I almost took a really bad fall again.
 

this time I would have cracked my head. I am still hyperventilating. I lost my balance. I was careful getting out of the tub. I am always terrified about that now. this was a few minutes later. it was like slow motion. i finally grabbed onto a wall. I am trying to soak more in the tub because a friend said that would help the pain in my legs. so scary.just ordered epsom salt but read it doesn't really work.

I really hope that you can be careful.

It's possible that you would like soaking only your feet in epsom salt.


M

that was the scary part. I was being very careful but I lost my balance and started falling. It just started happening. If i could only lose a lot of weight I think that would help.

Hoping things get easier for you.
 

Weight loss would help.

So would arm strength, even abdominal strength.

I struggle with getting up and down two because I have not exercised at all in a year and a half -- spend time in bed

I want to get some safety bars.


Wall Grab Bars - Textured | Bath Safety | Carex - RMB21



Also this chair in the tub/shower would work for some people.
Amazon.com: Moen DN725 Adjustable Tub and Shower Seat, White: Home Improvement


And this for bathtub safety:
Drive Medical Height-Adjustable Bathtub Safety Rail - Bed Bath & Beyond


Mari

this happened out of the tub when I was making a turn. Mysocial worker told me about those. I hang on the tub to get out of it. I looked on amazon and didn't see any that were appropriate. then it it is thee standing up and fear of falling. I don't have a mat in the tub. maybe I should bet one but I thought it would be uncomfortable. My legs hurt past my knees.. I will look up mats now

Bobby

See if the agency that sends out your workers, can come see if they can help you figure out how to be safer in the bath tub. I personally can't even sit
in my tub, so I think you are doing well.

I hope you figure it out.

Donna :hug::grouphug:

an occupational therapist did come four times and she was okcay the way I maneuvered the bathtub. This almost fall was after I left the bathroom and made a quick turn and lost my balance. so dumb

Do you need things to hold onto in the apt --- hand rails or something similar.


Be mindful / careful when you walk about.
I believe the body and brain can be taught /re-taught.
It does want to work with you.


M

thank you for the positive message. last night i had to crawl around but it got better. i just bought a massage stick to help with my leg muscles, Now will i use it?

I'm so glad you are okay, Bobby! :hug::hug::hug:

I can't get in or out of the tub, and I'm really afraid of falling in the shower.

I would at least get a non-slip mat, or those non-slip stickers for the bottom of the tub regardless of what the issue was... you can never be too safe.

As others have suggested, it couldn't hurt to have someone help look for ways to make you safer in the bathroom. Your mobility may have changed since the last occupational therapist assessed you. You can ask your PT to help you. He may recommend another occupational therapist come in. They can suggest items to order.

That massage stick may "hurt so good" you will want to use it a lot! :):):)

the o.t. was just here two months ago and I demonstrated how I got in and out. I bought a mat for the tub the other day. it hasn't come yet. I looked at one of those suction things with great reviews but I chose to read the negative ones so no way Jose

Bobby

I have time frames that walking and falling are normal for me. I just try
really hard to work through them. I have to make sure the walk way
just like you are is free of harmful things. But when I start to feel like
I'm going to fall its much more I don't move for a while. I hate to
do that, and now that I can reach my walker again I will probably
be using it to get around instead of being couch potato. Because
that is bad for me.

Donna :grouphug::hug:

Kyle immediately pointed out that I was walking with my toes first and then with my heels because of the stroke Now I have to always concentrate on that and practice walking in the hall...I wrote that he wants me to use the walker in the apartment wherever I go. He keeps on warning me that one bad fall can really wreck me. He scares me. Now I use the walker a lot -in the hall where it is mostly straight i don't use the walker. do you walk with your heel first?

You will eventually get used to walking heels first.


And it will become second nature.

M

I'm honestly not sure I've always walked with my heels. But I've also
been told to walk that way. I have to watch how fast I go because
I have a thing to try and go really fast.

Donna :hug::grouphug:

I think you can tell by the wear on your soles.

I don't think i will go to my psychiatrist's appt tomorrow. it will cost me 75 dollars but the weather will be horrid. I don;t think I should take the chance. I hope I can stop spending so much money. My medical insurance will be 3000 dollars

Good idea to stay inside Thursday where you can be safe.:):):):)

M

thank you. it is finally snowing but I am ore afraid of the wind

Right. You can go another time.


M

Bobby

Maybe you can do a phone interview. That way you wouldn't
be just spending the money with out a visit. If you can't
its money well spent.

Donna :hug::grouphug:

the deed is done/ I didn't think to ask

Thinking of you Bobby.


Hope you are having a good day.


M

Bobby

So glad you got this taken care of with your issues with falling and
things it might be something that at times will be needed.

Donna :hug::grouphug:

I seem to be going backwards. I am having trouble walking without the walker

now in my apartment

Bobby

Just keep walking with the walker for now. Try when you have your
pt or helpers in the house. Walking without it if you really want to.

But it really could be many things. Weather, coldness outside,
your body saying lets slow down. Or even if you are having issues
with dizziness, then walking becomes a real problem.

I know in my own case if I have vertigo or spinning in my head,
but not really dizzy. I get very uncordinated and other things.
I sit on my couch or lay in my bed a lot at those times. And
definitely use a walker. Reason I've thought about the rollators.
The one I have is very hard to use. It is kind of unstable at
times with me. If my body isn't helping me.

Donna :grouphug::hug:

Bobby,

How are you today?



M

pudge was just picked up for a lion cut. I am anxious. I am trying to take bigger steps. I will try to exercise later. thank you for asking.

Some people think that smaller/tiny steps are safer, but they are not. You are doing the right thing by trying to take bigger steps. That's safer and gives your leg muscles a better work out.

I think part of the reason why you seem to be going backwards is because you are more home-bound than you used to be. I'm sure you don't have the confidence you used to after having a couple of bad outings, and the bad weather and there are icy/snowy surfaces that are unsafe right now so it's a bad time to go out unless you have to. So, the more waking you can do in the hallways right now, the better You can build up the time and/or distance with time as tolerated, and I think that will help you :hug::hug::hug:

thank you for the good suggestion

Yes, she does. Hoping you can get out walking in halls more. Maybe some
friends that live in the complex will let you say hi.

Donna :grouphug::hug:

I know when I stay in too long I end up having more pain, and when I do go out, my gait is much worse. It's a delicate balance...

I have no doubt that you will find what works for you, Bobby. Sometimes it just takes time :hug::hug::hug:

Bobby, Hope you don't mind.

But I have a question for Kay.

Kay, any ideas how to work on getting up off the couch. Without
so much pain you almost sit back down, because you can't handle
it. I have never till recently had this problem.

And with surgery coming I need to figure this out.
You:hug::grouphug: might have some clues for me.

Donna

where is the pain donna?
bizi

Donna,

I guess the best advice would depend on the height of your couch and where the pain is... I think that it would help if you gave us more details about exactly what getting up from the couch is like/feels like for you.

I'm going to assume your couch is low like my old one. When we went shopping for our new furniture, I insisted on buying a much higher couch, which is so much easier for me to get off of...

Putting a couple pillows under your bum may help. Better yet... they make special pillows (for wheelchairs, etc) that are sold at medical supply places. Some of the ones made for cars seats are good, too. They won't flatten like regular pillows.

Also, putting a couple of pillows next to you to push off of with your arm can help a lot (that's what I used to do)... but I don't know what kind of shape the arm you just had surgery on is, and I know you definitely will not be able to put any pressure on the other side once you have your upcoming surgery.

There are other options out there, but all of the ones I can think of would require an arm workout, so I wouldn't recommend them.

i took the rollator out an only got half a block

Bizi & Kay

The pain is technically in the knees. Sorry I thought I said that.

Kay, I was wondering about a pillow, I'll go look at a medical
place that sounds like an good choice.

Thanks
Donna

Bobby

Getting half a block is better than none. You can work to build up
the amount. Just realizing its taking a while will be okay.

Donna :hug::grouphug:

it goes too fast

Half a block is a good start... Rome wasn't built in a day :)