Tripped and Fell Today
Posted , 6 users are following.
Just wanted to ask about falling.....was out for my morning power walk (almost 2 years out from right TKR) - not paying attention and took a hard and fast fall to the pavement. Took me by such a surprise and I fell on my right arm and leg. Bloody and stunned, I walked home, not a happy person. So the soft tissue is swollen and knee is sore, but I can move it with no problem, so I'm guessing that the device is ok. Anyone have comments?? I'm icing it today, but hope to back to my walking routine tomorrow.
Thanks
Mary Ann
1 like, 13 replies
lyn32416 mary_ann60812
Posted
I'd want to make sure my device was not damaged so an x-ray might be prudent. My sister took a fall on her hip and her hip device became loose. Her knee device was o.k. I'd need the x-ray for reassurance. Good luck and be very careful and mindful in future. It's my biggest fear over shark attacks and funnel web spiders. I continue to live as well as I can but falling is something I try to avoid. I travel on escalators and walk miles in Asia on uneven roads and wear Merrells walkers or Nike Structures for support. Good luck.x
mary_ann60812 lyn32416
Posted
Thanks Lyn....I'll see how I'm doing in the morning.....to add insult to injury, my left ankle is swollen, no doubt from the way it twisted on the road, so right now, that is more painful than the right knee/leg. I was just walking a bit too close to the edge where the road was uneven and bam! before I knew what was happening, I was down - no time to brace myself. I never thought or feared about falling as I'm pretty active, but now, I know I'll be very careful where I walk.
gerianne_69769 mary_ann60812
Posted
I asked my surgeon about falling. He said the artificial knee would be fine. It's very strong. He also said that if anything would be damaged....it would be the bones themselves. So....I agree with the advice given above....get an X-ray to make sure NOTHING is damaged. Falling is also one of my biggest fears.
mary_ann60812 gerianne_69769
Posted
That's what I figured Gerianne....this device is indestructible....never thought about the area around it. Thanks for your comment
davidjk22 mary_ann60812
Posted
I had a bad fall just before Christmas last year , stepped off a 3 foot high wall in the dark and landed on concrete fooor . I have 2 replacement knees , one is 19½ years and the other is 17½ years old . My first thoughts were about the knees and the damage that may have been caused . Fortunatly my knees were fine , the only damage I suffered was a very bad gash on my left shin , a few aches and pains but nothing serious . I guess these new knees are quite tough once they are recovered and part of us .
mary_ann60812 davidjk22
Posted
Geez, that's a tough fall. Good to know these will outlast the rest of the body. I'm icing what seems to be a sprain to the other ankle, so if that's my only issue, along with cuts and scrapes, I'm good to go. Thanks for your comment
davidjk22 mary_ann60812
Posted
When I had my first tkr I was told it would last 10 to 15 years at the most . I have had check ups and xrays every year since . At my last check up almost 3 years ago my surgeon told me all was ok , no sign of any problems and yearly checks were not needed , just go back if I have any problems . Don't know about them outlasting the rest of the body , I'm 75 and am trying to beat my mother's lifespan of 100 years .
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mary_ann60812 davidjk22
Posted
cheryl90571 mary_ann60812
Posted
Hi MaryAnn!
Sorry to hear about your fall.
It's good to hear that all seems fine.
I was wrapping our backyard hose
last night, one loop caught on the
edge of the patio bricks I put down
as a place for the 100 feet of hose
to keep it out of my soil. Before I
knew it I had lost my balance and
flew against the siding. My bottom
landed in the soil just narrowly
escaping one of my tomato plants.
My right leg (TKR October 2015)
landed in a twisted position, and my
left leg (TKR June 2015) landed in
a normal bend.
I sat there assessing whether I was
hurt or not. Of course my first
thoughts went to my devices im-
planted in both knees! They both
seemed fine. THEN I needed to
figure out how to GET UP off the
ground without kneeling. NOT an
easy task, for SURE!😨I scooted
on my bottom off the soil and onto
the coil of hose. I leaned over to
try to reach the deck railing. I got
it! THEN I had to pull myself up.
That's when I felt a very sharp pain
in my right leg.😖 I stood there
awhile deciding what to do. ( I am a
VERY stubborn (I like to call it
PERSISTENT!) person, so I was
going to DO THIS myself no matter
what.
I found that walking didn't hurt
UNTIL I slightly twisted my leg.
Owwwwwwwww!😵 Didn't want to
do THAT again!
I walked inside and got ice. I told my
husband what had happened when
he came downstairs after his
shower. I iced my leg for 20 minutes
then took the ice off. I tried moving
my leg. Again, PAIN-PAIN-PAIN if I
even slightly twisted it. I took
Ibuprofen, had some tea and had
my husband get the crutches from
the garage...just in case.
Before bed as I was walking I heard
and felt a POP. My leg felt MUCH
better! Hmmmmmm!🤔
We went to bed, I MUST have slept
all night, AND I must not have had
any pain. When I woke up I was
back to normal. That POP must have
been my leg aligning itself again!
I thanked God for making legs
that will DO THAT and for repairing
me!
I felt fine today.
Falls are very scary, but the body
seems to deal with it.
I was thinking I MIGHT Check with
my doctor, but I decided I was OK.
I hope YOU are doing well!??
mary_ann60812 cheryl90571
Posted
Cheryl, I'm smiling reading your post...just because I'm picturing the task of getting up from "being down". Even if I'm on the floor doing exercises, it takes me about 3 minutes to find a way to get up. When I fell, aside from being stunned that it happened....I was thankful no one was driving by! And I feel no worse today, actually, my other ankle is swollen (probably a slight spain) which I'm icing. But knee made it through!!
I'm glad we found this out in a not so serious way. Except for David...falling 3 feet...YIKES! Thanks for responding Cheryl....stay safe and tame that hose!
cheryl90571 mary_ann60812
Posted
Glad you are still feeling ok on the second day! Sometimes injuries are worse that next day. Ankles can be real buggers! I sprained my left one forty years ago, and it STILL acts up at times! Ice is good. Ibuprofen is good, too, and it gets me through the intermittent pain cycle.
You mentioned getting down on the floor to exercise and getting up again. Do you kneel on your prosthesis? I have just completely AVOIDED getting down on the floor since my surgeries.
Ah, that hose often has a mind of its own! It is a "no-kink" variety which is pretty good at not kinking, BUT the drawback is it is always pretty stiff. I have to wrangle it like a cowgirl! ( I am strong but DEFINITELY no cowgirl! 100 feet of it gives me a workout. Sometimes I win, but yesterday day before yesterday IT had ME! GARDENING: The new MMA Challenge!
Stay safe!??
mary_ann60812 cheryl90571
Posted
Well, I only have had my right knee done (but the left is in same condition as right, before surgery). I'm determined to keep it at bay. So, I don't kneel much on my right knee, and if I do, it's not for long and I always put extra padding under both - like a foam pad (gyms would have something to use) or I just use a towel folded many times. It's not pleasant - my Dr. told me kneeling would not hurt my knee, but that it would not feel good. But I have found on youtube...any exercise for the core/butt can be done standing so that's what I usually use. Just search for standing abs workouts on youtube.
Those of you who have had both knees done...you have my utmost admiration!
cheryl90571 mary_ann60812
Posted
Thanks for answering! I usually bend way over at the waist or sit on a chair or stool if I need to get close to the ground/ floor. I really miss being able to sit on the floor, though.
Having my second knee done was necessary because it was as bad as my first one. I actually couldn't WAIT to be done with the pain! Best two things I did for myself in years!!!