1. < Mental Health

Upset, scared, and mad - Had a big fall, concussion, numbness...

Posted by Barb @amberpep, May 20, 2018

Hi all .... I have not been here for awhile but I really need some input. . I won't go into the details or it would take forever, but I live in an apartment – 1st floor. Our sidewalks are poorly maintained …. between the concrete and grass is a gap, that you can easily see through, about 6". Alongside is a metal plate that I assume is part of the way they set the concrete is set – it protrudes 2". I was walking my new puppy (8 lbs.) and got the heel of my sneaker caught in the metal and flew, landed on the concrete pad holding the elec. unit, landing on my left side, head hit and bounced up and hit on other side where there was a vertical metal flange of some sort. Went to doctor …. had concussion, and lots of hurting and bruising ….. all within soft tissue – nothing on surface to show. Next day from scapula to shoulder to elbow to first two digits on that hand were painful and very numb and tingling and burning. Saw 2 doctors ….. didn't seem to think a thing about the numbness in my fingers ……. I read on Mayo last night that it's probably a pinched nerve from the fall. It hurts like crazy from scapula on down to hand. Been told by others nothing could be done that it just had to heal itself. I think I need a neurologist, but don't know. My daughter has my puppy because I can't pick her up without major pain – 8 pounder. I just moved down to this area from MD
about 2 years ago and don't know where else to go besides the Internist, and they have the system of you get whoever is available …. you have no doctor of your own. I'm so upset I don't know what to do. I'm 73, live alone, and I just could cry. I'm scared, want a doctor who can give me definite info. I'm inclined to go back to MD to see the doctor I had up there. j The two doctors I saw did not pick up on the numbness in my fingers .... to me that says "nerve problem" …… advice?abby.

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Barb | @amberpep | Jun 7, 2018

You could be right parus. But, and I don't say this at all touting my own self, but I'm one of their best clients ... never late with rent, don't call for every little thing if I can do it myself, and always make a point of being nice and helpful to the staff because I sure wouldn't want their jobs. They deal with all kinds of people .... like the woman below me who thinks people are "coming through the walls." But, I'm not going to ...... if this led to a permanent disability, then I definitely would, but this will eventually heal. My doctor told me that soft tissue injuries heal more slowly than broken bones.
abby

REPLY
3 replies
Barb | @amberpep | Jun 7, 2018
In reply to @amberpep "NEED INPUT FROM YOU ALL ....... My kids keep telling me I should sue the owners..." + (show)
@amberpep

NEED INPUT FROM YOU ALL ....... My kids keep telling me I should sue the owners of the apartment complex I live in due to the fall, poor maintenance which caused the fall, and their failure to do much about it. They filled the holes with dirt which are now a big slop of mud .... no turf, sod, and that metal piece (about 4-5" wide) is still sticking out .... that's what my sneaker heel caught on. It's been 4 weeks ago, and while my shoulder blade, shoulder, side are feeling better, I still have to have my elbow wrapped ..... some is tendonitis in the elbow, but there's also a bump there that is most likely a small bone chip. My upper and lower arm is still sore. I have no way of evaluating the concussion .... I'm not sick, my eyes are normal, the bumps seem better ... only thing is I'm tired constantly. But, I don't know if that's from the concussion or just exhaustion from life.
Both my girls are trained Social Workers and my son is an Intellectual Property Lawyer in D.C., but he will probably be transferred to California.
I'd appreciate any input from you all. I'm ambivalent about this, as I have no idea what to expect. It is true the maintenance around here is terrible. My downstairs neighbor told me that the whole back area is full of fleas. I have all my pets treated monthly, but I did find one on my white cat which I thought odd. Please give me your input, advice, or what this process entails. Many thanks.
abby

Jump to this post

Hi teresa ... I guess you may have read the reply to parus. Yes, besides my own "flying fall", there are a lot of elderly living here ... they could easily be really damaged with a fall like I took. My kids really have my back .... and I'm glad for that .... it feels good, but the decision is still mine, not theirs. I still have my left elbow, from mid-upper arm and mid-lower arm wrapped and strapped, and probably will for several more weeks. And I notice that on a lot of days I still feel some dizziness. But, it will pass, but I've learned a lesson. After I've finished paying for the surgery on my mouth, my new teeth, the outrageous cost of my move from MD, and the new carpeting I had installed, etc., I may look for a new place to live. On top of the new maintenance, the kids run wild and just about run the elderly (me and many others) down with their bikes. It's really sad because they're home alone all day with their parents or parent working, and they run like animals. Very sad. They're just not taught any respect, good behavior, and all those things that are important in life.
abby

REPLY
Parus | @parus | Jun 7, 2018
In reply to @amberpep "You could be right parus. But, and I don't say this at all touting my own..." + (show)
@amberpep

