Slipping on ice

[kaypeeoh]

Yesterday I had a dental checkup. Like everywhere else in this mountainous town there are steps to his office. I started up them then felt myself slipping and grabbed the handrail before falling to the ground. Holding the rail with both hands I used it like a mountain climber's rope. But while I lost both feet I made it to the top and into the building. The receptionist was staring wide-eyed. "You okay?" I assume she thought I was drunk. She said, "Excuse me" and disappeared into the back. It's a Mormon family dental practice. Then I heard furious mumblings til the tight-lipped doctor appeared and ushered me into the exam room. There he examined me said I had excellent teeth. I responded I've always hated the dentist. At age 5 or 6 I had 11 teeth pulled by an army dentist. That broke the tension. I explained being an army brat during the Viet Nam era the dentists were all draftees and really pissed off about it. I suggested he buy ice melter for the front steps.

Today it feels like a fell off a mountain; Lumbar and Sacroiliac pain all along my back. I wish marijuana was legal here.

[Astra7]

Sounds like an ordeal - must be very difficult managing in the ice.

Hope you feel better soon.

[chartist]

Mag oil (MO) may help with the pain and help to relax the strained muscles.

Art

[Pauldmd]

I can identify with your post on many levels. I have suffered with back pain for 30 years as a result of my Parkinson's disease. I also practiced dentistry until Parkinson's forced me to stop and I served five years in the Air Force as a dentist.

Perhaps because of my balance issues my wife (who has continued to practice since I retired) and I are fanatical about dealing with ice outside the office. We have had a relatively precipitation free winter in New York this year but normally I am housebound when there is ice and snow outside.

I think the moral to your story is that visiting the dentist too often is hazardous to your health. In all seriousness, most people cannot appreciate how difficult it is for people with balance issues to navigate icy surfaces. I am surprised that your that this is not required to have a ramp as an alternative to stairs but perhaps his building predates that code.

I give you a lot of credit for overcoming the dental experiences you had when you were young. Many people in your situation simply stop going to the dentist.

I hope that with some rest and over-the-counter medication your pain will subside quickly. I personally have never found medical marijuana to be a great pain reliever unless I take enough to be stoned, a feeling I really dislike. Also, being that out of it makes it difficult to maintain my balance if I want to walk around. Perhaps your neurologist can prescribe you a muscle relaxant to get you over the acute phase of this.

You would be doing your dentist and his patients a service to write him a note explaining why you had trouble on his steps. Sometimes people are just not aware of these issues until they are pointed out to them. If he responds negatively, perhaps it's time to find a more understanding dentist.

Feel better soon.

[kaypeeoh]

Thanks, today it's probably 80% better. it's down to mild spasms around the SIJ. Must be some irony here; I have a veterinary practice and he brings him dogs here for dentals. I've known the guy for 20 years. No way could I blame him for my slipping. It would be like blaming him for my PD. It's my fault for not being more careful. I saw the glare ice, I know what can happen when stepping in it.

[MarionP]

Many professional-service businesses these days are required to have ADA compliant alternatives to dangerous steps only, ramps or lifts, and required to be kept clear. Is there no such requirement or enforcement authority where you are? Also depending where you are, there is certain formal liability attached to safety negligence, and most professionals and businesses are in the habit of carrying liability insurance, these days a serious claim can put one out of business, and being in business, they are aware of it so often in the habit of insuring their premises.

[Johnboy46]

On Saturday, I and a friend went to the cinema, first time since DX, and as one of my symptoms is I lose balance in the dark and there are no ladies with torches anymore, I fell up the stairs to the seats. People looked but I'm used to people looking at me ,as I am 70, have long hair and a long purple dyed beard. LOL. PD is part of me ,so there.