The DU Lounge
Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsI took my pups out 6 weeks ago and
slipped on black ice. It was 7 am on New years eve and I broke my hip. I lay there telling myself that it was only a bruised bone and that I just had to lay still until the pain subsided but it didn't and I realized that I was sticking to the ice. I dragged myself across my driveway, through the garage and into the house. About 2 hours later, I found the phone and called 911. They operated that night and put a rod and a bunch of pins in the leg.
I'm doing pretty well, I think, but I'm not allowed to put any real weight on the leg until after I see the doc on Friday.
One hell of a way to ring in 2021!
Squinch
(50,774 posts)Seriously, you poor thing.
Meowmee
(5,164 posts)I hope you have a good recovery 💕 I almost fell a few times the past 2-3 days with the snow and ice. I am being extra careful.
FeelingBlue
(667 posts)Im sorry for your suffering
I fractured my wrist and pelvis the same way a few years ago. With my dogs. Stayed on the ice unti strangers called an ambulance.
Youll get through this but its rotten. I hope people are helping you. 🌺❤️🌺
badhair77
(4,191 posts)Im more than impressed that you made your way inside with that level of injury. Sending good vibes that youll have a good visit with your dr on Fri. Please keep us updated on your progress. Only about 32 more days till spring. 🙂.
secondwind
(16,903 posts)What a jolt! To go from walking to flat on your back. 😩
I sincerely hope theres good news right around the corner.....
hlthe2b
(101,730 posts)I've always been fearful that my pup (now nearly 8 yo) will get rambunctious on hidden ice, though she's sort of learned that when I start basically "crab-walking," that she needs to slow way down as well. I do wear hiking boots with ice cleats/crampons when it is really bad, but as you know ice can be inapparent.
So glad you are on the mend. I'm going to attribute this to 2020 and encourage you to consider your HEALING as part of 2021.
N_E_1 for Tennis
(9,593 posts)and courage throughout your ordeal glad your doing better. This may sound trite and a little silly but what did your pups do? Ive wondered what my dogs would do if something like that happened to my wife or me.
Raven
(13,872 posts)when the EMT's showed up, they growled and barked (one of them tried to sit on me to protect me) and wouldn't let the EMT's near me. BTW, these are the sweetest, most harmless dogs in the world. They haven't left my side since.
N_E_1 for Tennis
(9,593 posts)We are never alone as long as our furry friends are with us.
Get a little better every day.
barbtries
(28,702 posts)glad you're feeling better. a few years ago i slipped on ice and broke my wrist. small potatoes compared to a broken hip!
DeeDeeNY
(3,352 posts)The pain must have been so difficult. I hope your healing goes quickly.
In_The_Wind
(72,300 posts)Roy Rolling
(6,853 posts)I hope the rest of the year is better! 🤓
TNNurse
(6,911 posts)Just a reminder folks, I am 71 and in fairly good shape. I take walks on our property which has some pretty good hills. I take my hiking polls. I also take my cell phone. I could not drag myself back from a fall. It would take my husband a long time to find me on 50 acres. Be safe.
littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)You must have been terrified!!!
I fall frequently but have so far been lucky. I escaped with a broken foot then a broken leg and a broken ankle. I too have had to claw my way across the patio and up the stairs.
All my other falls have been what I call cushioned falls, off of the ladder into a large azalea, into a recliner (that I never use) and backwards into the bed.
I am so glad you were able to get surgery and it is working out well for you. Were you home alone? I hope you weren't out in the rain! Have you had help? I had home health for a while and my OT was amazing.
Take care of yourself! So glad things were manageable for you!
❤ lmsp
sinkingfeeling
(51,279 posts)lasting problems.
littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)He had a fall which caused a head injury and that's why he died. We should all be careful with ourselves and adjust our lifestyles accordingly. I feel the same way you do.
❤ lmsp
jpak
(41,742 posts)cate94
(2,797 posts)So sorry you went through that. Very scary.
brer cat
(24,402 posts)That is a very scary experience.
bottomofthehill
(8,261 posts)I am so sorry this happened to you. I hope you are recovering.
woodsprite
(11,854 posts)Did the pups follow you back to the house? Hopefully, once you get the 'all clear' from the dr. for weight bearing, the healing and rehab will move as fast as I've seen some hip replacement rehabs go.
A similar thing happened to me and our 80+ lb shepherd. Ever since then, the rule in our house has been nobody takes the dog out without a fully charged cell phone. I had one, but just barely enough charge. Getting to it was difficult, and just had enough charge to make 2 calls. As I was falling, I remember thinking "This is not going to be good", but when I assessed the damage etc., my first thought was to get someone out to get the dog before calling 911. She came back to me after chasing the darned racoon, and she helped me get turned over, but I didn't want a cop or EMT coming up at 1am and having to face down a black german shepherd. I was afraid they might hurt her.
