This getting old stuff isn't fun - I took a fall today

[rburg]

Maybe I should blame the fall on the stupid BP medicine the doc makes me take. A buddy takes the same thing. He complained that when he bends over, about half the time he falls. His doc told him to get used to it, he's on the stuff till he dies, and if he stops, he dies.

I do know that back in the summer of 2003 I took a fall and broke my wrist. I never saw what I fell on, I was in high weeds harvesting chain link fence hardware (it was a dump). I think I stood on a fence pole and it rolled. It was ugly. Nice cut, and broken bone.

And maybe 10 or so years ago we were out looking at some property. A big committee of folks. It was winter and we all had on some pretty heavy clothes. We were on a wet to frozen hillside, going cross hill downward. A foot went out and I did a slide. Skidded down hill maybe 15 feet, then came up on my feet like nothing had happened. I kept walking. When we got to the bottom one of my friends said "that was pretty good recovery". My wife wasn't so charitable.

So I'm guessing I'm in for more of the same. Maybe it was me trying to walk without the benefit of alcohol. And about an hour after taking the BP pill. I'm leaning toward blaming it on the pills. That way I don't have to take any responsibility for being clumsy. It does make me feel a little better to know others are having similar experiences.

 

[Frank46]

I have varilux lenses and walk with a cane. You are right about setting you up for a fall. What I have trouble with is the sloped sidewalks from a store to the parking lot. Cannot focus and crab walk with the cane. Went to the movies with the wife one night. There are steps about every three feet in the aisles and don't you know I missed one. Popcorn and me went flying. Not hurt but very embarrasing as I got up with no problem. Manager help up the movie while he filled out some form. Guess he figured I was going to sue. No more movie theaters for me. Yep getting old stinks, but beats the alternative. Frank

 

[Sebago Son]

I know what you mean Dick... I took a tumble a couple of weekends ago while stringing up a bunch of birdfeeders. Fell off a ladder only about 6 feet to the ground. I laid there in the grass for 5 minutes seeing stars, listening to birdies singing, getting my self togeather and reflecting upon the days of my youth when painting the peak of a 2 1/2 story house was a cake walk.

 

[chud333]

Dick, Glad your OK.
Your posts and knowledge have always been must read material
for me since i've been on here. Take care my friend and time to
fess up. The signs do make great target stands do they not ?


Chuck

 

[LVSteve]

Not too long back, at about dusk I got tangled up in the leg of a folding chair and went down hard after trying hard to regain my balance. Of course I felt like a staggering drunk or something but really didn't do any real damage. I finished whatever it was I was doing and walked around to the other side of my truck. I was looking back at a motorcycle that I had removed the rear tire from to fix a flat. I was walking backward for a couple of steps and tripped over a cooler and landed on my rear end spun around and hit my head on an aluminum ladder and wound up on my face. It hurt my tail bone pretty bad. It was sore for a couple weeks. Two falls in two minutes. I felt then and still, like an idiot. Just lucky I didn't do any real damage except to my pride. Did you look around real quick to see if anybody saw you go down? I did, nobody saw it. A kiss from a Grand Daughter always works on stuff like that. Mine will kiss her hand and rub it in. Works like magic.
Be careful Sir,
Peace,
gordon

I know these days well, but they can also involve computers instead of falling over. When they happen I threaten to leave work and go to a room lined with pillows and teddy bears where I know I'll be safe. If I have been falling over/bumping into things, my co-workers plead with me to leave before they get hurt. If it involves computers, the IT guy just sighs and gives my computer an enema while I am told to "go away, read the paper and eat cookies". I work with great people.

Hope you don't feel sore in the morning, Dick. I find that when I bump something my body takes a day to realise I did something stupid.

 

[JcMack]

I fell getting out of the tub a couple years ago and broke three ribs when my chest hit the side of the tub. I used to park way out in the parking lots of stores to avoid damage to the truck, now I've got peripheral neuropathy and handicapped plate on the truck.
I ripped the stair rail out of the wall again when I almost fell down the stairs again.

 

[Gaffer]

Get used to it as age does that to you. I fell down a flight of concrete stairs to a basement range going to a indoor rifle match last January Still trying to get over it the ER said no broken bones but something still is out of kilter. At 2 months shy of 80 I still am a lot more careful than I used to be. Getting old is not easy but it still beats the alternative! Dick is right the BP meds have a lot to do with the balance and the darn bi-focals don't help either.

 

[jimmyj]

*** NOTE-
When you do FALL (and it will happen, sooner or later) a good way to explain the bruises-" a young jealous boyfriend/husband of my girlfriend wanted to fight"

 

[kamloops67]

vertigo can be caused by vertebrae in your neck putting pressure on nerves a trip to a good chiropractor might fix you up

 

[Cyrano]

Stubbed my toe at a motel coming back from the Ft Worth gun show, and down I went. Didn't hit hard, just skinned one knee. Didn't know it was bleeding until it ruined a pair of pants; a baby aspirin a day really does things to your clotting ability. Had to have help geting up, though. Very embarassing.

 

[keith44spl]

Dick,
Man I hear ya! After my motorcycle crash and dis-located knee.

Took ten weeks to get rid of that external fixator they's had screw'd in my bones...

Had a 'sometimes' locking brace I wore.

Loading & stackin' baled hay on a wagon...Brace lock'd up on me, took a dive off'n
the wagon from a couple bales high.

Tried to land on my good shoulder on opposite side. I hate fallin' too.

Su Amigo,
Dave

 

[Frank46]

This is what I like about this forum. Where else in the world can you go get online and read other peoples aches and pains, falls, and other life threatening happenings. And then there are the various drug complaints and their effects on a wide body of bodies??. Not to sound like getting old is fun it isn't. I'm 65 and have had my share of falls. Won't go to a movie theater as I did have a couple there. Not hurt but embarassing as heck. Screwed my right leg up trying to load a generator into my truck using ramps. Got about 3/4 of the way up and ran out of steam. Called the repair guy to have him pick it up. I've used some of your postings to try and work smarter or to avoid accidents. Sometimes though I still have my ups and down. hope to have not offended anyone such was not my intent. As we age I think that there are some things we used to do and take for granted that we may or may not be doing anymore. Please be careful out there.
Frank