Fell in the shower this morning!
 

Yep; I guess I slipped somehow although we have grab bars and a textered shower floor but somehow I fell and hurt my wrist.

It was turned sideways, dented and hurting a little but I still managed to finish my shower and dry off with my left hand.

I called DH and told him I may have sprained my wrist and could he please take me to the hospital?

Meanwhile; I dried my hair, brushed my teeth and put deodorant under the right underarm anyhow and managed to dress myself.

When DH got home and looked at my wrist and I thought he was going to faint because it was twisted, dented in the middle, swollen and a really pretty blue.

We went to ER, got x-rays and found I had broken two bones in my wrist and a bone in my forearm! Yikes!! I have an appointment with a surgeon on Thursday afternoon and I have a soft cast on now which goes to the elbow.

Being right handed this is a bit of a challenge and now that I know it is broken it really hurts even though I have some pretty strong meds.

I have osteoporosis so I am just so thankful I didn't break a hip.

Like anything else; I look on the bright side 'cause it could have been so much worse.

Not easy typing with one hand either.

Oh my gosh, I'm glad you were checked out. Please take it easy while you're on the mend. :hug: :hug: :hug: I'll be your DH was panicky.

Awwwww you poor little thing. I'm so sorry this happened to you. :( Boooooooo & Ouchhhh!!!

At least you were clean going to the hospital. :) These things usually happen to me when I've fallen in a mud hole or something.

It will probably be a long time healing. I will be thinking good healing thoughts and praying for you.

Take care and be sure to take advantage..:D

:hug::hug::hug:

OUCH! I hope you are feeling better soon. That sounds like an awful break!

Best wishes,

Marianne

Oh no! As you said, it could have been worse, but it's bad enough. Praying for you!

:hug: aww, that stinks! I will add you to my prayers. now you have to have the DH do things for you. Learn patience, and let him! We want you whole again. :hug:

Janie, I am so sorry this happened. You have a great attitude!:hug:

ouch, ouch, ouch. I hope you get to good night sleeps in the next few weeks and the damage is temporary.:)

Ouch!! I hope you heal as quickly as possible. Take it easy.

:hug: I hope you feel better soon Janie! Ouchie! My DH fusses at me about taking showers when he isn't home. I guess I should learn from your experience and listen to him. My biggest fear is our glass shower doors... I have fell against them several times.

For the typing problems, most computers, Windows and Mac come with accessibility programs that will allow you to dictate stuff to your computer.

If you have a Windows computer, I think you access the dictation programs thru the Language Bar. (My Windows computer is off right now, and upstairs, otherwise I'd check to make sure)

You have to "teach" the computer so that it learns your voice. I did a presentation on accessibility programs in college several years (more than 5yrs) back, and had taught my old laptop to respond to my voice for certain things. It was kind of cumbersome then, and I dont know if they've upgraded things and made it easier to work with since then.

If you have an Apple computer, you should be able to find something in the Universal Access in the System Preferences. (I havent done anything with my iMac for dictating stuff to the computer. So, I'm not sure you can do that with a Mac, but I dont see why they wouldnt have included something like that. But, I dont know how it would work with an Apple computer)

Hope your wrist heals quickly. I've broken my left wrist once (way back in 3rd grade) and my right arm once. (near compound fracture of the radius...broke that in the fifth grade) I've also had surgery on my right hand as an adult. It sucks to not be able to use your hand.

This is reminding me to get some handrails installed in my bathroom. I'm getting some really interesting balance issues with this flare I'm in. I'm afraid to use my shower. I hope I can get handrails installed in my shower. It's a fiberglass insert shower. I'm at least getting some rails on the wall outside the shower.

Oh wow, I agree it could have been worse but still! OUCH! It must have been bad for dh to be freaked. Hope the sugeon says it will heal on its own and you wont need therapy or anything. :hug:

Aww Janie, that stinks! Hope it hels up soon. It's too hot for a cast this time of year!