You could be right parus. But, and I don't say this at all touting my own self, but I'm one of their best clients ... never late with rent, don't call for every little thing if I can do it myself, and always make a point of being nice and helpful to the staff because I sure wouldn't want their jobs. They deal with all kinds of people .... like the woman below me who thinks people are "coming through the walls." But, I'm not going to ...... if this led to a permanent disability, then I definitely would, but this will eventually heal. My doctor told me that soft tissue injuries heal more slowly than broken bones.
abby

Jump to this post

@amberpep Hey, thanks for the report on your decision. Yes, they do deal with all types of people. I also am nice to staff and only report things that are out of my league. They have way too many people reporting piddly things when there are much bigger things to deal with. Thankful your fall was not anything permanent. As we age we do take longer to heal-like you need to be reminded of thus. I am also one of their best renters here and have been here for nearly 8 years. Things can get a tad crazy at times. I have a new neighbor above me and she is so quiet I hardly know she is up there. No more thunderous teenage boy. We can't pick our neighbors.
I am thankful to other members who are tolerant of my, at times, negative view. We are here to encourage one another when another is struggling and not to make them feel they are wrong for how they are feeling. Take care.

REPLY
Barb | @amberpep | Jun 7, 2018
In reply to @amberpep "You could be right parus. But, and I don't say this at all touting my own..." + (show)
@amberpep

You could be right parus. But, and I don't say this at all touting my own self, but I'm one of their best clients ... never late with rent, don't call for every little thing if I can do it myself, and always make a point of being nice and helpful to the staff because I sure wouldn't want their jobs. They deal with all kinds of people .... like the woman below me who thinks people are "coming through the walls." But, I'm not going to ...... if this led to a permanent disability, then I definitely would, but this will eventually heal. My doctor told me that soft tissue injuries heal more slowly than broken bones.
abby

Jump to this post

Parus .... I don't see your comments as negative .... they're how you see things and feel .... that's truthful.
abby

REPLY
Barb | @amberpep | Jun 8, 2018
In reply to @amberpep "You could be right parus. But, and I don't say this at all touting my own..." + (show)
@amberpep

You could be right parus. But, and I don't say this at all touting my own self, but I'm one of their best clients ... never late with rent, don't call for every little thing if I can do it myself, and always make a point of being nice and helpful to the staff because I sure wouldn't want their jobs. They deal with all kinds of people .... like the woman below me who thinks people are "coming through the walls." But, I'm not going to ...... if this led to a permanent disability, then I definitely would, but this will eventually heal. My doctor told me that soft tissue injuries heal more slowly than broken bones.
abby

Jump to this post

WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON? I think I'm hexed (a good ole' PA Dutch word) ..... I called my dentist's office and left messages 2x last Friday and sent 2 e-mails, all on the same thing. They aren't in on Fridays anymore. I had sent $300 to his office to work toward paying off my teeth, and then realized that with getting a new Great Call phone order, I "oops-ed" my budget and was over by a good bit in the bank (I only use a debit card). Well, in all 4 of these messages I told the receptionist to please shred the check and I would send them one for $100. Well, one thing I learned, loud and clear, from the dentist I worked with, was that the first thing you do in any medical office when you arrive is to check the phone and e-mail messages in case there is an emergency call or message. Well, obviously she didn't do that because I called at 11 AM to be sure she'd shredded it, and her reply, "oh my, I just took all the checks to the bank." I asked her if she didn't get my messages (as nicely as I could even though steam was coming out of my ears), and she said, "oh, I rarely check them before noon." OMG! I'd have been fired if I'd have done that. But, I am sure no one, but me, will EVER know because the dentist is her husband.
So, now I'm left with no money - my daughter was sweet enough to pick up my meds. for me this morning (one was Effexor and I was really beginning to feel the effects of not taking any since last Sunday). So, now I wait til the beginning of July til I can do any grocery shopping, get gas, etc.
Interesting ...... sort of a "treat" a week!
abby

REPLY
Barb | @amberpep | Jun 9, 2018

I "though"t I wrote this yesterday too, but probably not, as I was in la-la land without the Effexor. Please don't ever feel that 99% of us get tired of hearing stories from you, or anyone else about our negative views. That is how you "feel" .... that does not make it wrong, nor leave you open to others for their small minded criticisms. I'm glad you post ..... we both seem to be in the "dumper" at similar times;
abby

REPLY
1 reply
Parus | @parus | Jun 9, 2018
In reply to @amberpep "I "though"t I wrote this yesterday too, but probably not, as I was in la-la land..." + (show)
@amberpep

I "though"t I wrote this yesterday too, but probably not, as I was in la-la land without the Effexor. Please don't ever feel that 99% of us get tired of hearing stories from you, or anyone else about our negative views. That is how you "feel" .... that does not make it wrong, nor leave you open to others for their small minded criticisms. I'm glad you post ..... we both seem to be in the "dumper" at similar times;
abby

Jump to this post

@amberpep Hey there! Same here. You say how you really feel and see things. I appreciate honesty as we do seem to coincide on "dumper" moments. Mine come when I allow others to make choices for me.
Effexor did awful things to me. We are not all the same and I am thankful. We are watching brewing storms which is rather how we are feeling.
Stay safe.

