marennorge
member
I fell today for the first time. Slipped on a wet spot in the bathroom and both legs went out from underneath me. I managed to grab the vanity so I landed softly on my rear end. My Scottish Terrier, Piper, thought I had come down to her level to play. I was alone in the house and no one was expected for at least 4 hours.
Yes, I could reach a phone, but no one came immediately to mind who would be readily available to come over to help me up. Except for 911, and I didn't think this qualified for that kind of emergency call since I wasn't injured.
I pushed myself across the hall on my back to a bedroom but soon realized from floor level that the bed was too high for me to use to haul myself up. And, if I grabbed onto the dressers, I could easily topple one over on top of me. Try as I might, I could not get on my knees, even with a pillow underneath.
So, after lying there considering my options, I rolled over on my stomach and leaned my left arm on the pillow and did a swimmer's sidestroke down the hall and into the living room. Then, I flipped over onto my rear end and worked myself backwards across the rug so my back was up against the sofa, which is against a wall. After resting a few minutes, I pushed myself into the bridge exercise position and walked myself up onto the couch on my back.
So, now I know that as long as I'm not hurt, I can get up. Not easily, but doable. And there's no doubt that the leg exercises helped me achieve the upright position.
Yes, I could reach a phone, but no one came immediately to mind who would be readily available to come over to help me up. Except for 911, and I didn't think this qualified for that kind of emergency call since I wasn't injured.
I pushed myself across the hall on my back to a bedroom but soon realized from floor level that the bed was too high for me to use to haul myself up. And, if I grabbed onto the dressers, I could easily topple one over on top of me. Try as I might, I could not get on my knees, even with a pillow underneath.
So, after lying there considering my options, I rolled over on my stomach and leaned my left arm on the pillow and did a swimmer's sidestroke down the hall and into the living room. Then, I flipped over onto my rear end and worked myself backwards across the rug so my back was up against the sofa, which is against a wall. After resting a few minutes, I pushed myself into the bridge exercise position and walked myself up onto the couch on my back.
So, now I know that as long as I'm not hurt, I can get up. Not easily, but doable. And there's no doubt that the leg exercises helped me achieve the upright position.