to walk with a helper on your many sloping paths outdoors. What I've read about falls, broken hips, and life expectancy after such, isn't very optomistic. So I try to wear "sensible" shoes...but the darn laces do come undone. Yes, much like our Canadian neighbors' boots. But so far I haven't tumbled from them. A few years ago I did fall, on a step that I didn't quite lift my foot enough to make it. Bloody knee was the whole outcome. Lucky, I think. Yes, walking around on 2 feet is quite amazing!

Sandra Parshall said...

You know my situation. I shattered my pelvis years ago and have lived in pain ever since. I also have a neurological disorder that has nearly destroyed my balance. But I keep trying. Make whatever accommodations you must. Nothing is worse for you than being immobile. Keep moving!

A Bit of the Blarney said...

I had a bout of vertigo a number of years ago and I don't think I've ever be so ill. It is so debilitating and frightening. I have had friends of late who have had oopen heart surgery and hip replacements. One was much younger than me and the other considerably older (92) and at this point in our friendship all that's left is prayer. Wishing you well! Cathy

Anonymous said...

Please, people be careful. You do NOT want to end up in a nursing home/skilled nursing facility – even just for rehab. My 37 days in one in Florida was an eye opener and a nightmare. I feel sorry for long-term patients who have cognitive issues and/or no one to advocate for them. I have no family in the state so I was on my own – but I have no memory issues and could handle most things. Even so, when I complained that no one was taking my blood pressure – I was newly on BP meds – one of the day nurses looked me in the eye and said “I hear you’re saying no one’s taking your blood pressure – I take it EVERY DAY!” I knew better. A night nurse, possibly jeopardizing her job, gave me a printout showing regular BP readings (almost all around 2 or 3 AM when I'd have woken up). They were falsifying records. Food was terrible, non-nutritious and cold. In 37 days I had 2 warm meals…on days there were ‘visitors.’ Housekeeping was hit and miss – mostly miss. There was much more. Due to several mix-ups, my PCP wasn’t the admitting physician. When I later told him about my (very unsatisfactory) experiences, he said “I hate that happened to you, but I’ve heard worse.” Mine was essentially an emergency admission so there was no time to evaluate facilities. Take care – and maybe check out local nursing homes in advance in case you, a friend, or family member needs one. Apologize for the length – but it’s important for you to give this some thought. Regulations for nursing homes are much different than for hospitals.

Vicki Lane said...

AMEN<AMEN< AMEN! After an accident that left me with a dislocated shoulder and a badly broken foot, I spent 2and a half months in the rehab wing of a nursing home. The staff were good and efficient, the place was clean, the food was pretty terrible. And I had a roommate who kept her tv on round the clock and the noise and lack of privacy was awful. I REALLY don't want to go back.

Anonymous said...

Vicki - I was in with others with a variety of issues...there was no rehab ward. A woman in the next room (should not have been there) had Sundowner's and screamed and swore for hours every day at the top of her lungs. (I didn't know it was possible for anyone to scream that loud, for that long, almost without drawing a breath.) She also bit, scratched, hit the staff and threw herself out of bed on the floor - after she'd removed all her clothes. Her roommate was dying, so could not/would not complain. She only lived about 2 more weeks after I got there. People in a coma can still hear (the medical staff had to know it). No one should be forced to leave this world like that.