Mom fell last night.

Lucy · Post by **Lucy** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 3:25 am

Hi friends,

Just wanted to let you know that Mom fell last night, right in front of me. We were walking her to her bed, and somehow, even though I had some kind of grip on her, apparently it wasn't good enough, but think I must've broken her fall a little bit going down.

Extent of discovered injuries thus far include a "skinned," bloody place on the left forehead, and another much smaller one on the right side, a bruised left forearm, and probably that side and around to the back of her shoulder will show more signs of bruising as time goes on, I'm certain. Oh, and she had a reddened stripe down the length of her nose -- rug burn, just like she had in the fall that lead to our family meeting to convince her of all the neuro things we were observing that weren't normal Sooo, her fall precipitated her diagnosis of PD at that point in time -- long time ago.

Mom's been having some pain in her left leg, particularly at night even before the fall when she lies down, so it's diffcult to say how much of the pain is due to this fall. One of her hands is turning bruised already, so figure she must've hit several points at one time. Sis examined her thoroughly before we attempted to pick her up off the floor and put her in bed. Hopefully, we'll not see any further damage later -- I dread the day when she ends up breaking a hip or having another major injury, particularly if it's a head injury. This is one of my biggest worries.

Have to get some sleep between checking her during the night. She seemed to be free of pain once she was put in bed, but by morning, I'm sure some Tylenol will be in order.

Not even going to proof this tonight, well, maybe grossly.

Yours, Luce

hazel · Post by **hazel** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 6:55 am

So sorry to read this, Lucy. I know how fast something like that can happen. I too hope nothing is broken. It is so hard when they are so fragile. I'll bet you're right, she'll be stiff and sore today. I hope that's the extent. And maybe she won't remember!

Hope you were able to get some rest. Have a strong cup of coffee or tea this morning!

We'll be thinking about you and Mom.

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 7:16 am

Luce,

I'm glad it wasn't worse. But is sure is scary, isn't it? They become so fragile. Hugs to you and Mom.

Love,

Polly

JJ · Post by JJ » Thu Jan 19, 2006 8:30 am

Hi Luce...sorry about your mom...let us know how she is....very scary when they fall....take care....JJ

Alice · Post by **Alice** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 12:30 pm

Lucy,.

I'm so sorry about your mom. I know all about falls, because my dad took numerous ones during the last couple years of his life. He broke his back and then his neck, and that was the beginning of the end, as they say. Falls can be very serious indeed.

I hope your mom is ok.

Love,
Alice

Peggy · Post by **Peggy** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 4:02 pm

I hope your Mom is okay Luce. Falls can be very scary.

Peg

Liz · Post by **Liz** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 4:50 pm

Hi Lucy. Hope you Mum feels better & heals soon. It is fortunate that nothing was broken as often happens with such falls. The leg pain may have contributed to it. Probably worth checking out.

But not toooo hard for Mum.

Love

Liz

Umber · Post by **Umber** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 6:01 pm

How very scary! I think some tylenol will be in order for you as well. I'm sure that you had quite a jolt in an attempt to break her fall.

I hope Mom is doing well today? Please let us know how both of you are doing.

Hugs

Lori

barbaranoela · Post by **barbaranoela** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 6:38 pm

Good wishes from me too Luce---

Hope mom is doing ok------and understanding the fear of a breakage--
I remember when my mom broke her hip---operated and pinned!!
And this threw her a curve ball----cus now she had to live with us until all was healed and she could get around--

Lets hear how things go~~~

luve Barbara

harvest_table · Post by **harvest_table** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 10:48 pm

Hey Luce,

So sorry to hear about your Moms fall. Yes, it could have been much worse so be thankful she didn't break a hip. My Mom fell about a year ago and did break her hip, had to have emergency surgery in Key West (of all places) and is still recovering.

I hope it didn't scare her too much. Take care and hang in there. Thinking about you.

Love,
Joanna

Lucy · Post by **Lucy** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 1:05 am

Friends,

Thanks for all your concern.
Will do the best I can to update you.

Thus far, she's definitely more sore all over, and her head hurts her, naturally. I'm mainly concerned about swelling inside of her head at this point. Hopefully, she won't have any bleeding inside.

She will really be mad at me if I make her see the orthopedist, particularly since he'd have to manipulate her limbs around which would hurt, and she'd not be too easy to get on an x-ray table either.

Haven't seen any new neuro symptoms, but sometimes things show up weeks later, soo..

We did accomplish a couple of things today.
Had looked at a real transporter chair as we have one that I mostly keep in the trunk that is sort of a homemade version that another supply store owner made for Mom out of an old wheelchair.

This new one has a no. of features that will come in handy. For one thing the foot rests will swing back out of the way, and are removable like a regular wheelchair, which also will make it lighter for lifting into the car trunk. Apparently, the newer wheelchairs and transporter chairs are coming out with built-in seat belts. (Why didn't they think of this long ago??)

Mom has a habit of jumping up everytime I step away from her a second, so this will prevent her from doing that, when we're out using the transporter chair someplace, or using it inside the house.

Also, this one takes up much less space because the back of the chair folds backwards in half, such that when it's folded up like a regular wheelchair does, it forms more of a square. It goes amazingly flat as well.

This should greatly help should we have to evacuate yet another possible hurricane in our area, particularly since I have to carry two of these things, just in case one breaks or she needs bigger wheels if we get stuck somewhere with rough terrain, like side of the road, for instance.

I'm hoping that we'll still be able to go to the thing that Dr. Fine's having in March, but will have to more or less wait and see. We'd just be able to stay for the Saturday sessions, but that's when the sessions we want to be sure to hear are scheduled.
Guess they planned it this way for those who wouldn't be able to attend Sunday.
I'm hoping that the three of us will be allowed to stay in one of the handicap rooms for the same fee so that I'll have help with Mom.

Sis said today, that she'd stay here with Mom if I wanted to go by myself, but I just feel like it'd be best for us all to be in the same place -- might be too hard on Sis's back in the current stage of Mom's condition, particularly since it's a little harder to move her right now -- getting her in and out of bed, etc.

Polly, do you know of any persons who are planning to attend in March? Not sure that Wayne will still try to make it due to all that's going on. You "listening" out there, Wayne?

Guess I should've posted this, about the conference, separately to get a head count, out of curiosity. Oh well.

Thanks again!
Yours, Luce

harvest_table · Post by **harvest_table** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 1:13 pm

Luce,

Thanks for the update. Keep the Faith!

Love,
Joanna

Mars · Post by **Mars** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 2:30 pm

Sorry to hear about you mom's fall Luce. I hope the aches and pains are mimimal.

Hang in there, we're thinking of you both.

Love,
Mars

annie oakley · Post by **annie oakley** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 3:47 pm

I am glad she wasn't hurt much. I hated having to move my mother when she was alive from bed to chair , potty etc. I was always afraid I'd drop her.......did once but no problems. I bet it scared you alot as well. Love Oma