Fell and broke shoulder several wks ago..Am 79 y/o. Really down.
Posted , 3 users are following.
I am 79 y/o. Three wks ago today I fell on the side (forwards) and broke my shoulder ... opted out of surgery since it was a choice. (arm in sling) I am no longer having any shoulder pain, just some stiffness, achy, etc, at times.
The first 2 weeks I feel I felt 'better' than the last few days when I am so weak like, dead tired, miserably discouraged... I have Xrays taken this coming Friday and it will be a relief to know they are 'ok.'
I know I may sound 'strange'...but is it 'common' for elderly to feel WORSE after all this time? Has anyone gone through this type of thing and felt like this? I just am so down, guess I need some encouragement... Would appreciate any and all responses. Thank you...very much.
0 likes, 15 replies
devsmom betty47942
Posted
Greetings Betty, I hope that you have good news on Friday. I don't think that your roller coaster emotions are due to your age. Don't you remember menopause? Oh my gosh that was really ups and downs. I'm 70 and also fell and broke my 5th metatarsal (foot). I didn't have the option of just a sling. It was my first broken bone and they threatened me with surgery if my foot didn't heal because I wasn't 20 y/o anymore. Thanks! Like I didn't know that. It sounds like physically you are doing very very well with no pain after 3 weeks. I was in a non weight bearing cast for 4 weeks and used a knee scooter to get around in the house. I couldn't do stairs and I couldn't drive. In a boot with a walker after that for another 4 weeks but now I'm back to normal. I felt sorry for myself and cried a lot especially because I had been active and was such a lump. Showering was a nightmare. What are you doing to get your mind out of the funk you're in? I always felt better when a friend would come over with a latte and we would just chat. You can get outdoors? The weather is beautiful now. I just love to take a walk and see all the neighbor's flowers. The roses are especially nice. Are you too weak to get outside? Do you drive? Can you watch old movies at home? I've been watching the old black and white classics. Fun. I hate to say this but the only thing that you can do when your feeling miserable is to breathe deep and push yourself to do something to get your mind off of how you feel. I cleaned out a lot of drawers. When I was busy I wasn't thinking about how bad I felt and why did this happen to me etc. You are a lucky gal on a computer at 79! Use it to research something of interest. Have you done a family tree? I hope you get some replies from this post that will lift your spirits. Best wishes.
betty47942 devsmom
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I am doing OK now...counting my blessings.
nancy97697 betty47942
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Sorry to hear about your injury and hope you will feel better after your coming xrays.Do you live alone? Have you been able to get out and about? It is so important to keep your spirits up while you are healing and maybe unable to have your "normal" life so I hope you are getting lots of support. I am used to spending a lot of time alone and 22 days post-op from removal of 9yr-old hardware and ruptured tendon repair of left thumb and it is definitely difficult not being able to drive. So I will be praying for your recovery. I will be 78 in July and just trying to keep everything working! They do tell us "elderly" it takes longer for us to heal so I hope you can be patient while you are healing. Best wishes and I want to know how you are doing.
nancy97697 betty47942
Posted
Hi Betty, How are you doing? Hope you are having some good days. I am so anxious to get back to my "normal" life. I feel so isolated not driving. I do like spending time alone but am feeling very much like I need more social life. I even tried to get into a chat room just to be able to talk with someone, but couldn't figure out how to do it. Will have to work on that. It is a beautiful day so guess I need to go for a little walk and enjoy nature. Just know you are in my thoughts and prayers. Nancy
betty47942 nancy97697
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devsmom betty47942
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It is great to have friends nearby. Are we not to say where we live?? I'm in Washington State. It's pretty big. Haha. When I moved here I didn't know anyone! I joined 3 groups to make friends. WeightWatchers, a Newcomer's Club, and the Parks and Rec Center. Parks have senior classes of all types. Other's join a Church. Ya got to have friends! Good luck Betty and Nancy.
