My 1st time falling since being injured

[coolbreeze]

There i was sitting comfortably on the edge of my bed with both feet on the floor watching tv and chilling out i was amaze how easy it was.
My arms were in a good solid position on the bed behide my butt, I lean forward to reposition and lost my balance lol. I hit the floor hands and knuckles first and then came my knees to the floor, wow surprisingly i was on all 4's with no problem. My son help me back up to a sitting position on the edge the bed.
I wanted to do it myself but didn't know how to.

Falling wasn't in my plan, but was cool lol.
Anyone gotten up from a fall, if so what's a good
technique. Other then yelling for help lol.

[tarheelandy]

I've fallen @ 7 times since my injury. Always feel surreal to me because I can't feel my body sliding. You just end up on the floor and you never even felt it! Kind of an out of body experience for me.

[Lazlo]

First time I fell I was home alone, and I fell backward out of my chair. My arms weren't strong enough yet to pull myself back into the chair so I dragged myself and my chair into the living room. pulled myself up onto a footstool, then from the footstool to the chair. Amazing how resourceful you can be when you're all alone!

[SCI-Nurse]

Be careful. I know a number of people who fell just like this and sustained fractures of either femurs or tibias or both. If you note any swelling in your thighs, you need Xrays.

As far as getting back up, if you are strong and have good triceps you may be able to do an independent floor to wheelchair transfer. It takes practice, and is easiest to do in gradual babysteps by first going up onto a cushion or low stool, then onto your wheelchair if possible.

If you have a manual chair and cannot do this, and don't have a lift available (a good reason to keep on in the garage) then your wheelchair can be tipped all the way back with the push handles resting on the floor, then slid under you with your legs in a tight knees-to-chest position, and with help you may be able to bring the chair up (not by yourself). It usually takes 2 people, and is best to practice ahead of time if possible.

With a power chair, it generally is going to take a mechanical lift or a risky two person lift.

Leave the cushion off the chair until you get up using either technique.

(KLD)

[coolbreeze]

I've fallen @ 7 times since my injury. Always feel surreal to me because I can't feel my body sliding. You just end up on the floor and you never even felt it! Kind of an out of body experience for me.

I was in slow motion lol. It wasn't bad.:applaud:

[coolbreeze]

First time I fell I was home alone, and I fell backward out of my chair. My arms weren't strong enough yet to pull myself back into the chair so I dragged myself and my chair into the living room. pulled myself up onto a footstool, then from the footstool to the chair. Amazing how resourceful you can be when you're all alone!


I bet that was amazing! How long did it take to get back in your wc?:applaud:

[WheelieMike]

I don't remember my first fall, but I do remember how I got back into my chair, at first. I would go at the chair head on and then flip once I was in the chair. I had to even use my teeth by holding the back of the chair while I got a better grip with my hands.
Then I set out looking for a better way of doing it. The other way was too exhausting.

[RJP]

I have fallen a few times and I was gotten up few different ways. I actuall went on on youtube and got some ideas

[addiesue]

I have been on the floor twice this week. :mad: Not sure why. They were the slow motion falls too and I can get up. have a few ugly bruises though.

[wtf]

I fell the other night, I was just getting ready to flip onto my stomach when while I was sitting up I lost my balance and I fell to my right with arms and upper body hung up on my footrests and my legs still on the bed. I tried for a good 10 minutes trying to get my elbow up on my seat cushion but couldn't - not to mention my wc was moving - the locks weren't holding. I was pretty much effed so I had no choice but to pull myself all the way on the floor - it also felt like slow motion. Anway I had to get dressed again and I scooted my ass to the phone and called my nephew to come pick me up. I hate falling because I'm scared of breaking a bone and I also have to call someone to help me back in my wc.

[coolbreeze]

I fell the other night, I was just getting ready to flip onto my stomach when while I was sitting up I lost my balance and I fell to my right with arms and upper body hung up on my footrests and my legs still on the bed. I tried for a good 10 minutes trying to get my elbow up on my seat cushion but couldn't - not to mention my wc was moving - the locks weren't holding. I was pretty much effed so I had no choice but to pull myself all the way on the floor - it also felt like slow motion. Anway I had to get dressed again and I scooted my ass to the phone and called my nephew to come pick me up. I hate falling because I'm scared of breaking a bone and I also have to call someone to help me back in my wc.

Wtf, that was a good attemp w/elbows lol. Protein drinks will build them muscle if you work'em out. I've notice that within 2 to 3 weeks.
:applaud:

[coolbreeze]

I don't remember my first fall, but I do remember how I got back into my chair, at first. I would go at the chair head on and then flip once I was in the chair. I had to even use my teeth by holding the back of the chair while I got a better grip with my hands.
Then I set out looking for a better way of doing it. The other way was too exhausting.

Hey man i know your teeth save the day. I had two root canal done a year before my sci accident i feel so fortunate. :D

[rebajane]

I have fallen 7 times that I can remember in 17 yrs. Not too bad. Twice transfering from car to chair. One of those in my own driveway. I started laughing and it made my Mother upset, but hey, if you can't laugh--. Twice tipped over backwand, twice fell off the bed. You really don't feel how close to the edge you are. Last one, I forgot I had moved the armrest and when I leaned to that side to reach something, just fell out. Never hurt (knock on wood), but never able to get back in chair without help. Thank goodness for cellphones and neighbors !! I am really trying to be careful as I do worry about a broken bone.

