I’m a klutz, or I can’t walk for ****!

[southernlady]

If you have to be a klutz and fall, best place to be is at the hospital. I was there to get an MRI, my feet failed to keep up with me and down I went on both knees, both hands and an elbow.

Yes, my watch asked if I had fallen. Yes. Did I need to call 911, no. Had plenty of help. They did a Rapid Response from the ER to clean up my scraps.

But in the ensuing 2 hours, my left wrist has become miserable. So we went to the ER, I’ve had X-rays on that arm. My Orthopedic doctor works out of this building except on Thursdays. But this afternoon I will message him so he can check the X-rays for me and see if I need help. The X-rays came back saying nothing was broken.

But there IS SOFT TISSUE DAMAGE, I can see it.
When I got home, I sent a MyChart message to him about my fall so he would have a heads up to look for the X-rays. I also went ahead and made an appointment to see him and am on the wait list. His staff responded said to see what it looked like in three days and let him know. The ER gave me one pain pill with a days worth sent to my pharmacy, then the ibuprofen I’ve been living on thanks to my jaw should be sufficient.

While at the pharmacy, I picked up a wrist brace to help remind me to not be stupid. It has helped considerably. Thankfully I had taken off my wedding rings knowing I was headed into the MRI. Now, I can’t get them back on so they are sitting on my ring keeper.

Got up this morning, took off the brace for a shower and went OMG! The top of my hand is very swollen. I had Charles take a photo so I could send it to my orthopedic doctor. He might want me in much sooner than the 8th.


And only earlier I was thinking I was doing so good. Been over a year since my last fall!

 

[Larra]

That's a lot of swelling, though bruising isn't bad. Has a radiologist reviewed the x-rays? There are a lot of small bones in that area, and a subtle fracture might be missed.
The brace was brilliant! Elevate whenever possible and let Charles baby you.

 

[JackieOnLine]

what she said.

I'm so sorry, Liz!

 

[JackieOnLine]

If you have to be a klutz and fall

please don't call yourself names.

everybody falls, and you have risk factors such as neuropathy and previous falls.

do you do balance exercises? I'm sorry if we've had this convo and I've forgotten but a PT can teach them to you or you can just pick some off the internet.

the point is, some risk factors you can't do anything about but you can have (for example) strong ankles to better catch yourself.

I hope your wrist is just wrenched and no fracture!

 

[southernlady]

That's a lot of swelling, though bruising isn't bad. Has a radiologist reviewed the x-rays? There are a lot of small bones in that area, and a subtle fracture might be missed.
The brace was brilliant! Elevate whenever possible and let Charles baby you.

The radiologist said nothing was broken, but my orthopedic doctor has access to those same X-rays cause they are in the same MyChart system. I did sent Dr. Flanagan a heads up to look for them as well as that photo this morning.

please don't call yourself names.

everybody falls, and you have risk factors such as neuropathy and previous falls.

do you do balance exercises? I'm sorry if we've had this convo and I've forgotten but a PT can teach them to you or you can just pick some off the internet.

the point is, some risk factors you can't do anything about but you can have (for example) strong ankles to better catch yourself.

I hope your wrist is just wrenched and no fracture!

I’m allowed to call myself a klutz. Charles just wants me in bubble wrap.

I have a balance board that I actually parked inside the walker I managed to get one of my most recent trips to the hospital. I use the walker as a safety measure. And I have been on it lately, but a balance board doesn’t help the type of issue I had, the soles of my shoes grabbed the floor and won’t let go. That causes me to stumble.

 

[hilary1617]

Wishing you swift healing!

 

[Spiky Bugger]

Okay, Liz. This is NOT allowed. We need you well!

 

[southernlady]

Okay, Liz. This is NOT allowed. We need you well!

I need me well too

 

[JackieOnLine]

 

[navygrrl]

Just checking in to see if you heard back today.

 

[southernlady]

Just checking in to see if you heard back today.

Nope, however the swelling is going down. I can actually get my wedding rings on again.

 

[JackieOnLine]

that has to be good.

 

[southernlady]

that has to be good.

It is but apparently the scrape on my elbow has developed cellulitis. We swapped PCP’s again. While we liked our last one, waiting an hour after being admitted to the exam room and seen by the nurse was just becoming beyond ridiculous. That and his waffling on ordering vitamin labs.

Anyway, this was just an intro but the timing was good cause he was able to see the scrape on my elbow. Some of it was the allergic reaction to the adhesive of the tape but it had developed the cellulitis as well.

When I fell in the hospital the Rapid Response team from the ER could only use saline to clean it outside of the ER. So it was never properly cleaned. And while hospital floors look clean, they really aren’t. My use of antibiotics up on all the areas has been a good move but he’s given me an antibiotic to help. But since I had the flu and Covid shot today, I think I need to wait a few days to start that antibiotic.

 

[JackieOnLine]

the scrape on my elbow has developed cellulitis

oh, man - I'm sorry to hear it.

 

[hilary1617]

Hope the cellulitis clears up swiftly!