Help getting up from a fall

[152114randal]

I was reading the post about falling and so far there are 57 replies so I thought I would ask you all how you manage to get back up and do you know of any assistive devices that can help? My wife fell a couple of weeks ago and injured her knee trying to get up. Thank you.

[rjoneslaw]

For me I learned to either crawl to the nearest object and pull myself up but before I do that I have to rest for a min or 2 cuz I'll never get up. I also learned another way to get up as well from an exercise program that is for people with MS called the MS Gym (themsgym.com).

[152114randal in reply to rjoneslaw]

Thank you rjoneslaw, the last fall she injured her knee and it is now inflamed and the doctor advised it will neeed time to heal.

[jimeka]

The one big problem with falling is that we need to bend our knees to get up. Unfortunately the knee joint and surrounding ligaments take the brunt of trying to get back up. I wish I had an answer for you. I find that the best way is not to rush getting up, stay calm and focused and think of the best way, to prevent further injury. I hope your wife’s knee heals quickly, blessings Jimeka 😊

[152114randal in reply to jimeka]

Thank you jimeka. I think her knee will be out of service for at least a month. We’ll get through this period but how about the next fall. I have been looking at assistive devices the selection is very limited. The INDEE lift looks promising but cost over $2000.00. I have also been checking unconventional devices and came across the Uline manual standard table lift. For $350.00. The height at lower end is just under 9 inches and can be raised to 29 inches. At 9 inches a person could get their butt on the lift and at 29 inches it might not break your back to help her off. What do you think jimeka, is 29 inches high enough? As you know falling is quite common with MS folks so I am hoping to find something that most people could afford. If I think the table lift would work I am also thinking of contacting the CEO of uline to advise him of the worldwide market for an affordable lift for people with MS and maybe the company could modify the lift to make it even more practical. I’ll let you all know how it turns out and if you folks on Health Unlocked have suggestions Please share them with me. Thank you.Bob

[jimeka in reply to 152114randal]

I look forward to hearing more about it. Thank you for sharing. 😊

[goatgal in reply to 152114randal]

Bob, I hope your wife's knee heals well. I have two garden kneelers which might help in the interim. I keep one inside and one outside. The kneeler itself is padded, with fold out arms. It is very study. Kneeling or crawling on a floor or the ground is excruciatingly painful so I usually need something soft between my knees and a hard surface. The kneeler allows me to kneel while I am gardening or scrubbing the bathtub and the snap out arms allow me to push up with just a little effort. (These are sold at many garden supply outlets; I bought mine from gardeners.com)

[152114randal in reply to goatgal]

Goatgal, I will be going over to Homedepot today to see what they have. Thank you for including the info on gardners.com. I think we w outdoor need several, one for each room downstairs.

[starlight5 in reply to goatgal]

great suggestion!

[pamgarner]

my answer for me ,i use weights for about 15 minutes a day my upper body,3# weights,i purposely keep my upper body strength so i can pull myself up,so important,i wish her the best

[152114randal in reply to pamgarner]

Thank you Pam garner.

[Midsomer1 in reply to pamgarner]

I, too, use hand weights a few times a week for my upper body and arms. I also have a weight bench that I can strengthen my legs. If I fall, which hasn't been in a long time, I could crawl to something sturdy and heave myself up!

[152114randal in reply to Midsomer1]

Great you can do that Midsomer1. Ang is 79 and I don’t think she would be able to. It’s also wonderful you haven’t fallen in a long time. Thank you for responding.

[pamgarner in reply to Midsomer1]

i also have my 83 year old mother working on upper body

[goatgal]

I live my life mostly alone in a rural area, so falls are dangerous. Immediately after a fall, I check to see if I have broken anything, then congratulate myself if I am merely humbled and banged up. Like others, I crawl or wiggle/squirm to the nearest sturdy object which I will use to pull myself up. Like others, I also have to compose myself because pulling up is not automatic. Pulling up is not an automatic process: I have to think/plan each movement.

[152114randal]

Goatgal, Thank you and you are right. Think it out.

[leking1]

Like others, I check to see if I am broken, bleeding or generally intact, take a few minutes to compose myself, take some deep breaths and look around to plan my next step. I don't crawl much, my knees are bony at best, so I scoot along on my rear end looking for something I can pull up on...inside, a heavy piece of furniture, outside I will reach for a tree or fence....it can be done, but it isn't easy! I hope your wife's knee heals well. My last 2 falls I didn't get up...someone called an ambulance, and they insisted on taking over!

