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nocoincidences

(2,195 posts)
Fri Feb 12, 2021, 09:56 PM Feb 2021

I walked into a door last night,

actually, early this morning. It was a pee trip, of course, and I am used to the door being open, that was closed.

I do this half asleep, of course, shuffling along the path from bed to bathroom, certain that the short walk is obstacle-free. Last night, there was a door where I didn't expect to meet one, and it knocked me smooth on my copious butt.

I am 73 with very weak knees and legs. So when I end up on the floor, there is no getting up without assistance. Sometimes both of my roommates are necessary. Last night it took one of them but we worked very hard to make it happen. I won't describe the horrifying details, the tries and fails until we finally got my bulk up onto an ottoman, from where I could then stand up. As usual, the process was humiliating, even when both of us have a sense of humor about it.

Today I used my Google-fu to research tricks for getting off the floor. There are some nifty devices that would definitely work for me and my abilities/disabilities, but the one I like the most cost 1500 dollars! Medicare will most decidedly not pay for that, so I looked for some cheaper possibilities. My favorite was a trick using books, which are abundantly available here. You slip a book under each cheek, and then keep building up a tower by leaning to one side and then the other, until you reach a height where your cranky knees will work again, and move you over to a sofa or chair. This process requires another person, obviously, but it would spare her back getting strained struggling to wrestle my useless bulk around.

Today, my tailbone and the top of one foot (don't know how that happened) are fussing at me but I seem not to have seriously injured any body parts.

So.....do any of you have any favorite tricks to hoist yourself off the floor? Assuming bad knees are not assisting?

27 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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I walked into a door last night, (Original Post) nocoincidences Feb 2021 OP
I don't, but would love to see what folks post here rurallib Feb 2021 #1
That book method Ohiogal Feb 2021 #2
I don't have any suggestions, except that you might want to get some night lights The Velveteen Ocelot Feb 2021 #3
Ouch, that's rough. Wicked Blue Feb 2021 #4
of course I dont presume to know how bad your knees are drray23 Feb 2021 #5
I was incapacitated a few years ago and couldn't get up when I fell captain queeg Feb 2021 #6
Make sure you tell them you fell at your next medical appointment underpants Feb 2021 #7
Thanks for that helpful video Rorey Feb 2021 #10
Excellent video-- that's how I get up off the floor. I am 73 and have some balance problems... TreasonousBastard Feb 2021 #12
Well, how about help with the bad knee part? TigressDem Feb 2021 #8
Would it be feasible to keep a flashlight at your bedside? Rorey Feb 2021 #9
Yes, a flashlight --- and I keep a night light permanently plugged in in the bathroom. That way if fierywoman Feb 2021 #11
My issue is mildly arthritic knees and badly arthritic hands/wrists. Staph Feb 2021 #13
There's also motion sensor night lights. blueinredohio Feb 2021 #14
I have crappy knees (they're both bone-on-bone), and I meditate seated on the floor every night... wackadoo wabbit Feb 2021 #15
I can visualize what you are saying nocoincidences Feb 2021 #17
Oh yes, I totally understand. If anyone wants to torture me, all they need to do is make me kneel, wackadoo wabbit Feb 2021 #24
Thanks to all for support and good ideas. nocoincidences Feb 2021 #16
Try this ailsagirl Feb 2021 #18
I like these moves! nocoincidences Feb 2021 #19
You're most welcome ailsagirl Feb 2021 #22
I am so sorry you were hurt and glad it wasn't very serious. Laffy Kat Feb 2021 #20
Thank you! nocoincidences Feb 2021 #21
I roll over onto my knees and grab hold of whatever is nearby to pull myself up. tblue37 Feb 2021 #23
SO very sorry to hear about your situation. Fla Dem Feb 2021 #25
"Have you fallen recently?"...first thing my Dr. ALWAYS asks me. Tikki Feb 2021 #26
Oh yeah! nocoincidences Feb 2021 #27

rurallib

(62,346 posts)
1. I don't, but would love to see what folks post here
Fri Feb 12, 2021, 09:59 PM
Feb 2021

As I was telling my brother the other day, when I go down I make a plan to get back up before I drop.

What did you google? I have been trying to think of a phase to even put into google.

