Re: Falling

[Guest guest]

I have found that a tip called Tornado tip makes my cain much more stable

it is acually a heavy duty crutch tip it is thicker and larger in diamiter

than a standard cain tip also an added benifit is if you drop your cain you

can retreive it by stepping on the end of the tip it raises it almost to hip

level without the need to bend down for it.You can order such a tip thru any

medical supply store.

Jerry

Falling

> From: mingoeja@...

>

> From: ED AMES

>

> Sue-Ellen--I saw your message about falling,which I have done plenty of

> in the last 8 years, and it reminded me of the fact that I have a spare

> rolling walker that needs a good home.I have 2 others,one for upstairs

> and one for down. These are the best things since beer and they have

been

> a life saver for me.They have baskets,trays, and seats with brakes that

> lock and you can carry anything around the house. Best of all,it gives

> you stability without taking you off your feet.

>

> This is a Guardian,PT.Pro-300, model 7777A.It's not new but it's in

decent

> shape. It's just sitting here--if you're interested, I'll box it up and

> ship it to you. It folds up and is light weight so that wouldn't be a

> problem.

>

> I some times use two canes and I found ones that fold into 4 small

> sections and snap into full size with a flick of the wrist. They have a

> bungie cord inside that makes them work.You can take them anywhere in a

> small bag.I get them from Dr. Leornards " el-cheapo " medical equipment

> catalogue.

>

> If you're interested, let me know--falling can be hazardous to your

> health! I've got a rotator-cuff that'll never be the same!

> Hang on---Ed

>

> >

[Guest guest]

Sue-Ellen,

Take Ed up on this offer. I hate to think of you falling again. I had

several falls in a row this summer, and as a consequence, had to sell my

two-story house. I was worth it, though, to keep the bones intact! My

doctor pointed out to me that falls are my worst enemy..it is harder for us

to " bounce back. " Take care,

Jo Ann

[Guest guest]

Laurel, how awful! I too have found out how hard getting up can be- when I

fell in Sept. I rolled partway down our down sloping front yard and found I

had to roll the rest of the way down so I could pull myself up at the

mailbox- If I'd been five it would have been great fun! Any tips from

anyone on how to get up when out in an open space (carrying that cordless

phone is looking better and better) Lavon

At 05:43 PM 01/05/2000 -0600, you wrote:

[Guest guest]

[This message is not in displayable format]

[Guest guest]

When I had that problem of falling(notice I said HAD), my husband

installed grab bar in the tub, and I got a chair (at a medical supply

store), and I started taking showers. When stuff happens, you got to

stop and think " how can I avoid this happening again " .

Rita

[Guest guest]

Rita,

I did the same thing when I started falling. My husband put a removable grab

bar on the side of the tub (We are renting, after having to sell our

two-story house this summer), a chair, and a non slip mat, to use with my

handheld shower. I love it. I feel very safe now. Like Lavon, we have a

very slanted yard, and that is my next project!

Jo Ann

[Guest guest]

i can't get up by myself anymore so i have lifeline. i push a button on

a thing i wear around my neck and they call someone when i fall to help

me up.

mingoeja@... wrote:

>

> From: Ed Ames

>

> I have taken a few minor falls in the last few months--mainly kind of

> slow motion falls and I haven't hurt myself but getting up is a trip! The

> only thing that saves me is the fact that I work out in an exercise chair

> several times a week to keep up my upper body strength. I have to get face

> down, push myself up onto my hands and knees(that's where the upper body

> stregth pays off) and pull myself up on something.Sometimes it is very

> hard.

> I rolled my scooter,with me in it!,on a slope in my back yard last year.

> Getting out of that one wasn't easy--I'm very careful where I go now!

> The cell phone is a very good idea--I carry one alot now,but keeping up

> body helps with balance and reduces spasticity,at least for me. I know that

> for some folks exercise is detrimental and makes them weak but even just

> stretching helps keep the muscles limber.Maintaining strength is the only

> thing that saves me.

> the walker is still the best answer but it still requires concentrtion.

>

> Good luck and Good Balance to all!--Ed

>

> ---------------------------

[Guest guest]

Jo Ann:

I know exactly what you mean. It's called using common sense.