REPLY
Jen, Alumna Mentor | @sandytoes14 | Jun 9, 2018
In reply to @amberpep "NEED INPUT FROM YOU ALL ....... My kids keep telling me I should sue the owners..." + (show)
@amberpep

NEED INPUT FROM YOU ALL ....... My kids keep telling me I should sue the owners of the apartment complex I live in due to the fall, poor maintenance which caused the fall, and their failure to do much about it. They filled the holes with dirt which are now a big slop of mud .... no turf, sod, and that metal piece (about 4-5" wide) is still sticking out .... that's what my sneaker heel caught on. It's been 4 weeks ago, and while my shoulder blade, shoulder, side are feeling better, I still have to have my elbow wrapped ..... some is tendonitis in the elbow, but there's also a bump there that is most likely a small bone chip. My upper and lower arm is still sore. I have no way of evaluating the concussion .... I'm not sick, my eyes are normal, the bumps seem better ... only thing is I'm tired constantly. But, I don't know if that's from the concussion or just exhaustion from life.
Both my girls are trained Social Workers and my son is an Intellectual Property Lawyer in D.C., but he will probably be transferred to California.
I'd appreciate any input from you all. I'm ambivalent about this, as I have no idea what to expect. It is true the maintenance around here is terrible. My downstairs neighbor told me that the whole back area is full of fleas. I have all my pets treated monthly, but I did find one on my white cat which I thought odd. Please give me your input, advice, or what this process entails. Many thanks.
abby

Jump to this post

@amberpep I read your question a few days ago, but I mulled over my thoughts before responding. I will say I am NOT a lawyer, nor am i in the legal profession of any sorts. I simply have dealt with many different things in my life and this is just my personal opinion.

First let me say that you are the one that must make the final judgement call if you bring a lawsuit. From what I glean in your note, your children are supportive of you and will help you in finding a lawyer.
Maybe you can make a list of PROs/CONs which what I've always told my children. I actually reminded my adult son of this tip when he was trying to decide between two job offers.

Now If you decide to go ahead, you will meet with an attorney and tell him what happened. He will probably ask for the photographs that were taken as well as access to your medical records from the fall. He may try getting a settlement directly from the property management company, but will most likely deal with their insurance company. All in all, I don't believe the process will be that hard on you physically. Once you hire the lawyer, he will take over. As I said, just my opinion here. I will say prayers for you to feel better and that you are guided to make the decision that is right for you.
All the best,
Jen

REPLY
Barb | @amberpep | Jun 18, 2018

Saw my Psychiatrist Tuesday and as I think I told you all, he is leaving at the end of the month to work in a hospital. I had no idea what I was going to do. Well, they are interviewing other doctors for the position but because of the insurance set up they're not having much success. But, they have hired a man who will be there 2 days a week, just for clients who are mostly "maintenance" .... what I want to know is what does the letters behind his name mean? They are CRNP-PMH. Can anyone please tell me what this means?
Many thanks, abby

REPLY
Barb | @amberpep | Jun 18, 2018

Well, when I have a good day, which are few and far between lately, I can pretty much be sure it will be followed by an icky day. Two weeks I sent my dentist a check for $300, totally forgetting that I was getting a new phone, and I should have instead sent them $150. I immediately called my dentist's office on a Friday (they're not in on Fridays), and left a message to please shred it, told them why, and that I would get a check for $150 that week. I did that 2 times. I also sent an e-mail to them - 2 of them - saying the same thing. Monday around noon I called to be sure she had gotten at least one of them and shredded the check. When I asked her if she'd gotten one of my messages, she said, "oh, I never listen to the voicemail or e-mail til at least noon time." Then she told me she had just gone to the bank with all the checks including mine. OMG, what kind of dental office is she running? If I'd have done that when I worked for a dentist I'd have heard loud admonitions of why you check those things as soon as you get in in case anyone has an emergency like an absess. So, now here I am ..... I have to refil my clonazepam as I only have 2 left, and I have no idea if I can afford them. I've written them and asked them how much 60 - 1 mg. tablets would be, then 30, and even 10.
Dear Lord, I wish I'd have stayed in MD. I'm so done with this place for a whole host of reasons.
abby

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