The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,280 posts)
3. I don't have any suggestions, except that you might want to get some night lights
Fri Feb 12, 2021, 10:03 PM
Feb 2021

that you can place on the wall along the baseboards, so you don't run into doors or other things in the dark. Sorry you had such a struggle, hope it doesn't happen again.

drray23

(7,587 posts)
5. of course I dont presume to know how bad your knees are
Fri Feb 12, 2021, 10:06 PM
Feb 2021

but my wife is 71. She broke her femur badly four years ago. She had surgery to fix it and ended up with a leg 1 inch shorter than the other. This took her two years to recover from and she had balance issues. She could not get off the floor if she fell.

What ended up working is extensive physical therapy and then Yoga. She regained enough strength, flexibility and balance to now be able to easily get off the floor.

Maybe you could work with a therapist to see if they could teach you a way to maneuver your body to get up.

I wish you the best of luck. I know from my wife's experience how frustrating and even scarry it can be to not be able to get up.

captain queeg

(10,036 posts)
6. I was incapacitated a few years ago and couldn't get up when I fell
Fri Feb 12, 2021, 10:10 PM
Feb 2021

I’d crawl back to the bed and use it to pull me self back into the bed. Hard on the knees but it worked.

TreasonousBastard

(43,049 posts)
12. Excellent video-- that's how I get up off the floor. I am 73 and have some balance problems...
Fri Feb 12, 2021, 10:27 PM
Feb 2021

There have been times I have fallen outside, and if I'm lucky (or smart) I have a sturdy cane with me that I can use to leverage myself up.

TigressDem

(5,121 posts)
8. Well, how about help with the bad knee part?
Fri Feb 12, 2021, 10:10 PM
Feb 2021

I was working in a warehouse with lots of younger folk who could get down on the floor and get back up again - from cement.

We had these small cushions with handles like they use in gardening and if I put one of those down on the floor I could be there a few seconds without my knees freaking out.

I had a real horrible time with my back too, so even though I was in my late 20's at the time, I've used a walker. When your top half wants to go one way and the bottom the other type of pain.

With the walker you might not fall in the first place, the cushion might ease the knees and you could use the walker for leverage - even if you still needed help.


Rorey

(8,445 posts)
9. Would it be feasible to keep a flashlight at your bedside?
Fri Feb 12, 2021, 10:11 PM
Feb 2021

It's not an answer to your question (how to get up), but maybe it would help so you wouldn't run into things like closed doors.

I'm completely guilty of not turning on lights myself when I'm at home. When I'm somewhere else, which of course hasn't happened in a year, I use a flashlight. I used to spend one night a week at my son's family's house, and I always had a flashlight in my suitcase. I'd hold my hand over the actual light so I could just allow it to give off a slight glow so I didn't bother anyone else in the house. They have two cats and a toddler, so tripping over cats or toys was a possibility I wanted to avoid.

fierywoman

(7,641 posts)
11. Yes, a flashlight --- and I keep a night light permanently plugged in in the bathroom. That way if
Fri Feb 12, 2021, 10:25 PM
Feb 2021

the door was closed you'd notice it was darker and you'd move more carefully.
Ah, those late night trips ...

Staph

(6,245 posts)
13. My issue is mildly arthritic knees and badly arthritic hands/wrists.
Fri Feb 12, 2021, 10:34 PM
Feb 2021

Recently, I dropped myself to the floor, feeling faint. I could get up to my knees, but that I can't put my hands flat on the floor to push myself up. So I've butt-walked over to the down staircase, put my feet on the second step down, and I'm standing again.

But that's almost never a problem, because I've got nightlights all over the house.

wackadoo wabbit

(1,160 posts)
15. I have crappy knees (they're both bone-on-bone), and I meditate seated on the floor every night...
Fri Feb 12, 2021, 11:23 PM
Feb 2021

Last edited Sat Feb 13, 2021, 02:39 AM - Edit history (1)

so I have a little experience with this.