[rybread]

I think I've only falling out of my chair, at least all the way to the ground, three times. One of the times I was going down a curb cut coming from the side and I didn't turn sharp enough coming off of it so my other wheel went back up the other side and tumbled me out of my chair. It was the middle of the summer time here in Phoenix and 110° so who knows how hot the asphalt was in the parking lot, but in the five seconds I was lying on my side with my arm and fingers touching the ground I had huge blisters. I still have a nasty scar on my arm from it, and a couple of spots on my hand that won't tan. It was pretty scary considering it was just my caregiver and I so she had to run into the doctor's office and grab someone to help her get me back up in the chair. I don't use arm rests on my chair so a couple of times I've fallen over to the side but not completely out and a few times fallen forward and and stuck like that for up to an hour. That's the worse because it gets harder to breathe when you're like that. These days I keep one of those I've fallen and I can't get up buttons around my neck when I'm alone just in case since I do my weight shifts by leaning side to side and forward. Last thing I need right now is a broken bone.

[smokymtn memories]

I've fallen so many times I can't remember how many times. Tore myself up in the Foodcity parking lot, just getting out of the suv, had to use the vehicle to climb back upright.

I don't have the chair, but if I don't have something to use to climb backup on for leverage, I can't get up. My legs are'nt strong enough.

[Polett]

Falling is scary n funny... I've fallen head first into a garbage can... Once on top of my 2 year old Goddaughter... In a Mall... From a portable van ramp (those that r 1 canal for each wheel) out of bed while sleeping (rough awakening)... In a park with my puppies...

Gee, I concluded that falling is part of living, just like destroying the walls with the footrest.

[coolbreeze]

Be careful. I know a number of people who fell just like this and sustained fractures of either femurs or tibias or both. If you note any swelling in your thighs, you need Xrays.

As far as getting back up, if you are strong and have good triceps you may be able to do an independent floor to wheelchair transfer. It takes practice, and is easiest to do in gradual babysteps by first going up onto a cushion or low stool, then onto your wheelchair if possible.

If you have a manual chair and cannot do this, and don't have a lift available (a good reason to keep on in the garage) then your wheelchair can be tipped all the way back with the push handles resting on the floor, then slid under you with your legs in a tight knees-to-chest position, and with help you may be able to bring the chair up (not by yourself). It usually takes 2 people, and is best to practice ahead of time if possible.

With a power chair, it generally is going to take a mechanical lift or a risky two person lift.

Leave the cushion off the chair until you get up using either technique.

(KLD)

Thanks Nurse good looking out, your info. always effective.

[fishin'guy]

I fell 5X in the first 4 months. Backward in dentist's lot, at home putting on my pants, got so frustrated, I yanked so hard, I flipped myself forward and out of the chair, just like a comedy. Last two times # 7&8 were within 20 min. of each other. Snow coming, I go to strip mall, going to be snowed in for 5 days, gonna get 5 movies and a fifth, all at the same strip mall.Someone's parked in the access ramp, so I'll just use the curb, just a 3-1/2"er but tires are frozen, so I boink off the curb, flip backwards. climb into chair, go to blockbuster, then to liquor store, come back, just a 3-1/2" curb(smart enuf to put bottle down b4 attempting) wham, hit a chunck of ice, out I go knees and hands bloodied and bruised.
Had to laugh at that one, probably was a record, twice in 20.

[coolbreeze]

I fell 5X in the first 4 months. Backward in dentist's lot, at home putting on my pants, got so frustrated, I yanked so hard, I flipped myself forward and out of the chair, just like a comedy. Last two times # 7&8 were within 20 min. of each other. Snow coming, I go to strip mall, going to be snowed in for 5 days, gonna get 5 movies and a fifth, all at the same strip mall.Someone's parked in the access ramp, so I'll just use the curb, just a 3-1/2"er but tires are frozen, so I boink off the curb, flip backwards. climb into chair, go to blockbuster, then to liquor store, come back, just a 3-1/2" curb(smart enuf to put bottle down b4 attempting) wham, hit a chunck of ice, out I go knees and hands bloodied and bruised.
Had to laugh at that one, probably was a record, twice in 20.

Lmao, I'm glad ur ok and the bottle too "smart thinkn.

[Freedom92]

Just happened to me yesterday at the gym. We just got belted with about 4" of snow and right where the sidewalk meets the asphalt there was a bunch of crusty built up snow. Think'n I could easily pop my front wheels over it without getting hung up, well guess again, I did. As I let the front wheels back down they sunk in the muck and out I went. Luckily there was a couple of dudes going in and lifted me back in my chair. There was no way I could transfer back in because my chair kept sliding with the snow and ice underneath it.

[Ashley]

i've only fell forward out of my chair and it's usually when i hit a raised portion of the sidewalk when it's uneven. Very frustrating. Only scraps and bruising so far knock on wood. It does feel like slow motion when it happens though.

[duge]

Even though I am a walker I have fallen I don't know how many times broken only 2 bones!

[wazabiker]

Four falls in seven years. Two backwards tip overs, knocking the wind outta me. Two sideways tip overs, no bodily damage, but since they were in public places, my fragile ego was shattered. My frontal spill to my knees resulted in a fractured left femur.

Gotta be more careful.