nancy97697 devsmom
Posted
I live in Illinois. I have always wanted to visit Seattle because I love rainy weather. Not a hot weather person. I have lived in my present home for 7 years and joined a church right away and am active in church but since I shouldn't be driving with splint on my left arm I just can't do what I would like to be doing. One of my church family took me to lunch today and that was nice. I have a daughter here in town but she is very busy with children, work, etc. I'm doing fine and see my surgeon tomorrow and hope he is as pleased as my therapist.
nancy97697 betty47942
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devsmom nancy97697
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It sounds like you are doing great and the surgeon will be pleased. Seattle is a great place to visit because there is so much to do in and around the city. You have Chicago where my family first settled when coming to the US in the early 1900's. Everyone but one has scattered since then. I'm just above Portland OR. now. You seem to have a good support network. It's important.
nancy97697 devsmom
Posted
Doctor was pleased but said "we have a long way to go." I think he's done with his part. The "we" is myself and the therapist! I have a lot of scar tissue at incision site on my thumb and I can wiggle it but not really flex it. Doc did say he "tethered it" and I didn't think at the time to ask "tethered to what?" I'm assuming another tendon because it seems when I try to flex my thumb, my index finger wants to move too. Trying to stay positive that it will get better
devsmom nancy97697
Posted
Hi Nancy, Gosh, you have to find out just what "tethered it" means. Very interesting. What kind of exercises or treatments does your therapist do? I remember when I fell and injured my hand. I was seen by a "hand" therapist. I was in a brace for a while and also did hand exercises in warm water. The water helped because it provided "some" resistance for strength and buoyancy for easier movement. I think your therapist can tell you how long it will take you to fully recover. Of course you have to do the work. But, think how wonderful it will be to be able to drive again. When I had a Jones fracture last year I couldn't drive for 2 months. Horrible. If I ever break my foot again It better be my left one so I can drive. Good luck with your recovery. It does take "us" longer to heal. As my orthopedist said "you're not 20 anymore". Just in my mind!
nancy97697 devsmom
Posted
Hi, thanks for writing.The therapist went into doc's op notes but could not see what it was tethered to. I'm at 5 wks post-op and leaving for short vacation with daughter & granddaughters tomorrow and hope I will be able to do more vigorous therapy on 7/14. He has been doing an electrode treatment from tendon in wrist to grafted tendon in my thumb to help it to re-learn. Took a fall earlier this evening in my garage. Thank you Lord I did not fall on that thumb (didn't have spint on.) but did scrape my left elbow pretty good, scraped left knee and it is swollen and hard to walk and slammed my forehead into the wall and have goose egg. Putting ice on everything and will stay up late in case of concussion. But my hard head seems ok. No symptons. Don't want my daughter to worry tonight so I'll tell her when she picks me up tomorrow morning. Good thing I didn't plan on doing much except relaxing in Florida! For sure we aren't 20 or even 50 anymore. Could be a lot worse!
devsmom nancy97697
Posted
I hope you have a great and relaxing time in Florida. No falling allowed! What's with that anyway? I've also been falling but it's been in the soft dirt of the garden but I did hit my head on the fence. I think I don't have the balance that I did just a few years ago, like 40 years ago. Let us know how your trip goes and further therapy. Will your daughter be upset with you for not telling her before tomorrow? She'll get over it. Have FUN.
nancy97697 devsmom
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Had a good time in Florida. My daughter was ok with me not calling her when I fell. I did tell her I will go back to the arhritis pool class again and do some balancing exercizes also. My kids (4) are good about not fussing at me. I think they know it wouldn't do any good! But it does make me think about "how much longer are you going to be able to live alone?" I do have a place in mind when it's necessary. But I enjoy a lot of alone time so I don't know how I'll like a lot of people around. Had therapy this AM and still about the same. Thanks for writing. Hope you are doing well.
devsmom betty47942
Posted
Hi Betty, I've been thinking about you and wonder how you have been doing physically and mentally. Even if you are not feeling "better" don't be afraid to express yourself. Let us know what's up.