My fellow seniors, this past Monday I fell. I was lucky though.

[raccoon]

I tripped on the sidewalk and fell across the narrow sidewalk onto the grass. Main injury was my left hand – – which is the hand I use – – was badly bruised. I thought maybe it was fractured but later on in the week I went to the doctor and she said it wasn’t. It is getting a lot better.

It wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t been hurrying to catch the mail carrier before he left. Note to self: don’t get in a hurry like that. It wouldn’t have mattered at all whether I’d caught him before he left or not. I would’ve ultimately gotten the mail anyway.

Just wanted to post this as a warning to others and myself not to get in a hurry when you don’t need to.

[FM123]

1. Oh no, please take care and feel better soon.

Thank you for sharing your story with us. Yes, we must be careful not get ourselves into a hurry like that when we don't need to, falls (and worse) can happen.

[left-of-center2012]

2. Glad you are OK

Knock on wood, most of my falls have been at home and so far have got nothing worse than a bloody nose.
I live alone with no close friends or family in the state.
73, disabled, unsure of the future.

[True Blue American]

5. Black ice on the driveway

Broken wrist, right one taking out the trash can. A lesson I never forgot.

Take care and be careful, both of you if you do not have a Security button, carry cell phone in pocket at all times.

[samnsara]

3. OMG I hope youre ok! Falling is my biggest fear..

...even stairs I wont go down without holding onto a hand rail.

[mountain grammy]

4. Glad you're ok. Thanks for the reminder.

[zanana1]

6. I have to look at the ground when I walk...

I have something called Charcot Marie Tooth disease. I can't pick up my feet enough when I walk. If I don't wear my braces and look at the ground, I'm either on my face or my ass. Fortunately, I have alot of cushioning on my ass.
I hope your hand feels better soon. It's such a pain when using your hand is painful. Sending good vibes your way.

[Jokerman]

7. My mom learned that the hard way.

When she was in her mid-sixties she tripped on a rug while running to answer the phone. She fell hard into a doorway breaking her arm in three places and dislocating her shoulder. Of course, the answering machine picked up so she missed nothing and gained a long, painful recovery period.

I remind my wife of this every time I see her running to get her phone when it rings.

[SCantiGOP]

9. My Mom fell twice in a year

And broke her nose both times.
Her response was to say that she might have really gotten hurt had she not broken her fall with her face.

[lillypaddle]

8. Thank god it was only a bruised hand

Thanks for the reminder - these days I am always mindful when I go up or down even one step. Suffered a fractured ankle in 2009, and I'm still paying for it.

[Bayard]

10. Glad you're okay!

I'm a klutz. And the older I get, the klutzier I get. Mostly tripping over things, or getting my feet tangled up in something around the farm. I try not to fall on my right, because I've already broken that arm/wrist twice.

[procon]

11. Do consider using a cane.

I resisted out of pride because I saw canes as the undeniable acknowledgement that I was old and embarrassingly in need of assistance. Well, as the old saw goes, "pride goeth before the fall".

When I finally relented and bought a cane, I realized how helpful they are in saving me from tripping, falls or being off balance. Just as you would put your arm out to break your fall, the cane serves the same purpose with the added benefit of NOT falling. My cane keeps me balanced, steady and mobile, and now I feel silly for resisting getting one and I haven't had a fall since.

Maybe my shared experience will give you another option. Take care.

[pangaia]

12. We all hurry too much in our lives anyway.

We hurry 'inside.'

So.. we do not experience anything.

[forgotmylogin]

13. Stay safe!

My mom has broken both wrists in falls a decade apart. I'm glad she didn't break anything else, but her bones aren't up to the stress of reflexively catching herself.