Thursday, March 19, 2015

Falling - Part 1 of 2

In February of 2011 I wrote a post on falling.  Now, it is March of 2015, four years later, and the possibility of falling is more and more on my mind.

It isn't something you think of much when you are young, unless you are caring for an elderly relative.  As you grow older, though, it becomes deadly, which I will blog more about tomorrow.

In the meantime, I'll leave you with an excerpt from my 2011 post,  which included this passage:

"Falling has been on my mind a lot lately.  So has aging.

Last Tuesday, I was walking in my neighborhood.  Fresh snow covered the sidewalk.  I should have known better - this particular house, I knew, doesn't take good care of their sidewalks.  I thought, though, there shouldn't be a problem.

I was wrong.  There was ice under the snow.  My feet slid from under, I fell on my butt, and hit an ice bank on my right side.

I thought I wasn't hurt.  I got up, my dignity slightly damaged (someone was cleaning off their car, and I don't think even noticed), and proceeded on my way.  But by the time I got to work, I knew I had hurt myself.

Three days later I saw my massage therapist, my back hurting and pain occasionally shooting down my leg.  He worked on me for an hour.  He said nothing felt wrong, but I obviously had given myself quite a jolt.  Even now, a week later, my back still doesn't feel right.

I've fallen on the ice before trying to get to work - although I certainly don't try to make a habit of it.  I don't think I've fallen on ice in about three or four years, though. (I do have ice cleats, if it gets really bad.)  Other times I bounced back.  This time, not as fast.

The next day, one of my husband's co workers, who happens to be the brother of someone who works at my company, fell on the ice on his driveway (freezing rain having fallen) flat on his back.  He had a backpack on because his school aged daughter had asked that he bring the backpack out to his car.  No lasting damage, fortunately, because of the backpack (for one thing, it probably prevented him from hitting his head.).  His doctor told him to put heat pads on his back.  Maybe I should have done that.

Meanwhile, my balance stinks and I have to do something about it.  My local Y (where I exercise) doesn't offer Tai Chi, which I've read could be of help.  Yoga, I'm not so sure about, with my back problems.  I've heard mixed things about Pilates for those with back problems.  I need a back friendly exercise that will help with my balance.  My search will continue. 

Aging stinks.  So does winter."

Tomorrow - part 2 of this saga

11 comments:

  1. As one who also sometimes suffers from uncertain balance, I can certainly relate to this. It's something that I need to work hard to improve, in order to improve my quality of life.

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    1. It is scary, Dorothy, and I hope you can find a fall prevention program in your area. I've signed up for a seven week balance/fall prevention course, but it doesn't start until late May.

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  2. I agree on both counts! I will be 57 in 10 days - not enjoying this aging thing at all, NOT this winter that refuses to leave!

    Sorry to hear you got hurt - hope you recover quickly!

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    1. The incident I blogged about above was not from this year - but, each winter worries me more and more. Is it snowing today where you live? You are right about the winter that won't quit.

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  3. Yes, it's no fun getting old. I've fallen inside the house several times. Each fall resulted in a broken finger bone, although my osteoporosis is being treated with tablets. Consequently, I'm very wary.

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    1. Oh dear, Francene. This is terrible to hear.I hope I can learn something from a fall prevention course I've signed up for (but it won't start until late May). Sounds like several of my readers would be interested in this information.

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  4. I encourage you, dear friend, to keep searching for exercise classes (or videos) to help strengthen your balancing muscles. Falls can turn deadly.

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    1. Thank you for your concern, Amy! I have signed up for a fall prevention course - seven two-hour sessions, but not starting until late May. Also sounds like I will be one of the youngest people there. I am going to blog about my signing up experience next week. If it hadn't snowed today (grrrr) that would have been my post. I know too well about falls being deadly - an in law's mother in law fell last Friday, hit her head, has been in ICU since, and we are all hoping for the best.

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  5. Agreed, on both counts! :( I have fallen on ice several time over the years and am quite terrified of that now, especially because it aggravates old injuries.

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    1. I am also terrified of falling on ice; so much so that my husband took me into work several times. But what if he wasn't able to? It is scary.

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  6. Yoga need not be extensive exercises. It can be as simple as breathing. Pranayam, as it is called. You just inhale and exhale. Your entire focus is on the action of breathing. It helps in centering and balancing of the body. It helps in regaining focus and concentration in mind.
    Ice is a different scenario though. Even wet surfaces, for that matter. In fact, soles of our footwear can also cause a nasty fall if they're worn out! I learnt this the hard way!

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