My mother just fell down (again!) in the front yard. I think I'm going to have to buy a big box of bubblewrap to roll her up in so she wont fall down and hurt herself again. (damage this time, thankfully no broken shoulders, but she scraped her knee pretty bad and hurt a finger or two on the left hand)

Anyone want to join in to buy bubblewrap in bulk with me? Then we can protect ourselves from falling down all the time.

My Mom and I have been threatened many times with exactly that! Sometimes I think I could still manage to do some serious damage to myself. But it would make for an interesting outfit!:eek:

I hope your Mom feels better soon.

Hi Janie,
That's a big Ouchie! Three broken bones. If it's twisted you might need surgery or a re-break to line it up. blue is not good I hate to say. I broke my right arm in two places. My wrist and forearm. I had a cast on for 8 weeks. I was a clumsy teenager that's why they thought I had MS starting way back when.

My arm hurt until it was cast firmly in proper alignment. Then it was just a healing process. It was the old fashion casts that you can't wet. It you don't have surgery maybe you can get one of those colorful fiberglass-type ones that are waterproof. It will make things easier for you.

How are you showering now? Now you have only one hand to wash and nothing to hold the bar with. I hang on to my bars for dear life. My life.

I, too, fear breaking a hip or pelvis, leg or my noggin too. I only shower when someone is home and I take the phone in with me too and lay it right on the floor.

I wash my hair in the kitchen sink, so not to close my eyes and fall. Then I put on a shower cap when I shower later.

Mine was painful in the beginning. I hope yours gets better soon. Healing will be long. You can learn to do things with your left hand. Are you a lefty or a righty when you write?

I am so sorry this happened. One minute your up and the next second your down flat. It happens so fast. Then you used it to dress and do hair. Ouch again. :hug:

So sorry Janie :hug:! I hope everything works out ok without the lousy surgery. I've been down that road too and it stinks.

Thanks all!! :)

My DH has just been wonderful to help me with grooming etc. I was his caregiver after his bypass so he says it is his turn now. I try to do as much as I can for myself but some things I have to ask him to help me.

I am learning to be a "leftie" now and the hardest thing so far is brushing my teeth! I nearly shoved the toothbrush up my nose !! :eek:

Typing with one hand is difficult too and the same with eating. I don't need a napkin; I need a drop cloth...

I will sure be glad when this heals. :cool:

sorry to hear about your great shower dismount! Ouch, hope it heals uneventfully and quickly:hug:

Bubble wrap? Sign me up - it makes me gigle just thinking of all of us falling down going Pop, Pop, Pop. Too funny!!!

Heck, the good news is the MS and broken bones at least gives you a 100% excuse for getting you out of housework completely:wink:

Sorry to hear you fell...and hope you mend soon. Fell backwards outside while picking black raspberries this week...landed softly (the muddy wetlands by the woods) and learned that my Cat "Tucker" is no Lassie...just sat there staring at me while I was trying to get close enough to a tree to pull up on...

:hug:
Carla

i'm so sorry you had a bad fall janie.
it is really difficult when it's your dominant hand.

i hope the surgery goes well and you heal quickly.
you have such a great attitude. and i'm glad mr janie is able to help.

get well soon.

Janie I'm so sorry you're going through this. :hug:

Your story is so similar my own story..... osteoporosis ... a recent fall..... broken arm!

My fractures were a few months ago now and I have the plaster cast off, but I still have a brace on it, and I still have to go physio every week.

There's not much to like about this disease, is there? :(

Sending you healing vibes and gentle hugs. :hug:

I just saw this....feel better soon!:hug::hug::hug:

Well kids; it's like I always say...could be worse.

I could be pregnant with four or five, husband left me for another man, house burned down, lost my job, crazed stalker after me etc. :rolleyes:

See; a broken wrist isn't so bad after all. :p

If you really feel sorry for yourself just watch the evening news and you wll surely count your blessings!!

I see the orthopedic surgeon tomorrow so hoping he won't suggest amputation??!! :eek:

Janie
Good luck with the orthopedic surgeon tomorrow. Let us know what he /she says. You're right. :) A hip or a leg would have been worse for you. Now we will call you lefty for a few weeks. (kidding):)

I hope you didn't do too much damage, even though it sounded like it was pretty torn up. Feel better my dear and best wishes to you. :grouphug:

Update:
 

I saw the orthopedic surgeon today.

