Safety Issue, I Have Concerns Regarding Falling

Good evening @SusanEllen66. Falling is frightening. You pick yourself up and try to remember just what happened and why? About a year ago, my left leg just decided to give up on me every once in a while. My endocrinologist at Mayo had chosen to refer me to a Physical Therapist. She put together a program for me that is part of Medbridge. It was interesting as well as challenging and I thought my body was responding well. Unfortunately, my right leg then decided it needed a turn at giving in. And so, the effort became more concentrated.

What I have discovered has impressed me. Today, there are definitive guidelines for helping PTs know when the patients' bodies are meeting specific goals like reducing falls. I have been working with the expertise of Medbridge as interpreted by my PT to provide strength and balance-building exercises. As of last week, I am only two "Sit to Stand" lifts away from meeting the goal of 13 in 30 seconds. I have made it to 11. I started at about 5 or 6. Not only do I feel like I have made some real progress, I feel safer and have begun walking along the river once again.

The other effort on my behalf was to request the purchase of a Rollator. What a great support "assist". It is a walker with wheels and some added accessories like a seat with back support. Have you ever found that pushing the shopping cart at the grocery store provides stability support? Now, I get the same support with my Rollator even outside the grocery store.

When we accept "assists" there are some emotional issues because everyone who sees you will know you have some aging or physical issues. Well....once I got over feeling exposed and a bit decrepit I was thrilled to feel safe and supported.

Does this give you an idea of something that might help you move more securely? Please let me know. I will be waiting to hear from you.

May you be free of suffering and the causes of suffering.
Chris

I have peripheral neuropathy too, with impaired balance. I was an Occupational Therapist in younger years, here are some things that are available to help prevent falls in the house. Take a look on Amazon for “Handi-rail for bed”, the best seller one has a long piece which goes under the mattress and the curved rail is right there for extra balance and nice push-off to standing. I bought one for my mother and also my husband- very helpful for safety, especially in the early morning when we’re all a bit unsteady.
I keep a pair of non-skid socks, like they give you at the hospital, on my bedside table, I put those on before I stand up. I’m guessing you’ve removed any throw rugs and have put grab bars up in the bathroom (Amazon again- enter “designer grab bars”- there are really nice ones. I also got “toilet side safety rails” (Amazon) after my husband slid off the toilet onto the floor.
I used to keep my cell phone always with me in a Fanny pack, but after a hard fall, my brother suggested getting a “smart” watch- it registers a fall and by pressing one button, automatically calls a person you’ve designated or will offer to call 911. The phone store set everything up for me and I wear it all the time (except in the shower). My husband is in a facility now, I’m here alone, so the watch really makes me feel safe. It’s a one-time purchase, they “attach” it to your cellphone account. Hope this helps:)

Nobody likes falling, and sadly, we want to be prepared for when we feel a fall is happening, then how to best be able to get up, whether if we’re home alone or out in a public supermarket or parking lot.
Physical therapy is helping me be prepared if it ever happens again, as I suffer from severe disabling PN. We occasionally do exercises on how to turn and try to reduce the possible injuries that may come with a fall (have to protect our hips, and we only have a second or two as we’re falling to help lessen the impact). Then we put me on the floor and coach me how to get up. Like you, my disease doesn’t allow me to use knees to kneel or crawl. You also can’t always count on hard, sturdy objects to help lift you up. This exercise to get up off the floor is one of the many humbling awarenesses I’ve had re: my legs/feet and hand disabilities with my PN, but I am so proud when I get myself up, and focus on the “ability” I had to get up! Please consider some formal PT preparation and oversight along with the other wonderful recommendations others have given you!

