22 replies to this topic

[Vanessamaee]

Im new to all of this. I was paralyzed April 30th, 2011 at the age of 16. Im a T3/T4. Yesterday I was going to go outside and theres a slight drop (about the size of a curb, maybe a little smaller.) onto the back deck. I've able to go down curbs no problem but this time i dont know what happened and I flipped backwards. This is the first time I've ever fallen and it was defiantly a reality check. I was just wondering when you fall, how do you get back up physically? I had help from my dad. and how do you pick yourself back up emotionally? I don't like people seeing how I feel but now i'm really nervous to go down any sort of drop. Thank you!

[Smileyblue]

I have been fortunate that both times I fell, my son was around to help me up! He's now moved 1000 km's away, so if it happens again, I'll have to find some other muscle-man to come scrape me up.. Some people can do floor to chair transfers, but I'm not one of them..

These things happen.. Even when we are super careful.. The nerves will stick around until you've successfully done a couple of drops without falling and gain your confidence back..

[Soryfam]

Falling is definately a scary feeling. And fearing a fall is very normal. If I fall in the middle of a room, or the yard, I have to try and crawl to some plact where there is something I can hold onto, at the right height so that my arms can support me. If my family is around they help me. Around Christmas time I fell outside a pet store and kinned myself up pretty bad. I was amazed at how many strangers came to my aide.

At the urging of my family and friends I now have an emergency necklace that I wear 24/7. I can push the button and it sends an alert through my telephone to the company that provides it. They will talk to me through the device or call me if they can't hear me. They also have my daughter's number and will call an ambulance if I am hurt/sick/whatever.

As Smiley said, the best way to get over the fear is to just keep going.

Good luck to you.

Sandy

[rue2you]

I'm in Texas right now so, in honor of that, all I can say (and have experienced)is "when the horse bucks you off, get back on that sucker and ride him again!" Seriously, you need to make yourself go back and do those curb jumps again. Don't let this scare you away. Just get really cocky about it and say to yourself that you will not be conquered by one fall. It is nerve-wracking, but the more you baby your fears, the bigger they grow. Face them head on, and they will get better.

About getting back in your chair, that varies for all of us depending on your level and abilities. Like everything else, the more you practice something, the easier it gets so just keep trying!

[MTB John]

A friend of mine was crossing the street in the rain with his four year old son in tow. As he went to bounce up the curb he lost all traction on the wet push rims and ended up in the gutter. He had to send his son back home for help. In the mean time someone came driving by and stopped and helped. He was only fresh out of hospital at the time.. We all fall sometimes as well as mentioned above I would add - learn how to fall safely..

It's certainly better to fall backwards then forwards and as your going down lean forward as much as you can and pull on the push rims as hard as you can. This will slow your decent and ensure you do not hit your head. If you know how to fall safely it will take away some of the fear.

As for the embarrassment factor, well, you'll just have to find away to laugh it off..

Give the chair a good telling off or threaten it with the scrap hard - something like that..

Regards,
J

[cas]

My worst nightmare!!!! I have fallen out loads- normally after a few glasses of wine dancing......last time i was apparently trying to play the electric guitar on the dance floor.!!!!!! every time my husband has been there to pick me up! My great fear is falling out somewhere like the supermarket- but i guess when it happens which it will, I will deal with it. I can't do floor to chair- although I think in an emergency I could maybe manage it. I really miss just getting on and off the floor (Especially with young children) but I suppose we have to make it the best we can. Xxxxx

[isobar]

Hi,




When you were in PT they should have showed you techniques to get up if you fall. If you can lift light weights to build up your arms you'll appreciate the extra strength in these situations. Try one of these methods. Place your chair behind you while in a sitting position apply the brakes then put your hands on the sides of the chair and lift yourself up onto the cushion. From a sitting position, place the chair behind you apply the brakes then turn facing your chair once on your knees place one arm on the side of the chair grab the hand grip on the back of the chair with the other hand now pull yourself up on to the cushion. If you can get near a lower level than your chair transfer there first then to your chair. Arm strength is key now and makes everything easier, what you felt is normal the only way to overcome it is to move forward ....... you may fall again , pick yourself up , wipe off your clothes, take a deep breath and keep on moving. Welcome aboard.

