I Fell On The Sidewalk Yesterday : (

What a scary ordeal. I'm glad you are feeling better but don't push things today. Just because you aren't in pain doesn't mean that you still might need a little more time to heal. I hope management does take care of the situation.

This is the second time in the past couple of weeks that I have known someone around our age who fell down only to be helped up by someone much younger. Another person I know fell at an intersection last week and a few teenagers went to her and not only helped her up but stayed with her until she assured them that she was OK.
 

Mizmo said:
Hope you are feeling better🤗

I too had a bad fall last Friday.
No tripping, or stumbling....just went down
Stitches both arms. ..bruising etc etc. Emergency 4 hours.
Nurse comes to dress wounds.

The shock of the fall which I know you are feeling too is still with me

Well, here's to both of us feeling better soon

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Oh, no, Mizmo. I'm sorry. Take care, indulge yourself, spoil yourself for a while.
 
I am so sorry to read this. I hope you feel better today. Two things I read that comes to mind when speaking of fall for older adults are to make sure your eyeglasses prescription is updated and if you take a fall, don't try to resist the fall as you could hurt yourself more, just try to relax your body.
I wish you a speedy recovery!🩷
 

At some point the earth is going to grab us all and pull us down. Let's be aware, and be careful. Sorry about all the falls. I get to stumbling sometimes now and have to bounce of things, or hold something for balance. It has been a wild ride...running and jumping and playing for so many years. Oh well, all good things come to an end, just as bad things. :)
 
Don't let an incident undermine your confidence, at least you have good confirmation that the fall was not an indication of any health problem such as balance and coordination. I've had a few minor incidents without damage that concerned me, but they can be chalked up to being over-tired. Few falls but some odd unbalanced feelings that may also be related to combinations of prescription drugs.

How nice that you are seeing demonstrations of care and concern in your community. That must be a little reassuring in these times.
 
I’ve fallen several times thanks to those perfidious chunks of sidewalk raised up by tree roots. I love trees but they have no business close to sidewalks, yet my city routinely plants them within two or three feet of sidewalks. Even today they do this. Idiots!

That’s why I do exercises to increase leg strength and my sense of balance.
Consider this a wake-up call to do whatever you must to avoid falling in the future. The health and lifespan statistics for people over 65 who fall and break something are very bad. Very, very bad.
 
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Sorry to hear that you fell hard Diva. I was blowing Leaves last fall and tripped over a down Tree Branch. Went down hard with the blower.
Luckily on Black Earth but dry and hard. It took a bit to shake it off. The rule, if I see a down branch I pick it up first from now on.

That brought up a memory. As a youngster I would stub my toe on Rippley sidewalks. Started wearing shoes all the time, even in the house,
still do. Hard Soled House Slippers by Skechers. Lol

Think as we age the way we walk also changes. Maybe more like when we were toddlers falling down all the time. Ah hah!
 
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@Kadee I know what you mean. This is the third time in a few years that I've fallen outside. It's always been because of an uneven sidewalk (the first was one of the additions for wheelchairs). Each time I was probably walking too fast. The first time I fractured my pinky and had to get a cast, the second time, I'm blessed that I didn't break bones in my face, lose teeth and break my glasses, because I fell on my face in a parking lot. After each I told myself to "prance like a horse", eg: lift my feet higher when I walk. :oops:

OMG @Radrook Your fall sounds terrible! I take it you broke your nose (?) and was quite bruised in the face. Hospital? Stitches?

Kadee, Radrook, @Pinky @KSav @Warrigal @Remy @hawkdon @Bella @Lewkat @jujube @DaveA @Pink Biz @gruntlabor @Aunt Bea @Jules @katlupe @Georgiagranny @JustDave @Wren @Blessed @Tish @Jackie23 @dilettante @papa tiger @MaidMarian @bobcat @Brookswood @RadishRose @Paco Dennis @Rossana @Jace @MarkinPhx

I so appreciate your kind words, concern and wisdom about keeping safe. I see that I have to pay better attention when I'm walking, even on terrains I know well.

TY Diamonds wRose.gif
 
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OneEyedDiva said:
@Kadee I know what you mean. This is the third time in a few years that I've fallen outside. It's always been because of an uneven sidewalk (the first was one of the additions for wheelchairs). Each time I was probably walking too fast. The first time I fractured my pinky and had to get a cast, the second time, I'm blessed that I didn't break bones in my face, lose teeth and break my glasses, because I fell on my face in a parking lot. After each I told myself to "prance like a horse", eg: lift my feet higher when I walk. :oops:

OMG @Radrook Your fall sounds terrible! I take it you broke your nose (?) and was quite bruised in the face. Hospital? Stitches?

Kadee, Radrook, @Pinky @KSav @Warrigal @Remy @hawkdon @Bella @Lewkat @jujube @DaveA @Pink Biz @gruntlabor @Aunt Bea @Jules @katlupe @Georgiagranny @JustDave @Wren @Blessed @Tish @Jackie23 @dilettante @papa tiger @MaidMarian @bobcat @Brookswood @RadishRose @Paco Dennis @Rossana @MarkinPhx

I so appreciate your kind words, concern and wisdom about keeping safe. I see that I have to pay better attention when I'm walking, even on terrains I know well.

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Yes, the nose was indeed broken. I had to go to the ER. But no stitches were necessary. It has healed nicely. However, as strange as it might seem, unlike you, I was ignored for approx. five minutes or more as people went by in cars and on the sidewalks as I lay there face-down bleeding and unable to get up. Finally, this lady came over, took a look at me, said she would get help and then left to tell two paramedics who had stopped at a place across the street to shop, and a few minutes later, they came over and finally assisted me to my feet and then took me to ER.

A year later, I again fell. This time while I was entering a Rite Aids. My foot slipped on the slippery floor. This time I was able to extend my hand and avoid landing on my face. Still, the impact was strong enough to reinjure my right hip and almost demolish my shopping cart which I had been pushing in front of me.

Strangely, I was once again ignored for a very long of time by persons just a few feet away. Finally, a store clerk came out to the vestibule and gave me a hand. I discovered later that I was experiencing momentary balance problems due to the contents of my ear being out of kilter. In fact, I was once unable to get up since the room seemed to be spinning.
 
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Radrook said:
Yes, the nose was indeed broken. I had to go to the ER. But no stitches were necessary. It has healed nicely. However, as strange as it might seem, unlike you, I was ignored for approx. five minutes or more as people went by in cars and on the sidewalks as I lay there face-down bleeding and unable to get up. Finally, this lady came over, took a look at me, said she would get help and then left to tell two paramedics who had stopped at a place across the street to shop, and a few minutes later, they came over and finally assisted me to my feet and then took me to ER.
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Thank God for that lady, the paramedics and that you were able to avoid getting stitches. The first time I fell, several cars were passing by, but some were taking the entrance to the highway, others going straight. I realized that it would be a dangerous place for people to stop. Although disappointed, I wasn't surprised that no one got out to help me. I was able to get myself up, but my knees were killing me from the fall and I had to walk about 5 or 6 blocks to get home.
 
Oh Diva girl. Sorry you took a spill. Ouch. Luckily you got some help up from a ‘night in shining armour.’ Good for you. Falls are hard to get up from. I fell off my bike a week ago and scraped my knee bad. It’s still got bruises all over it. It took my a few minutes to get up. My head hit the hardest but luckily I was wearing a helmet. Luckily my husband helped me up and I was ok.

They were right to tell you to report it. Any uneven ground should be fixed or at least have signs up warning people of it. Good that you pampered yourself afterwards. Ice on any swelling is a must. Your hand sure looks sore. Hopefully in a week or so you’ll be all healed up.

Take care of yourself one eyed Diva.
 
Brookswood said:
I suspect that walking while looking at one’s phone is a prime cause of many falls.
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That might very well be the true. However, in my case I had no such distraction. As I approached the curb, witch I had successfully done thousands of times before without any trouble, I suddenly felt my foot bumped against it, and my upper body start tilting forward with arms stiffly extended backward and leading with my face. So I had plenty of time to fully appreciate exactly what was ominously approaching. Sometimes wonder if I was pushed but I can't remember anyone having pushed me.
 
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So sorry for Diva, Mizmo and Radrook's falls! It was a bad fall 14 years ago that messed up my knee so that now I walk with a cane, and I'm thinking now that I'm getting older and shakier that maybe it was a good thing in that it slowed me down.

I saw one of those chiropractors on youtube the other day saying that besides slippery floors and uneven ground, we tend to fall on the turns because we cross one leg over the other. I did that while making the bed the other day and fell right onto the bed. Good practice for what I don't want to do when there's no bed to catch me.

I try to take my turns like the honor guards and march my way around the corner, like Diva's going to do in the parking lots. Lets start a new Senior walking style!
 
OneEyedDiva said:
I was walking briskly on my way to pick up a package at the hub then to the supermarket just to pick up Friendly's ice cream while it's on sale and almond milk. After putting those items away, I planned to catch the train to the Hoboken water park. I had already purchased my tickets on the phone. I've walked that street, which is right around the corner, many a time. But it took me by surprise when I started to fall and couldn't balance myself to prevent it...something I usually can do. Next thing I knew I was on the ground.

I saw two thin legs come up to me (made me think of my middle grandson) and a boy said "Are you alright? Can I help you?" He asked if I was alright a couple of times while he helped me up. I looked up to thank him and saw that he was gorgeous. He had that wavy-curly hair that I absolutely love seeing and I doubt he was more than 20. His face was kind and showed true concern.

Then I realized he had gotten out of a car that stopped on the normally busy road, where there is no parking. I thanked him profusely and the young lady driver too because I was so grateful. My neighbor who used to be on the board saw me fall, but he was across the street and didn't reach me until I started walking again.

He told me three other neighbors had fallen pretty much in that same spot and that management was already told to get that part of the street fixed. He advised me to go downstairs and report it (management's agents are on site on Tuesdays and Thursdays). I am also going to email the pictures below plus the one of my knee to Renee, the managing agent with whom I have a very good rapport.

