Had an interesting day today.

[LuckyCharms]

I've posted that I had a stroke a few months ago, and then had a bad fall in my bathroom shortly after that. I fell right through a door. I have a ton of spinal problems, but I really fucked my back further when I fell. Not sure why I fell. The stroke only affected my vision, so I have no typical stroke after effects like paralysis, etc., so I'm doing alright except for my back. The problem is mind bending tailbone pain, and when it hits, I usually drop to one knee, screaming.

I've had these spinal problems for years, and my philosophy for my back pain has always been to keep moving, keep working. Go slow, be careful, but keep moving. Don't let it defeat you type of thing. The acute back pain normally abates after 3 to 4 weeks.

So I spent the weekend doing landscaping. Stonework, etc.

I was on the ground on my stomach, busting out an old stone tree ring to replace it. I only get under that tree around once every two years, so it was pretty disgusting. Tons of spiders, branches that had to be pruned because they were growing too close to the ground, that type of thing.

While I was on my stomach, the tailbone pain hit, I screamed, and then realized that I couldn't get up. I couldn't' even roll over. I finally managed to roll over onto my back, but that was about all I could manage. So I'm laying there on my back, in the one spot wear the sun happened to be beating down around the tree, in all of this dirt and sand that I had used to level the tree ring that I busted out. There were all kinds of little spiders under there. I don't know if there was a nest there, or what. Some huge bug crawled up behind one of my knee pads, and I couldn't reach down to get it out of there, so it tortured me.

I had my cellphone on me, so I was going to call my wife who was in the house, but I knew she wouldn't answer. I knew she was on a weekly Sunday phone call on the landline, and her goddamn cell phone is always turned off.

So then I started thinking "I bet those motherfuckers next door heard me scream and are looking out their window at me flopping around like a fish and they won't come out here to help me, so I'll just lay here and fucking die".

Then I fell asleep.

I don't know how long I was asleep, but my face got cooked from the sun, and I woke up because there were two little spiders on my face, one on my lip, and one crawling up my nostril.

My wife finally came running out of the house and said "OMG, do you need help"?

I sarcastically replied "What makes you think that"?

[MLAA]

1. Sounds like a really bad dream! Glad the day is finally over.

[LuckyCharms]

7. .

[cachukis]

2. Right there, you defined the individual versus society.

Alone is alone.

[LuckyCharms]

4. Yep, was actually think a lot about this today.

I saw this really old man take a bad fall in a crowded grocery store one. My instinct was to run to him. I did that, put my hand on his back, and asked him "what hurts"?

Before I got to him though, people were actually stepping over him.

[rsdsharp]

3. I hope you're feeling better, and your back pain improves quickly.

Years ago, I ruptured a quadriceps tendon while mowing the lawn. I managed to hop to the front door while hanging on to the mower. I yelled to my wife, and when she came out I told I had fallen and gestured to my right leg. She looked at a scab on my shin, totally ignoring the fact that my right knee was swollen to the size of a fucking basketball, and said (as God is my witness) “Ah, you gots a boo-boo!”

No shit, dear, but that ain’t it.

[LuckyCharms]

6. Oh no!

I'm sorry that happened to you! I can picture this...damn, that must have hurt.

[rsdsharp]

8. It did sting a bit. Not as much as the repair

that involves drilling holes in the knee cap and suturing the tendon to it, but still.

I admit waiting for the surgery on the morning of Halloween was not real confidence building when all the staff at the hospital were dressed as witches and Frankenstein, and what not. At least I think they were. Coulda been the drugs!

[Shellback Squid]

5. your wife..........................

[NJCher]

9. I'd have called the police...

That was a nasty experience.

[LuckyCharms]

11. It's a fairly common occurrence here, unfortunately.

I've been trapped on the floor or the ground many times. Comes with the territory with back problems. I never really felt in danger, just felt frustration.

[NJCher]

13. But you suffered a burn

Commonplace or not, you are a citizen and a taxpayer. You deserved help and relief.

It happened to me once, too, and I was close to calling when I finally figured how to get up. I was in the middle of a field with nothing to hold on to or grasp to raise myself up. Blazing hot sun.

[Ziggysmom]

10. Time for the wife to keep her phone turned on! Why have a cell phone if you turn it off?

I'm caretaker for my disabled husband and I got him the iPhone watch with fall detection and I also can locate him from my phone to within about 20-30 feet. It makes me feel a bit better when I need to go out and he's alone.

Some years ago I fell square on my coccyx while rollerblading. Oh the tailbone pain, my eyes watered reading your post, the memory is that vivid. Do you have a donut for sitting? That helps a lot! Use sitting anywhere and especially driving. I got great relief from OTC Aleve, after a week or two the inflammation subsided, but I kept using my donut for a while longer. And on the private side, avoid straining with #2, get lots of fiber and drink enough water.

Take Care & Speedy Healing!

[LuckyCharms]

12. It's weird, the pain doesn't hit exactly on my tailbone.

Not to get too graphic, but it's about an inch to the right of it, just to the right of the top of my my butt crack.

It's not constant, but when it hits, it's brutal.

I'm so sorry to hear about your injury. I can't take NSAIDS. Once I am seated it is fine, but on the way down to the sitting position...oh boy. Doesn't hurt when using the bathroom, but I have to brace myself if I cough or sneeze.

Every one of my vertebrae has a bad disc, except for cervical. I'm thinking it's a bulging disc pressing against a nerve if I move a certain way. These things normally calm down for me in a few weeks. If not, I get a steroid injection and a short period of Prednisone.

I'm glad you are better now! What you went through doesn't sound like fun. I hope your husband is doing as well as he can, and kudos to you for being his caretaker. Remember to take care of yourself as well!

[highplainsdem]

14. I'm so sorry this happened, LuckyCharms! I hope the sunburn won't be

too bad, that you didn't get any bad insect bites, and that your back is better soon.

I have to admit I don't understand your wife not checking sooner to see if you were okay. If I'm indoors while someone I know is outdoors doing any kind of strenuous work, I'll check on them regularly, see if they're okay, ask if they need any help or maybe something cold to drink. I know how easily accidents can happen (I've had sacrolliac problems for 40 years from falling on black ice), and I don't assume that people can always call for help if they need it. Doesn't matter if the person working outside is family, a friend, or a hired worker -- it usually only takes seconds to check, to at least look to where they're working even if I stay inside.

[Laffy Kat]

15. OMG, LC, I am so sorry.

That sounded horrible. The pain, the spiders....