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Elderly parents

Bruised and stiff after fall - what can I do to help?

27 replies

Lovemycat2023 · 13/11/2025 08:17

This is my first time here but I feel I need a bit of help and someone to talk to. I’m an only child and so I feel it’s all on me.

My mum tripped over last week and has bruised her hip, arm and knee. Nothing broken (they did an x-ray), but she’s finding it very hard and tiring to get round her flat.

She has walking aids (stick and a rollator) and I’ve stocked the fridge with ready meals, fruit etc and easy to eat stuff.

I go over every other day to tidy and do washing up. She manages to get in and out of the shower when I’m there. She can get herself to bed.

She says she is feeling very weak and tired, and it’s hard work getting around. I’m hoping it will start to improve soon but in the meantime does anyone have any practical suggestions or any experience of how long she might feel like this? She is 80 and otherwise not in bad health and to me it feels like the time after surgery when most people are very tired and struggling, but I think she would really just like someone with her all the time to look after her and that’s not possible.

Thanks, and please be kind. I’m feeling a bit stressed about it all.

OP posts:
bestbefore · 13/11/2025 08:46

Some arnica tablets might help with the bruising? Never know if they help but might do! I would encourage her to keep moving, even a little walk round each hour as once you stop it’s hard. Has she got enough water to hand (sports bottles are good) so she can keep hydrated? And def keep on with the painkillers.

MittensTheKittens · 13/11/2025 08:32

Is she taking painkillers (paracetamol/ibuprofen) or just struggling through?

Unfortunately I think it just takes a bit longer to heal when you're older.
My mum was bruised for what felt like ages when she had a fall.

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