fall

Fall
/fɔːl/
verb
​move from a higher to a lower level, typically rapidly and without control.

We take many things for granted. But when you’re lying on the carpet in your living room, because you can’t move, all you really want is to be able to sit up, or stand, or get yourself a snack, or reach for your phone to check your Instagram, or the remote to switch on the TV, but you can’t turn around to even face it.

Suddenly, you start worrying about what will happen when you need to use the toilet. Can you get up? If you do, can you walk to the toilet without pain or passing out? When you make it to the toilet, can you sit? Can you get up? Will you be able to pull your trousers back up? Will you need someone’s help? Do you have anyone around who could help?

When I fell and injured myself, I was fortunate enough to have my mum and dad at home, helping me out in their own ways.

Dad’s way of helping:

• Hot water bag
• Sip of his whisky
• Lifting me up from the floor and telling me that I will have to get up if I want to eat

Mum’s way of helping:

• Cuddles
• Bringing me food
• Calling her doctor friends to ask for advice

Seeing my parents' faces shadowed by worry for their child, made me feel even worse than how the pain in my back felt.

thoughts

All sorts of thoughts went through my head, while I lay on the floor.

Thinking about whether I’ll get back to normal, if my life could change and whether I can do all the things I love doing again, made me emotional. What about all the places I want to travel, can I travel on a wheelchair? Can I keep my job if I can’t sit or stand?

I can’t believe how inflated every little thought became. However, thanks to all the self-help books I have read over the years, even at this low point in life, I needed to think of my options and possible action plans.

little successes

When I finally got up because my dad said I will have to and can’t eat until I forced myself to get off the ground, even when I stood up, I couldn’t believe it. Considering the excruciating pain I was in just half and hour ago, for several hours.

This made me appreciate two things: small successes and having loved ones around you when in need. Basically: don’t give up.
I also appreciated the strength in my arms for being able to support the rest of my body when it couldn’t move. Well done arms!

future fixes

It’s arguable that falling down the stairs or injuring myself was my fault, but as wise people say:

Don’t regret the past, learn from mistakes and move on gradually.

Basically if I run down the stairs again and fall and injure myself, that would be me learning nothing from the past and being a bit of an idiot.

I have also started to take people’s advice and will be looking into making some small and gradual lifestyle changes, such as occasionally replacing high intensity workouts with those that are good for joints and posture e.g. swimming, yoga and will also get myself some physiotherapy. Most importantly: I need to be patient with my recovery. 

conclusion

The purpose of this article was to demonstrate that when we fall in life, sometimes we learn how to appreciate what we have and open our minds to other ways of living our lives. The main thing to remember is to be as positive and as patient as you can be in every situation, don’t give up and celebrate every little success or progress since you were down (pun intended). 

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