33 Days after surgery and I fell!

[Lubbock58]

I haven't been on lately, since I went back to work (working from home on a restricted basis). I've been going to PT and incision healed finally and I can go into water therapy. So what happens just a few minutes ago? I am walking through the dining room carefully, I am thinking and using my cane just for safety's sake; the toe of my shoe catches on the rug and I go flying. In those few seconds I see that I will land right on my knee cap, so I turned my body and landed on my right side (my right is the TKR). We have concrete with tile over it and I manage to hit my head on a chair, but no problem there. I lay there, thinking I have really did myself in. I pulled myself over to the chair after about 5 minutes and manage to pull myself up. Luckily, I don't think I damaged the knee. It doesn't hurt and I am sitting in a chair with ice on it, just to be sure. I have PT this afternoon, so we will have them take a look.
That's what I get for being a little too cocky about walking around.
So take care friends and neighbors and don't overdue. Just walking slowly through one's house can be hazardous. I am going to have a bruise on my right side the size of Cleveland, but I would rather have that, than a knee that must be redone.
Besides my near catastrophe, I am doing well. I have been driving myself to PT and have shlepped around a couple of stores during shopping trips with my husband for necessities. It is important to get out, I have found. Being inside all the time really bums a person out.
I see my doctor next week and I plan to talk to him about me going back to work the first week in November since I need to take a business trip that will last a week.
Now I plan to read up on everyone's blog since I haven't been on the site for a while. Take Care everyone!
Lubbock58 :pray:

 

[Jamie]

Lubbock....so happy to hear you are okay. Most of us experience some type of fall eventually and it is frightening. The good news is your knee joint is so secure that it is highly unlikely you would do any damage to it. Not so with the rest of your body, I'm afraid....so please be careful!!

I took a pretty good fall early in the spring and went down flat on my new knee on a concrete sidewalk. No damage other than to soft tissue which hurt like all heck for weeks!! So try not to worry. You should be just fine.

 

[Lubbock58]

Thanks Jamie, it is encouraging to know others have fallen with no after affects. I am sitting here with ice and feel okay. I need to get up and give it a stretch, but I think you
are right and I will be fine.
I am not going to tell my husband, since he worries about me walking around as it is. He gets on this website and will eventually read about it. :hehe: Lubbock58

 

[Jamie]

Well, just explain to him that most people fall or stumble at some point and that you just decided to get it out of the way early in your recovery.

The alternative is to wrap yourself in bubble wrap and duct tape, and that's not a very good option since you've spent all this money on a new joint. Ya gotta live life and stumbles are part of life. Just try to be as careful as you can.

 

[ship4]

Time to get rid of that rug! Is it a throw rug? When PT came to the house, they were pleased I did not have any.
Falls are one of the main reasons we end up with TKR.....
Take care of yourself, and I am glad you did not hurt yourself any worse than you did.
I agree, getting out is important for recovery. Just be sure you have adequate support for yourself on uneven and in unfamiliar areas. I had a neighbors dog take me out in the road towards the end of summer. I had soft tissue damage as well when I landed on both elbows and knee caps! Scared the daylights out of me.........

 

[oneleg]

I know what you mean by falling....last week Tuesday I was out watering my flowers.....which I use my scooter....It was 3 1/2 weeks after my surgery....I still have to use a walker still can't walk without it....my leg is way to weak....and I wear a brace on my other leg (full length --- had polio since I was 2) But I thought I can at least go out and water my flowers and it was kind of a warm day. I got the ones water in back....so I fill up my water can and went to water the 3 hanging baskets in front....when I back up with the scooter somehow it took off and the wheel got turn and I tip over the scooter....lucky it fell to the right....had the surgery done on the left knee....got my brace under the scooter I was laying on the ground thinking what in the heck am I going to do.....I always carry my cell phone and are reg. phone... I called my son and ask him to come over and help me get up....I finally got the scooter pushed off of me but I couldn't pull myself up or the scooter would tip again.....and I can't get up on my own yet......lucky only two people came by in a car....one did stop and ask me if I needed help...the other just drove by....and I told him my son was coming....so when Chad got here.....he help pulled me up and I got back on the scooter.....I was just so thankful the scooter didn't land on my left leg...and that I didn't break something else......just can't believe I did something that stupid.....but I sure am verrrrryyyy careful now.....
Jane

 

[Josephine]

Falling is scary any time. A couple of weeks before my op I was taking a can of water out to the conservatory to water the plants and tripped over the door frame. I was a bit stunned but you know, the first thing I thought of as I landed was to stand the watering can upright so it wouldn't spill the contents all over the carpet! Then I got to going "oh ouch" and worrying about what I might have hurt! Crazy, huh?

Glad you're okay, Lubbock. Must have been a nasty moment.

And oneleg, that was a narrow squeak too.

 

[loggon]

Lubbock So glad you are ok.

Oneleg that was a nasty spell. I think it is great you carry your phone around all the time. I am 6 monts out and I carry mine with me at all times.

 

[cindy88fan]

I am glad you are all o.k.

Oneleg, so glad you ahd your phone with you!

 

[marennorge]

I am really glad you are ok and that you were able to get yourself up. That's a big milestone, even though you probably didn't think of it that way. I fell several months ago and managed to slide down the hallway to the living room so I could back up to the sofa to get myself up. It's important to realize that you can get up after a fall.

 

[Texas]

Hey Lubbock im glad your ok.....Take it easy use your cane till you are sure of yourself i haven't fallen yet but have come close..........Glad you easing into work thats the best way.....hang in there kiddo....good idea icing just to be sure...........) miss ya posting......

 

[tom67]

Hi Lubbock, Sounded scary. I hope your nerves are OK. I just got
back from the O.S.'s and almost fell down the stairs trying to get
to the third floor. makes your heart skip a beat! Best wishes
Tom

 

[Judles]

Lubbock and Oneleg.......I think ech of us has a "klutz" story! Boy does it jolt us into fear! Take a couple of Advil and keep icing, Lubbock! could be worse......the bruise could be the size of California!!!!

 

[abunnybabe]

Thankd godness you are OK. I trip all the time and I haven't had my TRK yet. Hubby is always yelling at me to watch where I am walking. He gets really scared, me too!

 

[Jamie]

How are you feeling now, Lubbock? Any soreness after your fall?