Well, I'm home now--after 2 1/2 days in the hospital due to a fall and subsequent procedure (Kyphoplasty) to fix a fracture of the lumbar disc in my back! They injected 'cement' into the area of the fracture and the pain relief was immediate. However, pain from the fall has taken over and I've really been in alot of pain due to it. Taking pain meds--but backing off the script ones now and only on OTC for the most part. A real nightmare! At first I thought perhaps I'd had a 'drop attack' but in going over it in my mind, this was the wee hours of the morning, and it was dark in my bedroom and I didn't feel the 'sensation' one gets with a drop attack of being 'suddenly pushed' down. Just began to go down and tried to break my fall--and landed hard on my knees, breaking the disc in my back--horrible pain! Ambulance ride to hospital was short but painful and pain meds made me soooo sick but helped with pain. I've not had vertigo or drop attacks since 2012 (had shunt surgery for the MM), so hoping it was just the losing my balance that occurred. Home and recuperating and still really hurting from the 'jolt' my body--that is much older now--took when I fell. So, hoping none of you has this happen--be careful because it can happen so quickly with the least imbalance that occurs!
Been there too often, yanks girl. Two huge falls over the last eighteen months led to five broken ribs and two fractured vertebrae. Had 4 rounds of massive epidural cortisone injections in L2, L3, L4 nerves in my spine, which have provided substantial relief, but still have to pop a Percocet from time to time. And five days ago, went "body surfing" on our brick driveway at twilight, after becoming totally disoriented as I was walking forward on a flat surface. Unfortunately, as I planted my left foot to stop myself, all that served to do was launch all 6'6" and 225 pounds of me forward. I landed on the right side of my head and face, right shoulder, then right knee. Broke nothing but an expensive pair of glasses, but looked like I had been in a bad bar fight. And I clearly got a concussion from it, though fortunately did not crack my very hard skull. I found the whole thing very traumatic. First, because I got a pacemaker in May of last year to address a weird heart condition I have in which my heart rate falls precipitously and unpredictably, causing fainting spells very much like drop attacks. And especially since a visit with Dr. Jennifer Derebery at the House Ear Institute in December. She told me that because I had effectively had a spontaneous labyrinthectomy in my right ear to accompany the surgical one I had in 2003, I had no effective balance function left in either ear. The good news was no more vertigo/nausea attacks. The bad news is I am now totally reliant on my very poor eyesight for balance. I add those facts because we are all different in our health profiles and the nature and severity of our Menieres symptoms. But I so, so sympathize with you on the broken bones. I had only broken two ribs in my life before Menieres, and both of those were doing sports activities. Neither left lingering pain. One of my recent broken ribs (a "floating" rib on the left side at the bottom of the rib cage), and both of my fractured vertebrae, have left a lasting pain legacy for which I am most ungrateful! Do what you must to stifle the pain; suffering it is not worth it, because it really reduces the quality of whatever life Menieres has left you. All of my good wishes go to you in all of this.
i see or hear about it every day of my life being in the funeral industry. Falls Kill people, one of the leading causes of death. Be Careful and always put your safety first. There is absolutely no shame in using a chair, cane or scooter if it is going to save your life. Your family needs you and you need to be there for your family. Yanks, you are in my thoughts and prayers. ((((((hugs))))))
I am very sorry to hear this. I agree with Bulldogs on this. Use whatever accomodation you need, chair, wall, cane etc. The biggest thing i need to keep my balance is light. I now have a night light in my bedroom and a light in easy reach of my bed and do not hestitate to turn the light on in the middle of the night.
My hubby put a 'night light in' right after my fall. Honestly, I see without one due to a little light that comes in to our bedroom window--from the 'sky' or neighbors behind us, etc. The thing is, I'm only a few feet from our bed when exiting the bathroom. I touch things going and coming--but for some reason, I felt a bit wobbly and grabbed the wrong thing--and it went down with me! I don't use a cane (my husband fusses at me all the time about that). I can walk well by concentrating on the direction I'm going and looking at stationery spots, etc. It's only when I turn my head a bit too far suddenly that some 'off balance occurs' or if I'm very dizzy. I'm 'very careful' when walking--this is my first fall in years (other than when I had two drop attacks prior to my shunt surgery! I fell when I was younger, have had broken arms--x 2, and other injuries but not due to imbalance or MM. Just accidents. I am in pain--using ice and moving slow for sure. I know this takes time to heal--and it's just a process I have to go through. Thanks for the encouraging words. If I find myself 'wobbling' and in need of a cane--I will use one. At this point, I don't see the need--but we shall see!
Concur on the head turns as major problems for me as well. I have to walk sort of like a zombie it seems, or risk the disorientation that can cause a fall. And yanksgirl, I know it may seem cumbersome, but using my walking stick (I use that instead of a cane as I am very tall and it is very, very strong) has saved me on many occasions. I even use it in my home, and always when I have to go out. It offers a level of confidence that is worth the annoyance, at least to me. Again, hope the pain lessens and you have no further episodes. As you can tell, too many of us have been there and done that.
AGain, thanks Brown Recluse and others for your encouragement and suggestions. Boy, this entire week has been one of 'pain'. And taking the strong pain meds (only one a day to get some rest at night) has caused bad constipation. Taking meds for that now too. My feet have swollen and I was sooo short of breath yesterday it scared me a bit. We almost headed to the E.R. thinking something else might be going on. But--since my heart has been checked and double checked, and I'm just so 'bloated' and hurting all over, figured 'this too shall pass'! This morning am hoping the stool softeners work and thus the breathing gets alot easier. The pain is there but so far not unbearable. Time is the healer. Yes, Brown--I probably will use a cane sometime in the future, just not until I fell the need. My fall the other evening was in the dark near my bed and I simply lost my balance due to all that. Anyway----
I work for a physical therapy practice and as everybody has said before me, falls are dangerous. I would say most of the elderly patients we treat are the result of broken hips from falls. I hope you are feeling better. Trisha