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

[Lovemycat2023]

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.

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.

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.

I gave my elderly friend arnica tablets after a fall, she said she felt they definitely helped.

I agree with arnica tablets. Also arnica gel to apply topically. I bruise easily, and it takes the bruise down very quickly.

Absolutely arnica but don't use it topically if the skin is broken

Rest, plenty of hydration and eating. Encourage her to elevate her legs if possible when she's sitting. This will improve blood flow and help the body metabolize the "waste" blood cells which cause bruising. Hydration will also help. If you can encourage her to slightly up her overall calories, focussing on protein, this will also help muscles heal faster and help her with her feelings of fatigue. She might also benefit from some gentle stretching exercises.

Has she been checked out to make sure that there’s nothing else going on? Unstable blood pressure, a UTI etc?

I would definitely recommend getting her referred to her local falls team - the stats show that after having one fall the risk of sustaining more is significantly increased.

Has she had a falls assessment, either from gp or referral from ambulance/hospital? Some physio might help too. Unfortunately as we age recovery does slow down and our muscles waste fast with inactivity, it can be tricky to get the balance between rest and activity right.

Do you have a falls clinic locally? A gp referral to this could be really valuable- physio, assessments etc.

Yes definitely. Once she's feeling a bit better, she might want to look at doing some gentle core exercises. My parents (both in their 80's) do Youtube exercise videos 3 times a week - my mum does chair pilates, my dad (who's a bit more active), does a Joe Wicks for the elderly type video. They started it during Covid when they couldn't go out (basically i read them the riot act and told them if they didn't exercise regularly, when things reopened they wouldn't be physically able to go out) and have stuck with it, and it's made such a difference to their stability and mobility.

plenty of fruit, as taking painkillers, she may become constipated. i totally agree with Arnica.
She may be in shock still, maybe she needs to take things easy, perhaps a nice warm heated throw to snuggle up in while watching TV, etc.
The main thing is to make sure she drinks plenty, as often it's too much bother to get a drink. Perhaps get some bottled drinks to put by where she sits to save her getting up. The last thing she needs is a UTI from lack of fluid.

Also, for everyone recommending Arnica, please be aware it has significant interactions with blood/platelet thinners, steroids and medication for high blood pressure. It should not be used or taken if medications in any of these categories are also prescribed without first seeking advice from a medical professional.

She’s taking paracetamol and volterol gel (as advised by A&E). She can’t take ibuprofen. I did suggest calling the GP and asking for something a bit stronger.

Thank you - good point re Arnica. I have some of those from when I had surgery.

Thanks for the suggestion of a heated throw. I will also get another water bottle for her (as in drinking water)

They did send an OH person to talk to her before discharge. The fall was due to doing exercises and she lost her balance. The conclusion was that it could have happened to anyone rather than it being related to frailty. It’s such a shame as the exercises are good!

Thanks very much for this - will approach with caution / and with GP advice

Who was the OH person? What did they do? I don’t think we have them in our falls teams.

And thank you all - I was feeling very alone this morning and now I feel a bit better. Much appreciated.

Not sure - I wasn’t there at the time and the discharge notes are very brief. It’s a big hospital and they have teams who do a few different roles (inc the one that deals with getting people back into their homes and then provides short term support)

Perhaps it was an Occupational Therapist then? Sounds like it and many people seem to get them mixed up with occupational health for some reason - even when they’re well past working age!!

Sorry - yes that’s right! I get so confused between the two all the time even though I have a friend who works in the team!

Re her tiredness, would a multi vitamin tablet help. Sometimes diet is reduced when unwell which can cause low iron (tiredness)and other vitamins.

Also, do you think she may be getting depressed. Hope she recovers soon.

That’s a good point - she had low vit D a couple of years ago. I’ll take some over. Thank you.

Take K2 too to help it to be absorbed