Falling down stairs

[DinoLil]

I hope this isn't considered a TAAT but there was a post where the OP had fallen down the stairs recently, I commented that I'd done similar around the same time (again 🙄) and bust my foot.

Well, just as my foot was starting to get better, what did I do? Yep. Fell again 10 days ago. Four stairs around a corner. Broken ribs, sprained knee and ankles, cracked tailbone. Many a bruise. Two huge lumps on my head. Both legs and left arm are very colourful. Can't lift up my right arm because I've pulled something. The pain is really ridiculous.

Anyway, just to say, it is sooooo easy to slip. My stairs are steep and not very 'user friendly'. Even my dog falls up and down them. I've got onto my GP and they've sent a referral to occupational health to check out my house. I own it, it's not rented, but it's clearly not safe for a 54yr old!

I think I'm trying to say, please be careful when you live alone. Try and put safety things in place. I am a complete accident waiting to happen all the time, you'll see from previous posts involving shower curtains and dogs! Ask for a referral, get support, don't wait for Netflix to come and film a climber to ascend and descend your 10 tread stairs, no ropes, solo!

Please, be careful.

@B0D Doo doo do dooo do do di do doo! That Bod? If you know, you know!
Thank you for the links @Mauvish1
This is how I am now going up and down the stairs from now on... (past caring if anyone recognises me, if they haven't already!)

😂You forgot elbow pads though! 😂

Some stairs are so much worse than others too, and it's not always immediately obvious! My house and my parents house looks the same at first glance but their stairs were actually so steep and I think once you fall once you're almost slightly nervous and it makes it worse. I hope you recover soon and something can be done to make the stairs less hazardous!

Sorry for not replying to everyone but, quickly...

Cat - maybe a basket and hoist?! Some bubble wrap and a cardboard box as the main construction? My DNephewCat apparently loves a cardboard box.

Slipper socks - just no, learn from me as well! But a traveller mug whilst traversing mountainous stairs?? Can you put soup in it, will it stay warm for the several dayas required?? Definitely 'proper' grippy slippers, though. I have finally understood this after 54yrs 🙄

And the dsypraxia, that's very interesting. My youngest son (26, NC for 6yrs 😞) was talented and also had A&E on speed dial! If there was a bee, a wasp, a step, a conker in its shell, a nettle, woohooo there he would be diving head first on it!

Light hearted comments aside - please keep safe. (Now I sound like a 'Charlie says...' public announcement from the 70s, I'll just shuffle off now!!) 😅😆

@GentleSheep *heads off to keepsafefromfalls.com to order elbow pads

@ThatNaiceMember You're right! And it's also easy to be complacent. No stairs are equal!

Anyway, I shall stay upstairs now until I can use a cat hoist out of the window to winch up my elbow pads order!

Goodnight you lot!

When dd was tiny I fell top to bottom holding her. Slid down on my arse thankfully and neither of us hurt. The thought of it still brings me out in a cold sweat 20 odd years on.

Occupational Health absolutely do not assess stairs.
Occupational Therapists do, although if you are in a housing association or rental property, the landlord should do this for you.
Also OTs tend to have long waiting lists, so if you can afford to get this done privately, it would be in your best interests to do so. Any local carpenter could sort it for you.

Liking the level of protection @DinoLil! I feel you also need some ropes putting up that you can clip into with carabiners mountain climbing style!

And re cats, everyone knows the correct method is to leave them to run up and down themselves, preferably unexpectedly and under your feet, causing another fall so you are nearer the kitchen more speedily to provide Dreamies…

All joking aside that’s some nasty bruising! If you (or anyone else) gets PIP for anything that’s more likely to cause falls, photos are a good idea to document and send at renewal time (as well as lists of A and E visits). I had a seizure at DCs graduation ceremony (luckily didn’t ruin it for them) and slipped under the wooden benches etc…had some gruesome photos in the weeks after! Worth it though as i got to see DC being awarded degree before it happened thankfully

Also @DinoLilif your bathroom is downstairs, would it be worth convalescing downstairs while you heal? Could you have a sofa bed, so you could avoid the stairs temporarily? Quite understand if you have a cat that will only sleep upstairs in your presence though, their needs must come first after all!

Thank you. Lost the thread so sorry for delay.