Christmas

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

The Fine Art of Falling, And Being Graceful!

That’s a funny – there’s nothing graceful about falling, but I like to think in my delusions that I look like a butterfly alighting on a petal. See the dream world I can invent! Actually, when I have been falling, I haven’t been doing so like slapstick artists. I learned when I used to ice skate that there are ways to fall without doing much damage. I rely on that ingrained knowledge, and so far it has worked. Every fall I’ve had lately has always had a reason behind it, and it usually involves my not being aware of what I was doing.

Last October, I actually fell off the bed. My husband had a cold and decided to sleep in the guest room. As I was going through my maneuvers to get into bed (yes, it is a well-thought-out process,) my foot slid on the carpet and I was caught half on, half off the bed. The more I tried to right myself, the more I slid. I was afraid of hurting my tailbone if I just let myself drop, but I didn’t see much in the way of alternatives. So, I allowed myself to slide slowly to the floor, with my back against the bed. Then, I was stuck – I couldn’t pull myself up to a standing position. After much struggling, I finally called for my husband. That time he wasn’t much help – he had taken cold medicine and was half asleep. So I sent him away. Then I just worked and worked until I could hoist myself up using the bedpost as my anchor. It’s a good thing it’s a very heavy bed! I was a bit more careful after that!

My next bad fall I already wrote about – when I came home after my mother had passed away. I was sleep deprived, hungry, grieving, and not paying attention. I just collapsed as I went to get out of the car. Once again, I went down easily, but I was pinned on the ground and couldn’t get up. My husband always wants to lift me by putting his hands under my arms and pulling. It’s just too painful for me, though. Our final solution that time was for him to get one of the heavy Adirondack chairs from the yard, and put it next to me. Once I had something to hold onto, I could pull myself up.

Then there was the time as I tried to take my shoe off. I wrote about that a few weeks ago. Then there was last Friday night. Each time, it’s simply my not being more careful, and not thinking about what I’m doing. This time, I still went down softly, but it was onto toys which cut and bruised me. I find that it’s not the fall itself; it’s the trying to get up again that’s killing me. It’s too hard for my husband to try and lift me – he’s strong enough, but it hurts me. I only have strength in my left arm/hand – the right one is pretty useless. So I have to have something near me that I can hold to pull myself up.

Once I was vertical again last Friday, I said to my husband that I need to come up with a solution for getting me up. So far, I haven’t figured out the answer. I’ll be doing research on it, but appreciate any suggestions. Do you ever fall and aren’t able to get up? What do you do? I’d like to hear from anyone with answers.

Peace,

Muff

12 comments:

  1. Falling is terrible; horrible, while it's in process and you can't do anything to stop it. Worse, if, there is a resulting injury. So, not falling is something I actively work on every day and am conscious of always. While I'm waiting for the toaster to ring, for example, I do my balance therapy exercises, Why those? Because my falls are usually related to a balance issue. So my incidence of falls has declined; perhaps, due to my therapy exercises; perhaps, due to being able to call on my long-ago (if limited) dance training. Whatever the reason, and it may simply be luck, I have been able to avoid recent catastrophes despite many close calls. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that both you and I are able to remain fall-free from now on.

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    1. These little 'falls from grace' make me more aware of not getting into situations where I can fall. I went for a long time with no falls, and then had several in just a short time span. It's frustrating.

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  2. My mother, noticing that I was quite a clumsy child, had me practice falling in away that would minimize the possibility of broken bones. It sounds as though you need some kind of anchoring prop. I hope those who have experience will have suggestions.

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    1. Your mother was right, and that's what I learned from ice skating. I think of it as being a rag doll and just being very loose as I go down. It avoids injury, but I still have trouble getting up.

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  3. awwww muff, it's so frightening to fall!! sometimes it is difficult to avoid it!!!!

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    1. It's one of the reasons I'm staying indoors during this brutal cold spell. I don't want anything to cause me to hit the ground!

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  4. Hi Muff - oh my, I so understand and so fear falling. nd getting up s such a bigger challenge. I find if I get on my hands knees I have a better chance of hoisting myself up to the bed or couch or even a hassock. Tough to navigate but it is a step up from the floor. Easier said than done but I have managed it twice. Good Lord!! MS sucks.
    Love Gail
    peace.....

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    1. You're so right about getting on your hands and knees, but even then, I need something to hold onto as I pull myself up. Between my husband and me, I think we managed a solution. ~see below~

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  5. A small step stool maybe. I bet a Physical Therapist would have an answer for you. I have fallen out on the ice and crawled to a tree to pull myself up..yes men want to help and pull you up...I just wanted to lay there and catch my breath and make sure I didn't break something. Before it got real cold we were going to Tai Chi and that helps you with balance...maybe there are some You Tubes you could look at.

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    1. A step stool (which we do have) isn't sturdy enough. Tai Chi is great for balance, but I can't do it standing alone -- the same goes for yoga. And I, too, hate it when men try to lift me up!

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    2. We have one lady that does Tai Chi from sitting in a chair. I have a step stool from Ace...it is very sturdy and has just two steps. I watched a video they say to crawl on all fours and go to a chair and then pull yourself up. Other than that there is not much help out there.

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  6. A note to all:
    After reviewing my situation when I fall, my husband and I think we have a plan of action. However, he must be there if it's to work. And this is just for the family room.
    He'll slide the ottoman against the sofa, and then he'll get me to a sitting position.I can wiggle in front of the ottoman, and he can pull me up by my hands and lower me onto the ottoman. Hopefully, I won't need it, but I feel better knowing there's a plan.

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