It's impossible for me to get up from a seated position on the floor. This is what I do to get up:

I get myself into position seated on the floor with my legs stretched out in from of me. Then I roll over, putting my hands on the ground to support myself as I twist around and also putting my knees on the ground as I come around. So now I'm sort of in a "table" position, with my hands and knees supporting me. At this point, it's easiest if I can use one of my hands to grab onto something sturdy and then heft myself up. If there's nothing to grab onto, I will put one of my feet on the floor approximately where the knee was located, put the hand on that side of the body on top of the knee for leverage, and hoist myself up. Do this on your stronger side. Regardless, there might be some (a lot?) of pain and/or wincing, but it does seem to work.

I realize this is not my most clear writing. If you think you might be interested in this technique, let me know and I can try to write something a bit easier to visualize.

nocoincidences

(2,195 posts)
17. I can visualize what you are saying
Fri Feb 12, 2021, 11:47 PM
Feb 2021

and I like the technique.

I get on my knees and I wonder if I have kneecaps, my knees hurt so much. But I can manage short-term pain. The question then becomes will the rest of the body be able to do the job?

Don't know til I try. I remember how my body has always worked, but when I try those moves, it doesn't work anymore.

Damn.

wackadoo wabbit

(1,160 posts)
24. Oh yes, I totally understand. If anyone wants to torture me, all they need to do is make me kneel,
Sat Feb 13, 2021, 08:58 AM
Feb 2021

especially if it's on a hard surface and I can't use my hands to support part of my weight. It's excruciating!

I truly hope this technique works for you.

It's a drag when our bodies don't work like they used to. Growing old definitely isn't for sissies.



nocoincidences

(2,195 posts)
16. Thanks to all for support and good ideas.
Fri Feb 12, 2021, 11:41 PM
Feb 2021

In case anyone else is having the same problem, here is the video that gave me the best ideas.

&t=475s

The covid quarantine is my biggest enemy right now. I just started a diet and have lost 6 lbs. but the thing I am missing is the exercise at the local rec center.

My house is not really set up for me to exercise, it is designed to keep the cats happy and behaving, i.e. no rugs, just bare floor. One of my cats is very old, like 21 this year, and if there is anything in the floor, he pees on it. If I had non-skid rugs around that would help. I am ridiculously attached to him, so what he wants he gets. I know he will be leaving me this year and I am heartbroken anticipating it.

I should be getting the first vaccine shot in the next few weeks, and then I can feel better about going back to the rec center for exercise.

But I can't expect miracles from exercise. Improvements, yeah.

I am old. I am not denying that or making excuses, it just is. I can do some mitigation, but there is body deterioration that overrides happy thinking/talking.

So now, it is about finding ways to trick my body into doing what I want it to.

tblue37

(64,982 posts)
23. I roll over onto my knees and grab hold of whatever is nearby to pull myself up.
Sat Feb 13, 2021, 01:13 AM
Feb 2021

My main problem is deteriorating lumbar discs. My knees are not great, but I can still use them.

Fla Dem

(23,352 posts)
25. SO very sorry to hear about your situation.
Sat Feb 13, 2021, 11:39 AM
Feb 2021

Thankfully, I'm still a fairly mobile and limber person, although I do have my issues. But I can't imagine not being able to get up off the floor. How scary AND frustrating for you. Glad you had help. Please take care.

Tikki

(14,539 posts)
26. "Have you fallen recently?"...first thing my Dr. ALWAYS asks me.
Sat Feb 13, 2021, 01:10 PM
Feb 2021

I am on near 72 years old. There is a reason they ask.
I am betting you are doing fine, but please let your Dr. know if anything seems out of the ordinary any time ahead.

I am not here to lecture. I am just glad you are alright. And thanks for the tips.

Tikki

nocoincidences

(2,195 posts)
27. Oh yeah!
Sat Feb 13, 2021, 01:24 PM
Feb 2021

The office information form always has a question about it!

I went through a period a few years ago of falling about every 3-4 months. I broke bones in my foot in one fall but mostly they were just embarrassing. I finally figured out I was trying to move too fast, and my body just didn't work that way anymore. Once I slowed down the falls stopped. My balance is horrible, and that is another part of the problem.

This was a function of not being sufficiently awake. I do have night lights around that path to the bathroom but I just didn't want to wake up any more than I had to for the trip. But last night I made damn sure that door was open!!

Thanks for your concern and be careful!! All of us are getting fragile and it hurts to admit it!

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