[wheeliebear75]

There are several vids on youtube showing both how to get from ____ to chair, AND how to right yourself while still IN your chair.....this will give you the "know-how".

[LeahC]

I've fallen put so many times now I look forward to it haha x

[Edinburgh Colin]

I'm also a T3/4 (although a bit older!) and it does make things a bit more difficult. I probably fell 2 or 3 times during rehab and another 4 shortly after, being overconfident, but you get scooped up again with help. I cannot get myself up as I'm old and stiff but there are ways, you need to learn the method and have enough upper body strength. You can learn all that so don't fret, what's inportant is to be comfortable in your chair and also to be able to get into a comfortable sitting position on the floor using your chair if you find yourself down there.A wee story - I have just spent a great week on a course, doing chair skills, going down steps just as you were including down multiple ones, up a large hill and down, coming down I fell twice face forward as the casters dug in the grass, scooped up both times by others and onwards with a lot of laughing!2nd last night was camping and I was transferring to the floor, hand slipped and I fell 2 feet, unfortunately broke my femur pretty good. I was taken by ambulance to hospital and was repaired. The point of all that is I still have not got back in my chair after 5 days and may not until tomorrow afternoon when I finally get home, 6 days and I feel really weird as I miss it and cantwait to get back in and do all the rather challenging and a lot more dangerous things than how I was hurt. A very long winded way to say your chair is your freind and you should feel comfortable and confident in it no matter what happens.You are young and will learn fast, the last thing you should feel is any fear.Practice, practice and you will do fine.EC

[The Black Sheep]

 LeahC, on 06 July 2011 - 04:37 PM, said:

I've fallen put so many times now I look forward to it haha x

I have the same reaction now a days, too. Once you do it so many times, you kind of learn how to do it comfortably.

The other day I was jumping over some rocks cause they get caught on the small front tires, so I pulled a wheelie and that sudden pull backwards takes you by surprise. I pull on the leg rails and lean forward. The backrest falls forward onto the clothing guards and slows the fall, but the head and back never touch the ground anymore. The flip flop from the ground back to the chair is quite entertaining, though.

I'm not trying to be insensitive about how someone should shake the emotional shock after a fall, but maybe humor is something that comes with repeated offenses. I've fallen down stairs, off porches, into pools and in parking lots, and my best defense against any sort of emotional cave-in is to wiggle it off, scrape myself off the ground and laugh about it. If you're badly injured, then calling someone for help is a must. Carry a cell phone at all times and have emergency numbers on speed dial.

[Soryfam]

2nd last night was camping and I was transferring to the floor, hand slipped and I fell 2 feet, unfortunately broke my femur pretty good. I was taken by ambulance to hospital and was repaired



So this is what really happened? Maybe the aliens pushed you? Oops, different thread. It really was bad luck, wasn't it? As you say, getting going again and moving forward is the best way to get over the fear. Happy healing.

Sandy

[Edinburgh Colin]

Danm it outed!!They pulled my hand?

[Soryfam]

Yes, that must have been what happened.


Sandy

[Ratticis]

Falling is inevitable, kinda like drunk uncles at a wedding, just remember to keep yer head up

[Gr8t3ful]

Hi I was injured April 20th of 2010, so we're kinda close on that aspect. I'm a T6 and just turned 20 so we're close there too.

When I was in the hospital they showed me how to instruct someone to help get me back in my chair, if there was only one person around who couldn't just lift me up. I wasn't strong enough to try to get back up myself. I'm still not, it's hard! I'm pretty strong and I try and try and I give it all I've got, but it just never works.

Falling is kind of scary, but you do get used to it the more it happens. I still get that anxious feeling when I fall but I'm not afraid anymore. I can laugh about it when it happens in the comfort of my own home, especially when it's my own fault, but when it's out in public it's a complete different story.

I had to go to the courthouse one day. When I was going to cross the street there was a crack in the cement at the bottom of a small curb, and my caster got caught and I got thrown forward. I didn't completely fall out of my chair, thank God, but it was nonetheless embarrassing! It was right in the middle of a very very busy street. Two lines of traffic on each of the four intersections. Both palms face down on the street and I was just helpless. The chair I was using while mine was being made was very heavy. It had those separate, detachable footrests and I just wasn't used to it. I was very newly injured, maybe home from the hospital for a week, so I couldn't just pull myself back up at that point. My mom was there to help though, as we stopped all lanes of traffic!