Sending many, many healing thoughts your way!
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)I hope you heal quickly.
634-5789
(4,175 posts)Still tender, 6 weeks later, Doc sez I probably fractured a bone there, but I'm at least mobile. Plenty of ice and aspirin. I hate winter.
Trueblue Texan
(2,372 posts)This is to everyone over 65 or those with mobility/balance issues: Take your phone with you even if you're just going to the bathroom! I cannot tell you how many patients have fallen within 3 feet of their phones and had to lie there for hours--which can actually result in kidney failure, tissue damage, and death! Thank goodness you had the strength to drag yourself back in the house and didn't just lie in one place! I hope you are feeling MUCH better soon!
wendyb-NC
(3,250 posts)glad it's in the past and you are on the mend.
What would we do without our little pets. They are so precious and loyal.
slightlv
(2,637 posts)Oh... I empathize, Raven! I had a hip replaced, but it wasn't because of a fall. It takes a while to heal. Even trying to drive the car hurt, 'cause it was my right hip (right foot on the accelerator, then breaks)
Near Thanksgiving a year ago, tho, I was helping my mother into my car (she's in her 80's and extremely unstable). I went back to her house to lock the front door; thought Mac (her cat) had gotten out and turned to check. What I didn't know was how close to the edge of the porch I was. I stepped completely off the porch, into then air, and landed on my side in the hard dirt. Got lucky it wasn't 6 inches further to my left, cause that would have been the sidewalk!
Like you, I laid there in horrible pain. I couldn't breathe. I kept telling myself I'd just knocked the wind out of myself, then I looked over and saw Mom trying to get OUT of the car and over to me! I just hollered, "I'm okay, give me a minute. YOU stay in the car!"
After a few minutes, I got up, got to the car, drove my Mom to her doctor's appt, and helped her thru the building, before doing everything in reverse to take her home.
Found out a month later, I'd broken 2 ribs. But there's not much they can do for broken ribs, anyway. I kept a wrap around my middle cause it made it easier to breathe. Figured that's all they'd do at the ER, anyway. I HATE hospitals!!!
tblue37
(64,982 posts)Wawannabe
(5,580 posts)On New Years Eve I hurt my arm at work. Didnt work for two weeks but it is getting better. Short start to the new year!
Feel better soon!
JDC
(10,084 posts)safeinOhio
(32,531 posts)Health seems to be the only negative of getting old. I've been in the ER 4 times in the last 4 months and 2 surgeries. More times than in the last 20 years.
Other than that, I'm doing great.
Richluu
(79 posts)I fell 10 days after my hip replacement 3 years ago and broke the femur of the same leg: setback! I had to drag myself to my phone to dial 911.
My advise is to just be patient and do the physical therapy they give you. Add gait training so you learn to walk normally again. Your gait will be off and you have to re-train, otherwise other problems will develop later. I added daily walks to my routine afterwards and am now so strong.
Good luck and hang in there; you'll be better than normal!
lillypaddle
(9,580 posts)That's the worst! In 2009 I took the day off to watch the inauguration of President Obama - took the dogs out for a walk before all the festivities, and fell and broke my ankle literally in two. I heard it snap, worse sound in the world.
Needless to say, I missed the inauguration. If we could only back up time for a minute... my heart goes out to you.
Heal quickly and completely, but yet take your time and don't push it. I hope you have friends and/or family to help you.
Irish_Dem
(45,640 posts)I fell last year and broke my leg and ankle, like you surgery with pins and rods.
Physical therapy really helped me walk again with no pain.
You are going to be so happy when you can get off the walker and cane.
Good luck, please be careful on the ice.
tblue37
(64,982 posts)your dogs back in without help?
Raven
(13,872 posts)tblue37
(64,982 posts)Phentex
(16,330 posts)and how frightening! Hope you have a speedy recovery!
mnhtnbb
(31,319 posts)I have two hip and one knee replacements already. Not from falls, but arthritis.
I never started carrying my cell phone with me on dog walks until I feared my elderly dog would collapse from her heart problem and I'd have to phone someone to help me get her to the car and to the vet. She passed away in June, but now I never go out for a walk without my cell phone just in case it's me who collapses.
Hope you to continue to heal well and the doc allows you to start putting weight on your leg, soon.
Fla Dem
(23,352 posts)Very scary for you not being able to get to the phone for 2 hrs. But you persisted and saved yourself. Hope you have family and/ or friends to help you out. Hope you heal quickly.