@SusanEllen66 You have received some truly valuable advice and tips.
It is a challenge to stay upright but there is no doubt....that is our position of choice. I only walk unaided in the house...and very slowly and deliberately. My balance is shot, to say nothing of metal in both legs, one eye and neuropathy.
On the grass or beyond just getting in our car, I use a rollator and love it. All of the aids that @centre mentioned are really essential to making one feel more secure and in control. All of it is preferable to meeting ourselves on the floor. Please be super careful. I never leave the house without a cane.
Everything you do to protect yourself is a sign of wisdom, not any kind of wisdom. Some folks have no idea how fast they may catch up to us. 💞

I've been disabled since I was 21 and am now 69. I've used a cane for decades, and when I feel wobbly I keep it by the bed. I always have one on hand--in the car, in the house, folded in my purse, and when I worked, in my office. I do fall, maybe once a year. This has always been the case, but I'm frailer now. My main approach is to get up off the floor at least once a day. I practice all over my house, outside, etc. A PT would be a necessary help at first. I also practice falling on to the bed! Again, I have a trusted PT who can guide me. A few days ago I was waiting for a concert hall to open and I had to sit down on the floor for fear of toppling over. After I got back up an older lady complimented me on being able to do that! That was a really sweet moment. Wishing you all the best.

Susan, I can't possibly improve on all the excellent and wonderful advice from Chris, Centre, Debbie, Grammy, and Mir. The number 1 takeaway from what they have written is that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Prevention is the best free medicine. I will add one piece of advice that may or may not apply to you, and I hope I'm not repeating anything. Try to avoid overly quick motions. Slowly get out of bed, when getting up from a chair, or rising to a standing position. If we do so too fast, blood can rush from our heads, and we can become light-headed or possibly syncope. There is a condition called orthostatic hypotension, which makes you more susceptible. I am blessed with it, in addition to weak ankle muscles. I used to look straight ahead, and now I watch whatever surface I walk on so as to prevent any more mishaps.

Celebrate that you have succeeded for 73 years. When you have fallen you risen.

Wordsworth, my favorite poet, once wrote of an old man and that he should enjoy the face of the horizontal sun. I take that to mean setting and... rising. Hemingway got famous for writing "The Sun Also Rises". The Beatles sang "Here Comes the Sun".

Like the Sun, you rise.

@artscaping @centre @dbeshears1 @grammy82 @mir123 @lagrange

Thank you all for your wonderful suggestions! You are all my new best friends 🙂
I have been having balance issues for years mainly due to all the medications I take. So, I have a cane, my Apple Watch, grab bars, and I am as careful as I can be. The arthritis and a major surgery I had on my thumb has really reduced the strength in my dominant hand especially.

I believe the PT to teach me how to get up if I fall sounds invaluable.

All the aids are good for prevention but if I fall down I need to know how to help myself. I live alone so I need to be self sufficient.

Thank you all so much for caring enough to help. Now, I will do something about this as soon as they figure out if I have narcolepsy. A sleep study is coming up this week.

I keep my eyes on the Son, and not the storm. Blessings to you all.

A friend once said "it's that horrible second when you realize you are falling and can't do anything about it..."
I can feel with you!!! I fell and broke my hip bone Feb. of last year, am actually never really pain free and need a cane for support. I just turned 72 and am not as skinny as l used to be in my 50's but can't say l'm schlepping weights around... l guess this is one of the side effects of aging 😬 We have a whole bunch of felines we love to pieces but l need to be extremely careful😺 Wishing you well🙏

I haven't fallen - yet. However I did have to have a full hip replacement because it just wore out and made walking painful. Thanks to an excellent surgeon and physical therapy I am doing well. However I still use a cane even though my surgeon told me it was not necessary. And I use the cane because of fear of falling. When you are outside of your home, you cannot predict what you encounter. I certainly do not want to go through another hip replacement.

Marilyn, you said "When you are outside of your home, you cannot predict what you encounter." Absolutely. My kids made me use my crutches at a concert long after I had discarded them, just to be visible.
And my friend always keeps her cane in her car in case her hip stiffens up - I did that for at least 6 months, too. But I had to ditch the cane for daily use because of arthritis.
Sue