[152114randal in reply to leking1]

We are trying to avoid the ambulance but it may become necessary. I’m going to have see if she can scoot along on her butt. Thank you leking1

[Jesmcd2 CommunityAmbassador]

For me, it learning How to fall! If you can do that your less likely to hurt yourself.. and not falling! Period! 😨Getting up? OMG! One inch at a time, if need be, my friend! 🤗💕🌠

[152114randal in reply to Jesmcd2]

You are so right Jesmcd2. I can control my falls. Ang with MS, not so much and yes one inch at a time sounds right. Thank you for responding.

[1575]

I need help getting up from a fall to help make it safer I purchased a home Hoyer lift which will lift me to a sitting position and from sitting -to standing and to my walker- away I go.

[152114randal in reply to 1575]

Glad it works for you. Ang is still OK sitting to standing, it’s getting up off the floor that’s her problem. Good healt to you and thank you 1575 for responding.

[jackgaume]

We purchased the Indeelift several years ago and have used it on multiple occasions as I cannot use my legs at all to get up. We have a hoyer lift but it is big and bulky and a pain to get me into the sling. We also looked at the table lift but the 9” rise was a deal breaker. The 29” is great as it gets you up high enough to transfer to a chair. Chairs seats are usually about 18-19” high. I’m in my 70’s and my wife is in her 60’s so neither of us have the strength to be picking me up any more. I’ve quit having as many falls since I transitioned full time to a power chair. Now we are using a Sit to Stand device from Ecotac to transfer from chair to bed etc. ($400). I’ve been using an electric pedaler to keep up muscle tone in my legs so that helps with my ability stand up from a sitting position.

[152114randal in reply to jackgaume]

Thank you jackgaume. May I ask why the 9 inch was a deal breaker? My wife thinks she could slowly maneuver her butt on to it. Of course she hasn’t actually tried it. Did you feel the indeelift was money well spent? Was it easy to use? What was the down side using it? Did you have to pay full price? Thank you so much for responding.Bob

[jackgaume in reply to 152114randal]

Being older and having dislocated a shoulder a few years ago, I don’t have the upper body strength to raise myself off the ground. Which is why we decided to go with the indeelift. We paid $1,750 a few years ago for it with a $100 discount. The downside is it has a small seating area, a little smaller than a chair, but I could scoot my butt onto it without having to lift myself up. The upside is it is maneuverable and gets you up to chair height for transferring. And it had a long battery life. It is pricey (all “handicap” equipment seems to start at $2,000) but it saved my wife having to struggle to get me up and I considered it money well spent. If you lived nearby (Dallas area) I’d let you have it as we haven’t used it in over a year now.

[152114randal in reply to jackgaume]

Thank you so much for your info and very generous offer. We are in New Jersey. It sounds like you were happy with it. I am going to get something because she really did a number on her leg and we can’t have a repeat of that. You have been very helpful. We we figure it out I will post it on this helpful website. Thank you jackgaume.Bob

[jackgaume in reply to 152114randal]

Hope your wife heals up quickly. God bless you all!

[twooldcrows]

it is the sad she hurt her ...hopefully heals up fast so she can get around ...yes it is hard to get back up but just sit and wait for a few and then try sometimes we have to keep trying and eventually get up ...i know from lots of experience of the falling the knees do pay alot ...both of mine are very bruised up ...but ha got to keep going ...just have to be more careful but sometimes i get in to much of a hurry or just not paying attention...

[152114randal in reply to twooldcrows]

Thank you twooldcrows

[twooldcrows]

sorry about some of my writing just reread it and some of it is screwy ...hahah...tell her we are here and we do also have times of the falling ...it hurts but i put medicine on it for to keep out an infection for the cut part and biofreeze for the pain...in comes in spray or cream or roll on...i like the roll on ...take care and both be safe and try and watch where you are going and watch what is going on and can call the doctor and let them know what is going on ..if you need the equipment ask the doctor to talk to your insurance for maybe then they will pay for it ...love and much happiness...hugs and prayers to stay safe....

[152114randal in reply to twooldcrows]

I read the original and completely understood it. Your writing is fine. Thank you for your suggestions.