Sometimes a simple thing like shoes makes all the difference in the

world. This is a life changing disease, and you gotta run with it and

do what works to maintain a way of living. I had to sell 2 homes and

now live in a handicapped apartment, and love it.

Good for you!

My feelings are (here I go again), with the proper precautions, there is

no reason to fall, unless we are careless!

Rita

[Guest guest]

Jagan,exercise is the best thing you can do for yourself,especially the

arms,because when you fall you have the strength to pull yourself up,also you

are less apt to injure your arms or shoulders.I've taken some bad falls, and

because I exercise frequently on the nautilius machines, I think is the

reason I don't have any problems with my arms or shoulders.Exercise as much

as you can.Doctors know nothing about what is good, or bad, for you they are

guessing,we know more about this disease than they do,and that is a fact,my

neurologist agrees with me on that score!

Good luck,.

[Guest guest]

Falling is something I have a lot of experience in. Being as how I can still

get up by myself, sometimes I can manage to fall in the exact same place

twice! I have learned several things about crashing to the ground that may be

of some benefit to others. First of all I think that having a cellphone or

lifeline type of device is fantastic. You might want to add a siren or other

noisemaker (like is advertised for women to carry to ward off molesters)

because sometimes I know I find it difficult to make any noise, and making

noise can be useful when you desire to be located. Another thing I have

learned (through rather bitter experience) is not to try to " save " myself when

I start to fall. If I start falling, I go ahead and fall. I once pulled a

bookcase over on myself trying to keep from falling. It takes a little

practice (it is pretty intuitive to try to reach out and try to grab

something). It isn't always the best choice, but on the whole I have found it

better to just go ahead and fall over than to try to make a graceful save. I

just don't have that kind of gracefulness anymore (some would say I never

did). In an earlier life, I learned to make a parachute landing fall, and use

sort of a modification of that. I just sort of crumple up into a fetal

position, with my arms around my head, and try to aim for an open area.

Galen Hekhuis, NpD, JFR, GWA ghekhuis@...

When the going gets tough...goodbye

[Guest guest]

Hi Laurel,

You have company. Yesterday I fell in the bath. Slow motion fall!

Hearing the

thud - my wife rushed to help. I found I could turn, and raise myself

without

her help. But I had to hold on to a tap, as usual. No injury.

i fell down last August, at that time my son helped me to get up. I

couldn't

myself get up. I have been doing stretching and bending since last

August. This

has put some power and some flexibility in my body. That is why

yesterday I

could turn, sit, go up on my knees, and pull me up.

I keep a log of the time I exercised everyday. It motivates me.

The Neurologist checked me in 91 for 20 minutes, wrote out a 3 page

report

- eliminating other diseases, and concluding I had PLS. He did this on

my very

first visit, at a time when I had not even developed all the symptoms.(

I could

speak well and didn't have a pool of saliva in my mouth-91) I respect

him.

At that time he had told me not to exercise, particularly the hands. His

words

are ring in my mind when I exercise. That could a reason for my not

exercising

so long. Now I have decided to give it a try.

love

jagan

jagan

Laurel Aasland wrote:

Lockwood Family wrote:

> Laurel, how awful! I too have found out how hard getting up can be- when I

> fell in Sept. I rolled partway down our down sloping front yard and found I

> had to roll the rest of the way down so I could pull myself up at the

> mailbox- If I'd been five it would have been great fun! Any tips from

> anyone on how to get up when out in an open space (carrying that cordless

> phone is looking better and better) Lavon

> At 05:43 PM 01/05/2000 -0600, you wrote:

>

>

> ---------------------------

[Guest guest]

I also had the lifeline for years, and it really made me feel safe, if

anything happened, never had to use it. Gave it up when I moved to my

handicapped apartment.

I almost forgot about lifeline, it's great for people who " FALL AND

CAN " T GET UP "

Rita

[Guest guest]

i agree with taking proper precautions but some times my legs 'freeze

up' when i'm in the middle of a transfer or whatever and that is when i

fall. my doctor says there is no way of knowing when that will happens

and it does happen to some people with pls as well as other

disabilities.

Rita DiClemente wrote:

>

> Jo Ann:

>

> I know exactly what you mean. It's called using common sense.

