I was taking out the trash this morning, and everything was covered by a coat of ice. Sure enough, my feet went flying out in front, and I landed hard on my back . . . and my head hit the sidewalk with a loud cracking sound. I was kind of dazed for a few seconds, but was able to slowly get up. There were some kids on their way to school, and they laughed. No one offered to help the old man to his feet.
I haven’t suffered any real injury, but OMFG am I sore. My entire head is pounding with pain, plus a sore neck, shoulders and back . . . and strangely, my right testicle. Luckily I don’t have a big work load today (and I work at home), so I’m just taking it easy, with the help of Excedrin.
Since I’m self-employed without health insurance, “retirement on medical grounds” isn’t an option. If it doesn’t get better in the next 2-3 days, I’ll see my doctor.
Remember that, just because you don’t see ice, that doesn’t mean there isn’t ice. We have a parking space paved with bricks in back of our house. Last night when we took the trash out, it was a sheet of ice that you only noticed when you tried to walk on it.
I was out driving yesterday around 3:30, and was confused as to why the rain hitting my windshield was instantly turning into ice. Then, when I turned in to the parking lot of my destination I lost control of the car for a second. Thankfully, I was headed towards some grass and there were no other cars around.
When I walked up to the door, I had to take little shuffle steps. And the ground looked dry as a bone!!!
I THINK all the ice had a chance to turn to water this morning (after you fell, of course) and now there’s just a bit of snow about. But do be careful the rest of the week!
It was not as bad here as it was predicted. My sidewalk was a little icy, my driveway was not at all. I went out and bought some de-icer anyway, because I’m expecting some packages and I didn’t want even a hint of possible problems for the delivery people. (They have a tough enough job.)
I did a complete pratfall down my back steps during the family Christmas party at my house, just stepping out to chuck a bag of trash. Luckily I managed to land on my well padded posterior and sort of sit up immediately, no cracking of the back or head on the other steps, but I’m sure I took a year or two of my poor mother’s life when she heard a big thunk and looked out the back door and saw me sprawled there.
We’d shoveled and salted and scraped for days, but everything just kept icing back up, it’s nearly impossible to keep on top of when the weather conspires against you.
Keep up with the anti-inflammatory pills and hot showers and feel better soon.
I find that some of my more painful experiences are when I *almost *fall and I wrench all kinds of muscles trying to right myself. Knowing how to fall is an important skill, I think.
I will definitely take back the blizzard we had last month over this crap. Shoveling off the driveway SUUUUUUUUUUUCKED. Gimme light fluffy stiff over slushy, slipperier-than-snail-snot ice any day!
I was doing the Penguin Shuffle on the brick parking area last night, too. At least, with my new job, I can take the bus to work. I don’t have to take my chances driving in icy or snowy weather.
At 20-days-shy-of-due pregnant, my biggest fear is falling on ice. We had an ice storm a few weeks ago and it took me about five minutes to walk across my deck, holding onto the side of the house the whole time.
It doesn’t always take ice. A few weeks back I fell on the path from the parking lot to work, and twisted my ankle badly. It swelled up nicely, and bruised from the ankle along the outside of my right foot, all the way to my middle two toes (“pointer, and middle toe”).
I’m not sure if I slipped off the side of the pavement where it drops about 1" to the grass beside it, or if I just forgot how to walk and put my foot down on it’s side.
Ice, elevation, and rest took care of the issue, with just minor tweaks of pain when I wiggle it wrong. Should be back to 100% in another week or two.
But, still be careful. At my local hardware store, I found some slip on treads with spikes (not sharp) for my wife, so that she doesn’t fall when she’s out and about with the 3yo Butlerette.
I’d like to come in and tout Yaktrax - I am not in any way affiliated with the company - as incredibly awesome when it comes to walking on ice. I had my own great demo last night - I had a devil of a time in plain boots making it up the sidewalk to the house after arriving home. I went in, slipped on the Yaktrax (that I should have had in the car with me) and went out to sprinkle salt. No problem. I had to guess where the worst icy spots had been because I wasn’t sliding on them anymore.
They’re a huge help. My mother slipped and broke her ankle nearly 20 years ago and had never gotten over her fear of ice since, until she got a pair of these and tried them out. She’s not afraid any more, which is great to see because she’d always loved walks in the cold weather.
My postal worker husband uses and loves his Yaktrax. Years ago he slipped while walking his route, breaking his ankle, and reflexively yelled an obscenity at the pain. No one bothered to come out of their house to help, but someone did call the post office and complained to a supervisor about his swearing. :mad: A block or so later his tall boot didn’t support his ankle any longer. He got himself to a house of a customer he knew well and knew would be home, and they called an ambulance for him.
I fell on ice outside our house about a year ago, and my right hand reflexively tried to break my fall. Broke that wrist instead.
A few weeks later, a sister-in-law fell in the parking lot at her workplace, breaking her leg and required surgery and hardware implantation.
I’m so scared of hurting myself badly on ice. I have a friend who, in high school, slipped on her driveway and landed on her chin, smashing a ton of teeth and her jaw in the process. She has nice new veneers now (too bad all that money on orthodontics in junior high was a waste!) and you can still see the scar on her chin where it was all torn up. Ugh, that’s my worst nightmare.
Then, on Sunday night, one of my very close friends who is getting married tomorrow slipped down her stairs taking the dogs out for walk and sprained her abdominal wall, ankle, and neck. She is on one week forced bed rest from her doctors and moving anything hurts. She’s still having the ceremony though!