I continued on to the hub and supermarket. Thankfully, my right hand which is what I used to try and break my fall, was covered by a glove (I wear one to touch areas that are touched frequently by others...door knobs, shopping carts, etc.). Still my hand was bruised. I could feel that my knee was as well even though I was wearing sweatpants. It slowed me down, had me feeling a bit off kilter and caused me to postpone my train trip.

When I got home, I put peroxide and antibiotic cream on the wounds and bandaged them. I ate some ice cream and watched T.V. until it was time to go down and see Renee. After I made the report, Renee said "Please tell me you are going to go home and get some rest!"

I wasn't in much pain but as you can see, my palm got swollen between the time I left the supermarket, where I took the first picture (due to better lighting) and home (second pic). My right hand was pretty much useless yesterday; more functional today. I slept for a long time after I got back upstairs. My BFF had told me to ice my hand, which I did after I woke up and this morning the swelling was gone. I repeated the treatment of my wounds this morning and chilled today. I'm still not feeling any pain, so I'm none the worse for wear. :sneaky:


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Oh no! Glad it wasn't worse! 😕
 
OneEyedDiva said:
I was walking briskly on my way to pick up a package at the hub then to the supermarket just to pick up Friendly's ice cream while it's on sale and almond milk. After putting those items away, I planned to catch the train to the Hoboken water park. I had already purchased my tickets on the phone. I've walked that street, which is right around the corner, many a time. But it took me by surprise when I started to fall and couldn't balance myself to prevent it...something I usually can do. Next thing I knew I was on the ground.

I saw two thin legs come up to me (made me think of my middle grandson) and a boy said "Are you alright? Can I help you?" He asked if I was alright a couple of times while he helped me up. I looked up to thank him and saw that he was gorgeous. He had that wavy-curly hair that I absolutely love seeing and I doubt he was more than 20. His face was kind and showed true concern.

Then I realized he had gotten out of a car that stopped on the normally busy road, where there is no parking. I thanked him profusely and the young lady driver too because I was so grateful. My neighbor who used to be on the board saw me fall, but he was across the street and didn't reach me until I started walking again.

He told me three other neighbors had fallen pretty much in that same spot and that management was already told to get that part of the street fixed. He advised me to go downstairs and report it (management's agents are on site on Tuesdays and Thursdays). I am also going to email the pictures below plus the one of my knee to Renee, the managing agent with whom I have a very good rapport.

I continued on to the hub and supermarket. Thankfully, my right hand which is what I used to try and break my fall, was covered by a glove (I wear one to touch areas that are touched frequently by others...door knobs, shopping carts, etc.). Still my hand was bruised. I could feel that my knee was as well even though I was wearing sweatpants. It slowed me down, had me feeling a bit off kilter and caused me to postpone my train trip.

When I got home, I put peroxide and antibiotic cream on the wounds and bandaged them. I ate some ice cream and watched T.V. until it was time to go down and see Renee. After I made the report, Renee said "Please tell me you are going to go home and get some rest!"

I wasn't in much pain but as you can see, my palm got swollen between the time I left the supermarket, where I took the first picture (due to better lighting) and home (second pic). My right hand was pretty much useless yesterday; more functional today. I slept for a long time after I got back upstairs. My BFF had told me to ice my hand, which I did after I woke up and this morning the swelling was gone. I repeated the treatment of my wounds this morning and chilled today. I'm still not feeling any pain, so I'm none the worse for wear. :sneaky:


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I hope you heal quickly and weren't hurt any worse, you could have broken your wrist. Please take care....hugs.
 
Yes People we need to be vigilant of our surroundings and pets. Trip hazards are like a plan to get rid of us.
Our pets love us so much and want our attention constantly if they aren't napping. Just saying. Consider ur safety first!
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My Aunt Mary, her home a hazard to walk thru cause of stacks of Pepper and Salt shaker sets, her passion, collection; fell and broke her forearm.
The recovery took away so much of her life force. That was my thought.
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She never really recovered from the life darning event. Passed away 2 years later.
 
So sorry about the fall Diva but glad you are okay. I took 3 bad falls in my early 60’s and ever since I have slowed down when walking and I look down where I am going. A friend of mine was walking fast reading her phone and broke her hip and arm. She’s 80 and the recovery has been painful and difficult.
 
Della said:
So sorry for Diva, Mizmo and Radrook's falls! It was a bad fall 14 years ago that messed up my knee so that now I walk with a cane, and I'm thinking now that I'm getting older and shakier that maybe it was a good thing in that it slowed me down.

I saw one of those chiropractors on youtube the other day saying that besides slippery floors and uneven ground, we tend to fall on the turns because we cross one leg over the other. I did that while making the bed the other day and fell right onto the bed. Good practice for what I don't want to do when there's no bed to catch me.

I try to take my turns like the honor guards and march my way around the corner, like Diva's going to do in the parking lots. Lets start a new Senior walking style!
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Thanks for the kind words Della. Being cautious is the wise thing to do. Preferably before we hurt ourselves. My mom was in the habit of proving that she was still young by walking faster than other pedestrians. I came home and found her with missing front teeth and face all battered after she had tripped during her last demonstration. From that point onward she would walk as if balancing on a tightrope.
 
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