December 26, 2024 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Hot Flash: The Older You Get, The Harder You Fall

I’ve always heard that as you age, “avoiding falls” becomes an important part of your life. 

According to the National Council for Aging Care, every 11 seconds an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall.

Add me to the “Every 11 Seconds” list. At 60 years old, I now understand what all the fuss is about. A couple of weeks ago, I was coming out of an event, navigating the parking lot. Instead of looking two feet in front of me, I was looking 50 feet in front of me, trying to locate my car. 

All of a sudden, I tripped, without any warning, on a concrete block, the kind used in parking lots to organize the cars. (I hate those blocks; I have a small car that sits low, and I’ve hit those mo-fos several times, scraping the underbelly of the front end.) 

I flew over the blockade; I tried to break my fall by putting my right arm against a parked car next to me. Because of the force of the fall, my arm violently bent backward. I then fell on my left knee and elbow to the parking lot ground. I felt pain in my right arm that I had never experienced before. OMG! My arm is broken, I thought. I couldn’t move. I started to cry, embarrassed, scared and in intense pain.

My friend ran to get help. It was decided that I needed an ambulance to take me to the ER. 20 minutes later, they arrived. The paramedics lifted me on to a stretcher. I screamed in pain, but they remained calm and continued their protocols. I was then quickly lifted into the ambulance, and whisked off to Saint John’s.

We were close to the hospital, thank god. And, on a Saturday night at 10 p.m., it wasn’t jammed. Thank god! I was put into a room almost immediately. The attending nurse was trying to find a vein in my left arm, and kept poking me in the wrong place. I had to show her where, at the same time begging her to get it done, so I could be relieved of some of the pain with an intravenous pain killer. (Later I had a massive bruise on my arm. Hopefully she’ll get better.)

Once I was gently numbed, they took me for x-rays. They determined that I had a dislocated shoulder! Wow. Throughout my entire life, I’ve never had a broken bone, torn cartilage, sprained ankle, nothing. When I was younger, I was kind of jealous of the kids that got to wear casts. Not any more.

The ER doc came into my room. Her plan was to put the shoulder back into place. Hopefully with me “asleep,” which she made arrangements for. I guess I fell asleep right away, because before I knew it, she woke me up to tell me she was done. It took less than five minutes! There was no additional damage. I was lucky. And they were great caregivers. In and out within two hours.

A few days later, my right arm was covered in deep, dark bruises. My elbow and my knee were a black and blue mess as well. A week later, the bruises were 80 percent gone. I had a follow up with my orthopedic surgeon. He said that I was a “bad ass” because I was healing so well. Little did he know how much of a baby I was a week ago. 

Whether you’re 50-plus or not, be careful out there!

<>Related Posts

Film Review: Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One

July 19, 2023

July 19, 2023

FILM REVIEWMISSION IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING PART ONERated PG-13163 MinutesReleased July 11th The story in this “Mission: Impossible” chapter, “Dead...

Film Review: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

July 5, 2023

July 5, 2023

FILM REVIEWINDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINYRated PG-13154 MinutesReleased June 30th The director of Indiana Jones and the Dial...

Film Review: Past Lives

June 27, 2023

June 27, 2023

FILM REVIEWPAST LIVESRated PG-13105 MinutesLimited Releases June 2nd and June 9th, Full Release June 23rd The Korean concept of “In...

Film Review: Sanctuary

June 8, 2023

June 8, 2023

FILM REVIEWSANCTUARYRated R96 MinutesReleased May 19th In my humble estimation, this is one of the best movies of the year....

Film Review: The Little Mermaid

June 2, 2023

June 2, 2023

FILM REVIEWTHE LITTLE MERMAIDRated PG135 MinutesReleased May 26th With today’s technological developments, a live-action The Little Mermaid is not only...

A Riveting Revival of the Pulitzer Prize-Winning “A Soldier’s Play” Now Playing At The Ahmanson Theatre

May 31, 2023

May 31, 2023

On Stage With… Murder mysteries, whether cinematic or theatrical, are one of the most popular subjects. The list is quite...

Film Review: Chevalier

May 12, 2023

May 12, 2023

By Kathryn Boole  RATED PG-13107 MinutesReleased April 21, 2023 Chevalier is based on the true story of a historical figure...

Ballet at the Broad Stage Memorial Weekend – Meet the Talent!

May 10, 2023

May 10, 2023

Westside Ballet of Santa Monica returns to the Broad Stage with special guest artists kicking off Friday May 26th with...

Elizabeth McGovern Lights Up The Stage in “Ava – The Secret Conversations”

April 26, 2023

April 26, 2023

Play About Legendary Screen Star Runs Until May 14 At The Geffen Playhouse By Beverly Cohn Ava Gardner, born Ava...

Unconventional Art Festival “The Other Art Fair” Returns to Santa Monica This Weekend

March 31, 2023

March 31, 2023

140 independent artists, immersive installations, performances, DJs, and a fully stocked bar await visitors at Barker Hangar The Other Art...

Samohi Theatre’s “The Drowsy Chaperone” Takes the Stage in Santa Monica

March 1, 2023

March 1, 2023

Shows will take place at Barnum Hall on March 3 and 4 at 7 p.m. and March 5 at 3...

Film Review: “Marlow”

February 23, 2023

February 23, 2023

FILM REVIEW“MARLOWE”Rated R109 MinutesReleased February 15th “Marlowe” is a beautifully shot period piece that takes place in the late 1930’s....

Film Review: All Quite on the Western Front

February 22, 2023

February 22, 2023

I have never been a soldier at war, although I have close friends and relatives who have been. Universally they...

SMC Emeritus Concert Band to Hold Free Concert This Weekend at the Broad Stage

February 22, 2023

February 22, 2023

Concert February 26 will feature musical selections with an outdoor theme Santa Monica College’s Emeritus Concert Band, under the baton...