Falls

Sorry to hear that nellflanders - you are very lucky not to have broken any bones. My 80 year old neighbour tripped on my drive , fractured her femur and was in hospital for 6 weeks.
She’s fine now and back to normal.
You’ve probably had a shock. It will take a few weeks to get over.
Take it easy now and just be positive. Consider yourself lucky,

In no way am I a medical person but this does not sound right at all if you still feel rough after a couple of weeks. At this point it isn't just shock, which can make you feel rough for a day or two.

You may not have broken anything, but you don't know and something may have damaged one of your organs in some way - a splinter from a rib for example. Please get checked out by your doctor as something may be going on internally.

To feel unwell psychologically may mean your instincts are alerting you to something wrong, listen to them. To have posted here means you're concerned. You should not be feeling dreadful. Get checked out.

I'm with beachcomber and also feel that you ought to listen to your body and get checked out.

It's normal to feel down depressed and anxious for a while after a fall but getting weird scary bodily sensations doesn't sound right and needs investigating.

I have been checked out by GP, said I may have cracked a rib but nothing can be done about that. He checked my lung function and oxygen levels and all is fine. It is more the psychological impact it has had on me more than anything else.

I fell last year and my glasses broke and cut my face in several places. I hurt my ribs and other parts were sore too. I did feel awful for several weeks afterwards and wondered why.

I agree that to be sure you should see your doctor. I had to go to A&E to have the cuts stitched and had a scan to check I had not done any other damage.
Hopefully you will feel better soon. It really knocks your confidence if you fall and hurt yourself 💐

Sorry missed that you had seen your doctor. It took me time to get over it so just rest and you will feel better again.

nellflanders

I have been checked out by GP, said I may have cracked a rib but nothing can be done about that. He checked my lung function and oxygen levels and all is fine. It is more the psychological impact it has had on me more than anything else.

At least you have been checked out, nellflanders

There is nothing can be done for cracked ribs, they just mend on their own.
It's the shock of it that takes a while to get over. I can sympathise as I tended to be clumsy, probably due to rushing or not concentrating fully, but do try to take more care now.
Although my last fall (should have known better) has left a bit
of a lasting impact.

It's early days yet, take care

If the weird sensations continue, go back to your GP.

Sorry to hear about your accident nellflanders it's true, as we age it takes longer to recover from these things both physically and mentally. Be kind to yourself and take things more easily for a while.
I did a similar thing at the end of September and still have a lot of back pain. I also hit my head and had a scan, the hospital said I was normal. My husband says the scanner must be faulty.
Get well soon nellflanders

Are you taking painkillers? If so they could be contributing to your low mood as could the fact that you are not able to be as active as normal.

Could you ask your doctor for an xray toreally chek that everything is OK?

Nell, falls are no small thing, especially as we get older, also with a cracked rib healing and other parts of your body probably bruised and aching, is no wonder you are still getting weird sensations. But do go back to your GP if you become anxious.
Otherwise take it easy, get your feet up whilst you’ve still got an excuse to do so, watch some cheery stuff on the telly, netflix etc., or read, do jigsaws. And give yourself time. As someone else said it is still early days.
All the best xx

It’s delayed shock probably, the what ifs that you are not thinking out loud. The realisation that we are more vulnerable as we age. 💐

I think your fall alerted you to the 'one minute OK, next minute not OK'. The shock made your aware of your vulnerability. The feeling will pass but it will also act as a 'care for the future' marker. It happens to us all.

I feel for you, I have now fractured my left wrist 3 times through simple slips and trips, it has left me panic stricken when walking outside, terrified it will happen again. The only thing I find helps is concentrating on my steps, making sure I lift my feet properly to avoid catching raised paving stones, and of course not giving in to my fears. Still getting out and about and giving thanks for everyday I don't trip🙄 try to remind myself that fear is usually irrational. Take care

I can still feel my cracked rib after 2 years.

I fell over in the garden last year, slowly and grabbed something to break my fall, but the surprise was how long it took me to get up again. Had to roll over and on to all fours and pull myself up.
Yes its a shock so take it easy and build up your strength again.

Hi I am 82 was away in June lovely break last day nice Sunday lunch got up to go went to path fell forward all right side .bruised so shook up.managed to drive back to lodge, was worried about driving home next day.. managed to drive home .went MIC saw nurse practitioner usel guff leg up pain killers.has so took my self confidence away use stick to walk afraid to go out in wet in case I fall. Still bruised around knee and still painful..Just completely turned me off any life style doctor says possibly ligament damage but not help my fear of falling again ..sorry so long.

Thought this nhs article might help you nellflanders (see below).
To re-build your confidence, could you join a gentle yoga or Pilates class that focuses on balance and strength? It may help even if it’s just for a few weeks. There are a few ‘senior’ ones held in some towns and villages.

www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/preventing-falls/fear-and-anxiety-about-falling/how-to-deal-with-anxiety-about-falling/

Best wishes for a speedy return to normality.

I think Pilates is a good idea, the daytime ones are mainly retired people or some are dedicated over 65's or whatever. You will improve quickly at doing the excercises & may be surprised how well you do, which will help your confidence.It's in a safe environment & you can gently push yourself.Tell the instructor about the fall & possible cracked rib & they'll make sure you don't do any movements that make it worse.

Some good comments above, but do remember you will get back to how you were before the fall, it just takes longer when you're older - don't despair, be patient.Wishing you well.

I did the same as you in July nellflander. Happily walking along enjoying a lovely summer break on the Wirral - next thing hurtling through the air towards the pavement. I am 78 and broke my hip.
I felt worried that I still had no appetite and felt generally unwell nearly three months on. But the OT and physio at the Frailty clinic at my local hospital reassured me that this is a perfectly normal reaction to a trauma.

You're very likely feeling apprehensive about it happening again - it's put you under a cloud, and it's very easy to let it magnify. Maybe put any worries before your GP?

It does knock your confidence.

If you have not done so, get your bone density checked. Bruising and breathing takes a few weeks, so take it easy.

In my case, my doc recommended physio - long wait, waste of time. However, I got the number of a fabulous osteopath who reset my knee caps back into place; checked everything and realigned my neck, shoulder and ribcage. He also told me that much of my pain was due not to the ribs themselves (I did not crack mine) but the strain on the ligaments that needed to be put back into place

Oh how I can identify with this ! My husband and I love walking and whilst doing a walk in Majorca in May, I slipped and fell on my right side, hurting my hip and knee. I have had several physio treatments but five months later, although there has been some improvement I am still experiencing a lot of pain. I am usually a very positive, active person, but I feel tired all the time now and really fed up. I keep thinking “is this it” will I ever feel like “me” again. Sorry, I know many people have far more health issues than me