> Sometimes a simple thing like shoes makes all the difference in the

> world. This is a life changing disease, and you gotta run with it and

> do what works to maintain a way of living. I had to sell 2 homes and

> now live in a handicapped apartment, and love it.

> Good for you!

>

> My feelings are (here I go again), with the proper precautions, there is

> no reason to fall, unless we are careless!

>

> Rita

>

> ---------------------------

[Guest guest]

i also live in an accessible apartment but but sometimes no matter how

many precautions i take - bars, roll in shower, hospital bed, etc. there

always seems to be something new that shows up now and then. like i

mentioned before when my legs 'freeze up' there is no way for me to know

when this is going to happen. i also had no way of knowing that my

scooter was going to tip over on the day that it did. i also hate that

commercial, rita. next time come up with one of your own. you do a

better job.

Rita DiClemente wrote:

>

> I also had the lifeline for years, and it really made me feel safe, if

> anything happened, never had to use it. Gave it up when I moved to my

> handicapped apartment.

>

> I almost forgot about lifeline, it's great for people who " FALL AND

> CAN " T GET UP "

>

> Rita

>

> ---------------------------

[Guest guest]

I haven't fallen since I started taking baclofen. But before that all of a

sudden I'd just go down with no warning. My legs are getting worse recently,

they are feeling like they did before the baclofen, so I don't know if I need

to up the med or what. Since I've been sick lately (flu, bronchitis and liver

problems) I am taking a wait and see attitude. I do think I need to start

using a walker though. I don't know why I have put it off so long but somehow

I keep thinking I'm doing ok without one. Problem is the " doing ok " only

works until you take a bad fall. I guess it is really " dumb " thinking on my

part.

The idea of going with the fall is what my accupuncturist was trying to tell

me. That way you don't hurt yourself as much.

And remember to protect your head if at all possible!

____________________________________________________________________

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[Guest guest]

My dads legs freeze up too. Usually if something frightens him. He usually

freezes for a few seconds then just falls down to the ground. Sonya

Re: Falling

> i also live in an accessible apartment but but sometimes no matter how

> many precautions i take - bars, roll in shower, hospital bed, etc. there

> always seems to be something new that shows up now and then. like i

> mentioned before when my legs 'freeze up' there is no way for me to know

> when this is going to happen. i also had no way of knowing that my

> scooter was going to tip over on the day that it did. i also hate that

> commercial, rita. next time come up with one of your own. you do a

> better job.

>

> Rita DiClemente wrote:

> >

> > I also had the lifeline for years, and it really made me feel safe, if

> > anything happened, never had to use it. Gave it up when I moved to my

> > handicapped apartment.

> >

> > I almost forgot about lifeline, it's great for people who " FALL AND

> > CAN " T GET UP "

> >

> > Rita

> >

> > ---------------------------

[Guest guest]

Yes, I have had the freeze up, too.....usually when walking in cold weather.

It is very frightening, and the fear makes my legs freeze up even more. Good

thing I live in Texas.

[Guest guest]

I recently began a water aerobics class aimed at people with arthritis. The

workout is very gentle and I have better balance in the water. I am hoping

it will also help with the weight gain that I have experienced in the last

year, since I also was advised not to exercise when my doctors thought I had

ALS. I'm hoping to work back up to the treadmill soon. It has seemed to

help with muscle cramping, as well as my level of fatigue.

[Guest guest]

I feel exactly the same way about a walker, and I realize that I should get

over it and at least try one. Even if I don't use it much, I'm sure it will

become more useful later.

Jo Ann

[Guest guest]

thank you for telling me that. sometimes i feel like i imagine all this

stuff. i will have to try to pay more attention to how i'm feeling when

the 'freeze' happens. maybe if i can i could prevent some of the falls

that happen.................kathleen

Sonya wrote:

>

> My dads legs freeze up too. Usually if something frightens him. He usually

> freezes for a few seconds then just falls down to the ground. Sonya

>

> Re: Falling

>

> > i also live in an accessible apartment but but sometimes no matter how

> > many precautions i take - bars, roll in shower, hospital bed, etc. there

> > always seems to be something new that shows up now and then. like i

> > mentioned before when my legs 'freeze up' there is no way for me to know

> > when this is going to happen. i also had no way of knowing that my

> > scooter was going to tip over on the day that it did. i also hate that

> > commercial, rita. next time come up with one of your own. you do a

> > better job.