I have a pretty pink cast to wear for two weeks and go back and he can tell then if it is healing on it's own or I will need surgery.

The Doctor is a real handsome guy; he could be a model for "Playgirl" ; hubba hubba...tall with blue eyes, lots of thick silver hair and a wonderful smile.

I am feeling so much better now!:cool:

Did they give you some happy drugs for the pain?

Dont fall in the shower again!

Do you have enough space in your shower to put a little seat in there to sit on?

I have a seat in my shower (built into the shower...it's a fiberglass insert) and I wish I could have a tiled shower without that little seat. I'd rather be able to put a removable stool in there. Then my butt wouldnt slide off the seat. (altho, then I wouldnt have anywhere to put my shampoo and shower gel)

I wish I could get some handrails in my shower. (see my post about handrails) I thought I'd have my handrails by now, but they keep screwing up the appointments. I'm afraid to use my shower today. (feeling really wobbly today...and stinky. I want to wash my hair)

I know I'm late to this thread, but I'm still getting used to forum interaction, still don't really know what "The Stumble Inn" is.

I'm sorry you fell in the shower AZjanie and happy you are on the road to recovery. As one who has broken both wrist twice and both arms once, let's just say, "I feel your pain!"

We have a small bathtub/shower and toilet separate from the sink and vanity so not much room. It does the job. I have a shower chair, suck cupped non-skid shower mat and two well place vacuum stick-to-the-wall grab handles. "As Seen on TV," but I bought them just after my stroke at a Bed Bath and Beyond for 1/2 the price. They work well, BUT! ONLY if you grab them when falling.:wink:

I had just completely soaped up and just fell for some reason, full body caught by the double shower curtain, slide out of the tub and wedged between the tub and toilet, wrapped in the soapy shower curtain. It all happened in an instant but slow motion. My wife heard the noise, couldn't get the door open because 1/2 of my body blocked her from opening it.

Having now shared this interesting, "personal trip," I was not hurt at all due to the slippyness, double shower curtains catching me, wedged between the tub and toilet, but I did notice a small leak in the back under the toilet tank. SO! It wasn't a total loss and we caught the leak early.

As you pointed out AZjanie, having all of the preventative stuff does not necessarily mean you can't fall in the shower and get hurt badly, as in your case. Now my wife makes me keep one of the wireless telephone handsets on the toilet in case I do fall, I can hopefully call 911 and the home ID will appear for them to send help.

AZjanie, thank you for sharing your experience and bringing this important point to the attention of the members and lurkers. Too many times we take our safety for granted.

I've been reading about grab bars, and learned something. That you not only need the horizontal bars, but you should have a vertical bar or two also.

Apparently the vertical bars help you pull yourself up better in certain situations. I'm still not sure exactly where I'm having mine placed when I get them installed.

My legs dont feel as shaky, but my arms are really weak. I dont want to fall down like AZjanie did. (I've already broken both my arms...been there, done that) So, I'm going to see what can be done to make it easier for me to make sure I can shower so as not to offend anyone's delicate noses.

My dad said I could get some quotes to remodel my shower...see if it's feasible to do (seeing as how my dad may be retiring this winter)

I just measured the base of my shower, and it's NINE INCHES from the floor to the top of the metal strip that holds the shower door in place. I think I need to find someway to shorten that. (it's a basement bathroom, so I'm hoping that doesnt mean we have to cut up the floor to retrofit the plumbing)

At least I already have an idea on what kind and color of tile I'd want to use in the shower if I can get it remodeled.

I have a verticle bar on the wall, as you enter/exit the tub/shower. I have a horizontal bar on the wall beside to toilet. :)

Oh and Craig, The Stumble Inn is a place wher we don't talk about MS/Illness. It's a place to unwind and be a bit irreverent, as you may.:D

This grab bar thing probably should be in the reg forum, but sometimes we mix em up.:rolleyes: