Falls

I had some difficulty with falls but then I did the NHS/ Age UK 12 week falls prevention course. I attended without fail every week and although I am not doing all the balance exercises I should be doing, I feel much more confident now.

It's a nationwide scheme. I referred myself, but your doctor can refer you.

Some good ideas here, a fall can really knock your confidence. Have you thought of buying a smart watch with a fall alert which would ring an ambulance if you're on your own with no one around? Apple and Android do them. My DH and I are going to get them as Christmas presents to ourselves this year.
My DH also tracks me on his phone, just in case. I'm quite happy with that, nothing to hide! Better safe than sorry.

You're obviously a fit and get on with it type of person, but a fall is a reminder of how vunerable we can be when we least expect it, uneven paving slabs, wobbly cobbles, slipping mats etc. I had a bad fall damaged my back again which I had broken 2 years ago and I was surprised how down I became, its a shock to the system. Take it easy for a while and understand its your mind and body looking after you.

Some 10 days ago I was alone, on my own (not at home) and stepped backwards and caught my heel on a small support bracket screwed to the floor. I went flying backwards and landed on a wooden floor. Very sharp pain at base of spine when I hit the floor, hit head on floor but not very hard. Got up and felt only slight discomfort at base of spine when standing so finished what I was doing. I went home, fortunately a bus came so was saved a one mile walk. No visible bruising but I was a bit worried about my head although I hadn't hit it hard. Twice started to ring 111 but with no means of getting to A & E on the other side of town - and not fancyinggoing there on a Saturday evening - I didn't seek medical advice. I was totally shaken up for days and it made my feel very old. I'm late 70s (going on 18!) very fit and active and I practice balancing on one foot as well as isometric exercises at home. Then a week later another fall. I caught my foot on a patio threshhold and landed on my back, again on a hard floor. I'm carrying on as usual, determined not to let it undermine me but these two falls have been a real shock.

Like you @Nellflanders I’m 76. I’ve had 3 falls in the past 6 months, 2 of which were alarming and I required medical help. No bones broken but oh the loss of confidence! I haven’t actually walked to my local shops in weeks, & so dread the walk home from a nearby station (25 minutes) that I’ve taken an Uber. I’ve just ordered a collapsible walking stick - largely to give DS peace of mind - but I do so desperately want my old self back. (And she was a lazy old bat at the best of times!!) All my sympathies.

I am 'fortunate' depending on ones definition of that word, in that I have had a lifetime of tripping and falling several times a year. I have dyspraxia, which means I lack fine motor control so my balance has always been poor and I have a dodgy ankle.

As a result quite early in my life I taught myself to fall gently and also to bounce back and be upright in seconds. In old age I am benefitting from a lifetime of falls by still being able to fall gently and bounce back quickly.

I have the deepest sympathy for those whose confidence is so shattered by falling. If you are not used to it, it must be very frightening. I just wish that in my youth and middle age, when I was making myself look foolish by tripping and falling, that I had realised what a benefit this would be to me when I got older.

My most recent fall was yesterday.

I started tripping a lot several years ago and realised it was because I don’t lift my feet as much as I used to.Have had a few narrow escapes the main one being when I tripped in my partners garage and came very close to cracking my head on the corner of a work surface. I use walking poles when I go out now.

@MOnica What a refreshingly positive outlook. Thank you.

I've always been clumsy but have never learned how to fall gently and bounce back.

How do you do that M0nica?

I also fall over from time to time, usually tripping on pavements or over things left around at home, it's always a bit of a shock though I've learnt to relax as I fall rather than tense up and really hurt myself.
I jarred my back when I slipped down the stairs a couple of years ago and it's never been quite right again, though I did have it checked out properly. I had sciatica for a few months which eventually eased off after I saw an osteopath.
The doctor referred me to a physio who sent me to classes which were a bit of a waste of time, however she did refer me to a gym for a free couple of months and it has made a real difference though, as it's strengthened my "core" muscles.

Falling does knock your confidence.
I fell and broke my wrist when I was only about 50. It healed and then 3 months later I did it again, same wrist.
Since then I have never been as confident or carefree about walking and use poles for country walks.
I have fallen a few times and broke my nose a few years ago after falling flat on my face. no alcohol involved

After my hip replacement last year I do more regular exercises and yoga. I even go to the gym occasionally.
I do feel better for it. I'm 77.

An osteopath may be able to help you or a chiropractor.

Do beware about backward falls that hurt your back. Some Six years ago, at the then age of 78 yrs, I had one. Was at a gymnastic competition) = as an official not competitor, I hasten to say, when I just tripped backwards over a springboard and sat down heavily on the wooden floor of the sports hall.

Back hurt considerably, and I just got through that day with help of strong pain killers I had in my handbag. Managed to drive myself home that evening and went to bed. Woke during night, needing loo, and it took me half an hour to manage to get out of bed. Slept remainder of night in riser/recliner chair in living room.

In such pain in morning I refused an offer to take me A&E by daughter who lived nearby saying that I was in too much pain to go there and wait. Phoned GP surgery to get prescription strength pain killers.

So.....I got through, first three days could hardly move. It was four weeks later that I saw a colleague I used to work with (medically trained), and he saw how badly I was still walking and insisted that my GP send me for an MRI.

Had this, and it turned out that I had a spinal stress fracture, by the time too late for any real help, and although it did heal I have considerable problems with my back and increasing problems with mobility - now have to use a mobility scooter to get out and about.

Allira

I've always been clumsy but have never learned how to fall gently and bounce back.

How do you do that M0nica?

Difficult, to describe now, I do it so instinctively, it is to do with collapsing into the fall, do not put your arm out to break the fall, you could just end up with a broken arm OK falling forward, doesn't work so well when you fall backwards.

The other thing is always to keep your wits about you so that you are always mentally in command. I am pretty fit, so, usually I get back onto my feet asap, I developed this technique when I was younger and felt so stupid when I fell over when out shopping, I just wanted to get on my feet and walk away without fuss - still do, I hate being fussed over.

I had one very bad fall on my back about 15 years ago. But I just lay there fully aware, and carefully checked that everything was working, no bones broken. and then slowly sat up and then got up. Thankfully I was just outside the house, but on my own. So I was able to keep control of the situation, no one was fussing me or trying to help me.

Like Franbern I was in incredible pain for weeks after and three months before I fully recovered - thankfully I did - I didn't go to the doctor because I thought all I would be told to do would be to take pain killers and rest - and I didn't need a doctor to tell me that, and Franbern's experience suggests I was right. I made a full recovery but had a scan a few years ago, which showed that at some time I had broken 2 vertibrae in the past. The vertibrae concerned are where an injury would have been expected, if I had damaged them in my fall.

There are a number of very good online articles about learning to fall. One of the best seems to be www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-to-fall-without-injury

Thanks M0nica

It is that moment when everything seems to be going in slow motion and you wonder what bit of you will hit the ground first!

However, a friend fell over something in her bedroom, didn't put out her hands to save her and ended up with a bruised and cut face, requiring stitches.

Azalea99

Like you @Nellflanders I’m 76. I’ve had 3 falls in the past 6 months, 2 of which were alarming and I required medical help. No bones broken but oh the loss of confidence! I haven’t actually walked to my local shops in weeks, & so dread the walk home from a nearby station (25 minutes) that I’ve taken an Uber. I’ve just ordered a collapsible walking stick - largely to give DS peace of mind - but I do so desperately want my old self back. (And she was a lazy old bat at the best of times!!) All my sympathies.

Can I join the club? I had 3 falls in 6 weeks in the summer, and it's made me really anxious and frightened that it may happen again. I use a stick - not for support but just as an aid to balance - and I've started going to a weekly balance exercise class (too soon to say whether this is working..!) I just don't feel like myself at all, but am determined to try not to deteriorate any further...!!

Allira

Thanks M0nica

It is that moment when everything seems to be going in slow motion and you wonder what bit of you will hit the ground first!

However, a friend fell over something in her bedroom, didn't put out her hands to save her and ended up with a bruised and cut face, requiring stitches.

There is nothing stopping you using your arms to protect your face as you roll-up and fall gently. I did once drive my glasses into my skin and needed a couple of stitches. But, as yet, vertibrae, apart, I have never broken a bone, which in a lifetime of tumbles is not bad going. Just bumps, bruises and grazes.

It certainly is good going M0nica!

I have had a couple of near misses on uneven tarmac pavements especially where tree roots are close to the surface. I enjoy a short walk before my evening meal so now it's darker I don't see them so easily.
I have resolved to carry a small torch and pick up my feet. I don't want to stop my short walks as I lovr seeing the moon lit sky and now people are starting to light up their front rooms before the curtains are closed. Or lighting up their outdoor trees which raises my spirits.
I also am going to find a Tai Chi class as I think that will help. Finally I am making myself concentrate on what I am doing more, especially up and down the stairs. It's so easy to misjudge the bottom stair if you are thinking of a million othrr things...or worse carrying something which obscures your feet.
OP I hope you build up your confidence again very soon.

One of my pet hates, because I find them so destabilising are those paving slabs with little round lumps on them that you get on the pavement by road crossings. I know their purpose is to give warning to people with impaired vision that a safe road crossing is there, but I find they cause my ankle to give and DH was complaining about them affecting hisbalance yesterday. He dislikes walking on any uneven surface because of his frailty. iIam sure we are not the only people who now try to walk round these slabs in case we trip and fall.