> >

> > Rita DiClemente wrote:

> > >

> > > I also had the lifeline for years, and it really made me feel safe, if

> > > anything happened, never had to use it. Gave it up when I moved to my

> > > handicapped apartment.

> > >

> > > I almost forgot about lifeline, it's great for people who " FALL AND

> > > CAN " T GET UP "

> > >

> > > Rita

> > >

> > > ---------------------------

[Guest guest]

JoAnn,for the muscle cramps take 6-8oz of quinine water, or tonic,that should

ease the cramps.Take at bedtime for best results.

Good luck, .

[Guest guest]

GaLen had some good advice on falling. I had some physical therapy and the

PT told me the first thing to do after falling (if you are not hurt) is to

just lay still for a while and let the muscles relax - they will be very

tight after trying to prevent the fall. Then as you try to get up - rest

again at each convenient stopping point.

Roy s

[Guest guest]

Excellent advice. The lay still time also allows you to inventory body parts

gently to see if something is injured. I do not allow others who try to be

helpful to immediately pull me up until I know that I have not broken or damaged

something. Sometimes help can do more damage.

Emmett

" Roy A. s " wrote:

>

>

> GaLen had some good advice on falling. I had some physical therapy and the

> PT told me the first thing to do after falling (if you are not hurt) is to

> just lay still for a while and let the muscles relax - they will be very

> tight after trying to prevent the fall. Then as you try to get up - rest

> again at each convenient stopping point.

>

> Roy s

>

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

I want to add something about falls and not quite recovering from them.

Each time I have fallen, it has shaken my confidence in my ability to

walk or just get around. Last year, Jan. 19, I fell on my front step and

landed with full impact on the left side of my face, the temple to be

specific. I had started slipping on the ice and my legs stiffened, which

they do when I get startled, and I went down stiff as a board. The

impact did not knock me out, but it certainly made me wonder how I was

going to get up with my legs still up on the step (about 9 inches) and

my lower body on the sidewalk. I knew I was bleeding because I could see

the blood dripping. I was finally able to get my legs off the step, or

porch, and got to a kneeling position. From there I was able to get to

the door and yell for help. When my son came, he immediately went to his

mother, who came and took one look at me and said simply, " You're going

to ER. " I didn't think it was very serious, but I spent the night in the

hospital and had plastic surgery to repair the damage to my face. The

pictures I saw later made me a little ill. I had broken through to the

skull and had a laceration around my left eye about 3-4 inches long.

There were small ones under the eye. There was also nerve damage to my

left optic nerve. I now have a new " blind spot " where most of us only

have one. This one does affect my vision at times, expecially when I am

tired. There were also small hairline fractures on the cheekbone. My

point is this: I could have been severely affected by this fall. It

should have taken a lot out of me. Somehow, it made me stronger. I had

been walking well without my walker for several weeks before that,

although I did still carry it. I still carry it sometimes, but can walk

around the house and the office area at work without it, unless I am

tired, sick, or stiff. Helen, my wife, said I left a lot of blood on the

sidewalk. Any head injury will do that because it is such a vascular

area. Anyway, I believe God interevened and kept me from serious injury

and I have accepted this and changed my thought to " I can handle falls

now without being drained too much. I will not let it do that to me. "

Take it for what you will, but before that fall, I could tell that every

fall was taking something away from me. I was allowing it too. Now I'm

not. I also have not had more than two falls since. Both were stress

related and I didn't have one hand on a stable surface. I thank God that

both falls were on soft surfaces. The last one I had was about a month

ago and could have been disastrous if I had gone anywhere but where I

did. I did not hit anything on the way down except the newly carpeted

floor. I did just lie there for about 10 minutes, taking inventory of my

body and letting my body relax. Anyway, that is my current connection

and interaction with falls. Take them in stride and know that they will

happen. Just don't let the fear control you.One last thing, the plastic

surgery covered the scar very well, thank you. It was the second plastic

surgery I had had in that area due to a fall. Best to you all, Mike

Gray.