I'm such a klutz!!

[geminigirl1963]

I am such a klutz!!!  The day before yesterday, I had just finished showering and was beginning to dry off - I had my foot up on the edge of the tub like I always do and BAM, that foot slipped and next thing I know I'm seeing stars from banging the living HE** out of my inside lower shin/ankle area on the side of the tub.  Apparently the top of the tub was wetter/slipperier than I thought.  Fortunately, I live in an apartment complex that is completely ADA compliant and has grab bars in the tub and toilet areas - I ALWAYS hold on to at least one of these bars while I'm showering and drying off - so therefore, I didn't go completely down.  If I had, I'd probably STILL be laying there, because there is NO way I can get up out of the tub or off the floor without MAJOR assistance.

That day and yesterday, the area that I hit was EXTREMELY tender to the touch and had some bruising - it was also throbbing and hurt worse when I would go to stand.  I've been icing it and keeping it elevated as much as possible.  Today, I have about a softball size area that it deep purple, still very tender to the touch and somewhat swollen.  The painful area has extended past the area that was originall hurting and is now higher on the leg and also farther down into the inside ankle area and even into the arch of my foot.

Of course, with my "wonderful" (NOT!) luck, the leg that I injured is the opposite leg from the one that I've been having so many hip problems with lately.  So therefore, I'm basically waddling because of both sides hurting!  NOT PRETTY!!

I'm now seriously considering getting one of those emergency button things that you wear.  At the very least, I've most definitely decided that I will NOT go into the bathroom (or anywhere) without having at least my cell phone with me.  Obvioulsy, it would be completely and totally embarassing to have to call the rescue squad (or anyone else) to say "Help, I've fallen, I'm naked and I can't get up", but it would be even worse to fall and then lay there for possibly days before someone came looking for me.

As far as the hip goes - I'm waiting on a call back from the hip specialist's office.  When I was there to see him, he strongly suggested doing another cortisone injection into the hip - but this time with xray/fluroscopy guidance.  He basically said that the injection the PA gave me was pretty much a waste because without that guidance, they can't be sure that they get it directly into the joint where it needs to be - and that could be why I didn't get any relief from it.  He said that if I do this injection and get even two minute's worth of relief from it, then we definitely know the pain is coming from the joint (he has told me that I WILL need both hips replaced at some point), but if I don't even get a twinge of relief from it, then we need to do further searching to find the cause because that will mean the pain is not coming directly from the joint.  Anyway - he sent me home to think about it, which I did, and I've called them to make the arrangements (it has to be done at the hospital or at a radiologic intervention place), so now I'm just waiting for them to call me with the details as to when and where.

So I guess this really isn't a question, more of an update and a way to (hopefully) laugh at myself for being such a klutz!

[geminigirl1963]

I also will continue to pray that all your tests come out ok for you to have your surgery.  I can understand why they have to be careful about things when you're dealing with anesthesia, especially for a surgery that could last several hours.  I remember my pre-op testing for my shoulder replacement surgery was pretty involved also and I know a hip surgery is much more involved than a shoulder.  Please keep me posted on what you hear - I'll have my fingers, toes, eyes, etc - everything crossed that it's good news.  

I promise I'll be very careful - and I want you to promise me the same, please - definitely don't want you to do any more damage to that hip (or anything else) before surgery.

Thanks again for everything.

Robyn

[namnam46]

Because you have your Power Chair is the reason that I OFFERED the use of one of my Walker's!!  :)  LOL

It's VERY possible that your bad hip DEFINITELY could have ADDED to the reason that you slipped.  I'm so glad that you are being extra careful with EVERY step that you take.  I am too and that's why I was so upset about a month or so back when I took that spill.   It's hare to understand how careful WE are unless you are walking on unstable joints like we are. :(  

I haven't heard anything yet Robyn.  I had the x-ray today and the second EKG on Friday morning.  I just HOPE and PRAY that they come out ACCEPTABLE for this surgery.  They are extra careful with this surgery as you have to be under between 1 1/2 hours up to 3 or more IF they run into difficulties OR have to remove the ball from the Femur, therefore I can understand why they are checking everything so carefully.

NOW Please promise me that you WILL be VERY careful - Young Lady!!!  OK??  :)


You are in my thoughts and Prayers.........Mama Sherry

[geminigirl1963]

Thank you Sherry for everything.  You are soooo right - I even said that to myself after I slipped that I was soooo fortunate that it wasn't the hip that has been giving me so much trouble - I know for a fact that if it had been, I would have definitely ended up in the ER.  I am wondering, though, if maybe that bad hip kind of gave out a little and that's part of the reason that I slipped - it all happened so fast that I really don't know which may have happened first (if it did happen at all with the bad hip)

Your comment about having walker races really did give me a chuckle :)  Thank you!  Actually I have my power chair that I got a couple of months ago, so I'm afraid I would have an unfair advantage against you!  Of course, with the hip, sitting has been the most painful positioin, so I've been going from the power chair to waddling to the bed, so on and so forth.

I am so fortunate to have those grab bars in the tub - things most definitely could have been a lot worse if I didn't have those to hold on to.  I'm always so afraid of falling (I've had other falls in the past too), that I try not to take any chances, especially in the tub.  I most definitely will be watching EVERY step I take for a good while now.

I'm still quite nervous about the next hip injection since I had such adverse reactions to the last one.  HOWEVER, if this one does give me at least a little relief, it will be well worth any side effects I have to endure.

Have you heard any more on your chest Xray or other testing for your surgery?  I'm saying extra special prayers that they find out everything is a go for your scheduled surgery date and that it gives you WONDERFUL relief from your pain.  You most definitely deserve it.

(((HUGS))) to you also,
Robyn

[namnam46]

Oh MY Dear Robyn!!!  

How frightening for you to slip and fall like that!!! THANK heavens for the bars that you have to hang on to.  I KNOW how bad it is the next day after a fall like that. You must be EXTREMELY sore on top of the pain and waddling around like you are!!  I wish we lived closer as I would lend you the EXTRA Walker that I have!!!  Then we could have RACES down the sidewalk!!!  (Just rying to make you smile as i KNOW how sore and painful this has been for you my Dear!!)

I'm so sorry that you are having to go through all of this pain in addition to the arthritic pain that you have 24/7 and now are having to bare EASILY double that pain now.  

I know that this will sound crazy BUT I think you might have been fortunate that it WASN'T your "bad" leg and hip as it could have caused pain as you have NEVER felt before IF you hit the arthritic part of your hip you would have had pain that you have NEVER felt before.  Take my word on this one.  You'll get over this and it SHOULDN'T (I say - SHOULDN'T) cause the arthritis to get worse ANY faster than normal.  

I'm SO glad that you are having the injection done again with the xray/fluroscopy so that they can hit the correct place and HOPEFULLY give  you extended relief!!!

Robyn, PLEASE let us know how you are doing.  I've VERY concerned about you and I hope and PRAY that you will recover as QUICKLY as possible!!

I'm sending you ((((HUGS!!)))).......Mama Sherry