Just know that you're still so new and these things are going to happen. I relax and tell myself it's going to be okay.

Good luck!

[MTB John]

About 5 hours after my earlier post I was at the airport pushing backwards in front of my wife. I attempted a two wheeled 180, not realizing that the tiles ended and carpet began - with a slight drop thrown in for good measure. I made it round 90 degrees then hit the deck. I thought it was hilarious but I gave a few people quite a fright. Latter one of the ground staff told me she had been pushing an old guy who said something like - "These hooligans and their chairs".
Classic..

[VMac1946]

I have nightmares about falling, especially about stairs, which I crab down sideways. My first major fall was when my parparalyzed leg did not move when I turned and I spun and smashed my face against the kitchen counter. I lost consciousness for a while ' Luckily my Husband and son where there and called an amblance. Spent over a week in Hospital where young doctors had a field day checking out the BSS, and then to Rehab again to work on my Balance and confidence. My face was so smashed the facial nerve was cut and now that side of my face is numb and my eye waters, so I hate falls

Edited by VMac1946, 07 July 2011 - 11:18 AM.

[Denna]

My first fall was the same week I got out of rehab. I had broke my glasses in my car wreck so I needed to go get a new pair. So my husband takes me to value vision which is on a little hill. Well I get in my chair and he tells Me of all people to stay still and not go anywhere while he gets something out of the back of the car. well show off like I was decided I was going to let go of my wheels and roll backward a little trying to be a smartbutt but when I grabbed my wheels to stop I went flying backwards out of my chair. Of coarse we are parked right in front of all the windows so everyone inside of value vision comes running out to see if I was ok. SOOO Embarrassing! So my husband and one of the workers had to get me in my chair then we had to go inside because I still needed glasses! Needless to say my husband tells everyone about this and never lets me live it down.
The only thing I can say is just laugh if off or act like it doesnt bother you when other people are around. Its horrifying I know but after awhile it gets better. I hope anyway lol

[ebeth]

I've fallen many times - at home and in public (the Walmart parking lot, the grocery store, etc.) I always keep my cell phone within arm's reach and it's a good thing because I've had to use it a few times. When I've fallen in public there have always been helpful people around to help me back into my chair.

Only once was I injured. I was transferring out of my chair in winter and it was icy and the chair slipped. I ended up breaking my leg.

Most times falls are embarrassing and a little unsettling. They're also good ways to find out what is and isn't possible. Learn from your falls but don't become unreasonably cautious in response to them.

[dlury24]

I fell back once when I was first injured and my knee came down and fractured my nose. I've fallen a few more times after that. It scares me everytime but I know its going to happen again and I just keep going. A lil embarrassed but everybody falls it just takes us a lil longer to get back up.

[ajl338]

I fall out my chair all the time, at least once a week i think. I feel stupid once i have done it and embarassed but get back in and go again. Initially other people panic but all I want them to do is just give me time to sort it out.

I learnt to do stairs a year ago and must have fallen out 100 times before i got it right. Its part of learning, how many times did you fall over learning to walk?

Just laugh, get back in and carry on

ann

[Danimal_1985]

Congrats on your first spill! It's scary when it first happens, especially when you are alone, but necessity facilitates innovation! I think you'll surprise yourself with ways you figure out to get back in your chair, it's rarely pretty or smooth but as long as you get back in the saddle who cares! I'm also a T4 para and coincidentally just got launched of my chair today by my brothers black lab "puppy" (80 lbs at 10 months and still growing!) the dog has a nasty habit of jumping on people and was headed torwards my grandma so I grabbed on for one hell of a ride lol! I've been in a chair for almost a year now so my parents still think I'm made of glass, but aside from getting a little dirty and my phone catapulting across the yard I was fine, I saved grandma too so I got that going for me too! I laughed my ass off rolled over and got back in the chair and tried to dust myself off the best I could and went on with my afternoon. My advice to you is jump on the ground more often and try new ways to get up, it is liberating when you no longer fear falling! Don't get too down on yourself, sure it's embarrassing as hell in public but it's an entrance/exit that no ones soon to forget. Laugh it off and keep on having a good time!