Re: Care-taker becomes patient

[Guest guest]

Oh my Jerry,  I had several sharp pains just thinking about your fall. 

Thank goodness you and your grandson are okay.  Yes, it could have been a lot

worse but you still need to keep an eye on yourself for the next 24 hours or

so. 

Sometimes injuries don't seem near as bad as they actually are when a few hours

have passed.  I will definetely keep you in my thoughts and in my prayers.

Take care,

Carol  (OK)

Jerry wrote:

>

> I had an accident today. I started down a flight of steps

> from my daughter's apartment over a garage. I was packing

> a two year old grandson with my left arm. It was raining

> hard. I should have had a hand on the rail.

>

[Guest guest]

>

> I had an accident today. I started down a flight of steps

> from my daughter's apartment over a garage. I was packing

> a two year old grandson with my left arm. It was raining

> hard. I should have had a hand on the rail.

Aww Jerry,

Wet steps can be murder! I am a caretaker too. My son, and now my

husband, both have chronic pain.

This past July I fell with my son when I was transferring him from bed to

wheelchair. It scared his medical team to death. They knew, and I knew, what

would happen to him if I hurt myself badly?

I was fortunate actually when you look at the glass half full. I had been having

sciatic pain due to sacroiliac joint adhesions (self diagnosed by visiting

family member's pain docs).

The way my son and I fell, well it absolutely tore every bit of adhesion on the

sciatic and sacro that was there. I thought I was gonna fall through the floor

when it first happened.

My son said who is gonna get us up Mom? Between my husband, myself, and my son,

we all got ourselves situated. Instead of two diabled bodies, there were three

arranging ourselves. It was an enlightening experience to say the least.

The little twinges of sciatic pain disappeared after about a week of using my

son's wheelchair as a walker to ambulate with. And I

found during that week of my being a patient that I was being taught a lesson to

ask for help. I even asked for help from the people that I take care of.

My son who has a pain pump due to RSD; was able to push his chair a little more

than normal. While I found myself in pain and having trouble moving about; I

found no problem with " asking " other people for help.

I also found that the medical team for my son and my husband were very

supportive. They reccommended new physical therapy goals for my son (long

term), and also reccommended caregiver resources.

I hope that the soreness goes away soon.

God Bless.

Daisy