Falling over again...

I've fallen over many a times, more due to me stupidly not looking where i'm going ha ha. Though my mother-in-law had a nasty fall in her garden not so long ago which shook her confidence. Luckily she only ended up spraining her ankle but because she lives alone we ended up getting her one those personal alarm things from Lifeline, which has been a god send. She didn't like the idea of it to start but she knows she's not alone now if anything does god forbid happen again!

It's certainly made a difference for me tanith. I haven't tripped since I started concentrating on bringing my toes up. I actually sat and watched people walking and thought 'Oh, yes. That is the normal way of walking!'.

seacliff yes those are the ones Yaxtrax they really are great if you have to go outside when its icy.
I must practice walking with toes turned up as the more I read the more sure I am that is the problem.

I slipped on ice a few years ago and broke my wrist. I too had to have an operation, and those metal fixaters in to stabilise it. Since then I have been very wary when out walking. Just the other day I curtailed my walk because the footpaths were icy. I had a dexoscan at the hospital, and we given the news that I have borderline osteoporosis. I try to keep active, but do not like ice!

Please be very careful if you have had hips and/or knees replaced. If you fall, there may not appear to be any damage but the new joint can loosen slightly.

tanith I am like you, I do not always lift my feet but since I fell flat on my face last summer and breaking a bone, I have been ultra careful.

Nobody warned me that this old age lark would be like this. I thought I would be hopping on and off buses and trains visiting places I have never seen before- not flaming likely!

Falling can leave real problems psychologically. I tripped over something in the doorway over 10 years ago, totally smashing up my nose which had to have splints inside to rebuild it, and ever since I've been really cautious about steps, icy weather, uneven ground etc.

Another problem I hadn't realised I had until my son went to a physiotherapist about an ankle injury, is that neither of us raises our toes up when we walk. So we often trip over slightly uneven ground. I now consciously turn my toes up when I walk

Having had several falls the last few years I find I'm spending half the time looking at the ground when I'm out walking etc. Not very good for the posture.
Also coming downstairs - couldn't possibly do it otherwise.
I also wear Skechers,*Tanith*. I've got 2 pairs, one for indoors and one for outdoors.

A few years ago I fell over, tripped over my own feet I think and fell on my face! Nearly lost my front teeth! Brilliant dentist saved them for me. My mouth was terribly swollen - think Lesley Ash x 10! Really shook me up and am still very afraid of going over again - the pavements round here are terribly uneven.

I frequently fall over my own feet which a,hurts and b, makes me feel really stupid!!!!

Still in a lot of pain from fall in summer. I've suddenly become 'old lady cautious' especially around slippy autumn leaves and icy patches. Confidence shaken.

Completely forgetting that a scan had revealed osteoporosis in left hip (the right is already a replacement), I climbed on to the raised verge of the road to take a picture of the view, and jumped down, or, rather, tumbled down. It was then that I remembered the risk I had run and since then I have been more careful - no harm done, fortunately, but no more jumping.

Falling at any age gives us a shock, but falling when older leaves a fear it takes time to recover from. We know bones may break from which recovery can take ages. Since having my knee replaced I am very very careful. I was very worried when the wet leaves were all over the ground. I have taken to wearing walking shoes, rather like low walking boots, any time it is wet or icy.I hope you soon recover your nerve seacliff.

I fell about 3 years ago and had serious foot fractures which still inhibit my mobility; and I can fully understand how you feel. Having your life change in a split second really shakes you up and makes you very cautious indeed. I always us a stick outdoors now.

Glad that there were no broken bones this time.

I was wearing ridged sole walking trainers, but don't think they are designed for ice and non slip qualities. Thanks Tanith for reminding me about those ice grippers, I will order some, think they are Yaxtrax?

I had a spate of falls 3/4 yrs ago and I agree they are very upsetting and make you lose faith in your own abilities. I even fell just walking along the beach on holiday with no shoes on I don't know what was going on now I make sure when I go walking I always wear either trainers or Skechers Gowalk shoes, or boots with well ridged bottoms and we bought those elastic things to go over shoes if it ever snows or is icy out.
Thinking about it I have serious Arthritic hips , one replaced and maybe I just don't pick my feet up properly and so tripping more. I haven't had a fall for a while now I try to be mindful of concentrating on my steps and where I'm walking .. sorry if this sounds a bit muddled but I'm sure you'll make sense of it