ICYMI:
Had a bad fall this past Monday the 16th. Got a concussion, a 2" gash in my left butt cheek, knocked my left knee replacement out of whack. All because I got a bad cramp in my left calf that made me lose balance as I was stepping up onto the landing in front of my house entryway. Blood tests on cramping have since proved inconclusive. I have a nephrologist appointment to see if my kidneys are at fault, since my leg edema is back as well. Appointment is February 6th.
@leejackson Oh, no! I am so sorry to hear this. Maybe you could install a railing? I am considering doing so, as I have fallen outside twice this winter. Each time I was fairly lucky, although the gash on my knee was fairly deep and still hasn't completely healed. Glad you are ruling out medical causes, and hope you are feeling better.
@BlueStateBabe A railing sounds like a good idea, but I don't know if we can afford one. I'll float the suggestion and see what happens. Thanks!
@BlueStateBabe That might even be too much. My "step" is a small one step up onto a landing porch-ette in front of my front door. It's almost more of a half-step than a real step. I don't know, we'll think of something. As long as I'm using my walker, I don't have a problem. It's only when I'm using my cane, like I was on Monday, that I run into support problems.
@leejackson There were also models for one step situations on the page. I tripped again last night over an uneven concrete seam, but luckily caught myself. I have vertigo, and it has now become a daily occurrence rather than occasional. All the docs do is offer expensive balance building therapy instead of addressing ways of stopping the dizziness (which do exist). It is frustrating.
@BlueStateBabe I'm sorry to hear you're suffering from vertigo. You can get Over The Counter Meclizine to help treat it - Amazon, CVS, etc. sell it. I'd start by sticking to Meclizine and avoiding the alternatives that will show up in a search. Only try them if the Meclizine doesn't work.
@leejackson I have tried it with no success. :(
What I need is for a therapist to teach me the maneuver for dislodging the crystal in my inner ear. My doctor recommended videos, but I have a poor sense of body in space, and really need to FEEL the different angles I must position myself in, and need feed back if I am rotating, etc. in the proper way.
@BlueStateBabe Meclizine doesn't work, eh? Have you tried the prescription Scopolamine patches - the ones you wear behind your ear? I wore those on the Jon St. John (Duke Nukem's voice actor) cruise convention a couple of years ago, and they worked wonders. I understand you've got a more basic problem with the inner ear, but I would hope that the Scopolamine would give you some small moments of relief while you seek a longer term solution.
@leejackson I live in a townhouse with a home owners association, and in this months letter they mentioned approving a railing for one of the homes. Home Depot carries some for around $100 total. Some less, some more.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/VEVOR-Stainless-Steel-Handrail-220-lbs-Load-Handrail-for-Outdoor-Steps-Fits-2-to-3-Steps-with-Screw-Kit-BXGTFSLZ100CM5VIHV0/319840965