Tapering after a fall

[Buchanan16]

I posted a few days ago asking advice about my mum having Spa treatments with GCA.My mum was so looking forward to it and on arriving at hotel there was building work getting done so they took us a detour to the leisure centre. The young boy who showed us way said there was a flight of stairs going down which my mum said was no problem. What was supposed to be 1 flight ended up 3 and once started we had no option but to keep going. When we got to bottom there was another flight going back up and my mum felt her left leg go and she was absolutely shaking by time she got to top. It wasn't painful just couldn't hold her up but once she sat for a bit she calmed down and went on to have a lovely facial and a very gentle leg massage.

We felt awful as we should have went ahead and checked but we had never been to this hotel so relied on the staff who knew my mum had mobility issues.

A complaint is already going in to them.

After a lovely lunch my husband came to pick us up and when my mum was getting into the car which she is in every day as she put her right leg in her other leg couldn't hold her weight and just gave way and she fell down between car and pavement. My husband and I got her up and while she wasn't hurt she was embarrassed and a bit shaken.

It was a horrible end to a lovely afternoon for her.

Apologies for long winded post but my question is yesterday she is bit sore all over and her left leg still feels weak and sore when she stands up. We are due to start week 4 of DL 5 week taper from 10mg to 9mg on Friday nd I'm wondering if I should continue tapering as normal or hold of for another week until the pain has eased.

The last time this happened and her left leg wouldn't hold her was stepping onto bus after my nieces wedding in September last year and she fell it took a week or so for it to settle down.

My parents live in a bungalow so stairs are something my mum rarely comes across.

I'm just so angry at myself for letting it happen as she has been great recently getting out her wee walks daily and really enjoying them and looking so well I just hope this doesn't set her back.

[SheffieldJane]

Don’t beat yourself up. It was the silly boy who probably didn’t know what a “ flight” meant.

No don’t taper. She might even benefit from sick day rules. Falls shake you up. I hope they give you a complimentary visit. They should have full disability access to be compliant with the law.

[Buchanan16 in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thanks for that I was wondering if a bit extra pred might help even tho when I suggested it to my mum she wasn't happy. I don't think she really understands impact a fall or stress even could have on her body and how a few extra mg for few days won't impact on her tapering schedule.She just worries her rheumatologist will be unhappy if she doesn't stick to her tapering schedule which of course we haven't as it was way to fast.

Ile see how she is when I see her today. We have my aunts funeral this morning to which won't be helping.

[SheffieldJane in reply to Buchanan16]

Perfect storm. Stress is what our diseases feed on most of all. Bless her, she must be encouraged to understand this and so must some doctors. X

[Koalajane]

hi, I hope it doesn’t set her back.

Yes it is always a shock to the body when you have a fall, also I always feel very embarrassed. I had a fall on Monday, I was in a supermarket and turned and walked into a combi full of food. I think the lad with it may have brought it out from the warehouse and it went straight into me and I hit the floor hard. He did keep apologising so it may not have been me walking into it!

I have a few bruises and aches but kept on shopping! It shook me up but 2 days later apart from the bruises I am fine.

I hope your mum gets over it quickly. I would see how she goes and if still shook up and in pain leave it a few days before continuing, play it by how she is.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

No taper - might even need a bit extra to calm the shakes.

Now a bit of instruction about teaching her to get in the car with a dodgy leg or if you are a bit wobbly:

Open the door as wide as it will go. She then stands with her back to the seat and as close as she can get to it. Weight should be distributed on to both feet. Sit down on the seat as if she were sitting on a chair at home and then swing her legs round into the car, NEVER put weight onto one leg.

If she struggles to turn round on the seat - there are cushions that make it easier.

We should also use this technique to get in and out of cars - putting one leg in or out first is then putting your entire body weight onto one leg. It isn't good for your leg or back at any age.

I slide the seat all the way back before getting out of the car and leave it there for getting in again. Makes it all much more comfortable.

myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/...

And PS - ALWAYS demand the lift option!!!!

[Charlie1boy in reply to PMRpro]

Really good advice. I spent ten years after I retired doing voluntary work - driving day care patients to and from our local hospice.

The instructions we had for getting patients in and out of the car were identical! Once learnt, never forgotten.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Charlie1boy]

Not that I obey them now - I have a VW van, But it has a nice grab handle to get up to the driver's seat!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

oh dear what great shame… and yes hotel should have been better equipment especially as you had explained her mobility ..maybe not the youngster, but certainly the management.

And yes… maybe a bit extra Pred for a few days…and definitely no tapering until she has fully recovered.

[Buchanan16]

Thanks so much for all your replies she used to always go into car by sitting first and then swinging her legs buy I think she has just got a wee bit rocky recently as feeling so good. Definitely back to that way from now on.How much extra pred do u think I shld give her for few days and should I just pause any further tapering for now until she's better..She has put some ibuprofen gel on her leg and she said it seems bit better since she got up so I'm keeping my fingers crossed x

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Buchanan16]

A couple of mg more for a few days might perk her up a bit and then she can just go back to the normal dose. See what DL says too.