Falling over and hurting yourself when you least expect it can be a bit of a shock. You’re suddenly in an emergency room somewhere when you least expected it. The key is to prevent this situation — which is going to ruin your day — from wrecking your whole year. Here’s what to do:
Get Some Imaging
Start by getting the right imaging. You need to know exactly what’s broken, if anything, and how you’re going to fix it.
For example, you don’t want to miss a hip fracture or a bleed on the brain. These issues can become significantly more serious over time. Imaging reduces the risk of missing them significantly.
Accept Help For 2 Weeks
Another thing you’ll want to do is accept any help you can get for the first two weeks. While you might have an independent streak, allowing others to assist you will allow you to recover from your situation.
For example, if someone offers to do laundry for you or help with groceries, accept it. You can also pay people to do this for you if necessary.
Aggressively Manage Pain
After that, you’ll want to aggressively manage the pain. Don’t be afraid to try painkillers to reduce the severity. If you allow pain to persist, it can continue for longer than you want, or become a constant source of problems for you.
Get Advice
If you slipped over and it wasn’t your fault, it’s probably also worth getting advice, according to DiPiero Simmons McGinley & Bastress, PLLC. The rules in the U.S. are highly protective and cover you against any losses you might have experienced. For example, you can get compensation for things like medical bills and for other losses, like lost wages. Always look into your options here, as it can improve your finances enormously.
Work Out How Not To Fall Again
While you’re in recovery, it’s also critical to explore how you can avoid falling again. For example, you might want to use a walker or use non-slip shoes. You could also avoid specific types of flooring if you think they might be an issue. Taking precautions today protects you tomorrow.
Get An Outpatient PT
If you can arrange for an outpatient PT, that’s also a good idea. You want someone who can help to rehabilitate you physically. Start looking for one of these before you’re even out of the hospital so you can get a head start. The sooner you can start using your muscles again, the more they are likely to recover into the future. If you can begin within the first 7 to 10 days after the injury, you’re much more likely to recover faster than if you leave it.
Schedule Follow-Ups
Lastly, you’ll want to schedule follow-ups to check whether any healing is proceeding the way you want. If you don’t follow-up properly, it can lead to further injury and damage, and improper healing. Ensure that every appointment is in your calendar and that you’re prepared for every interaction you have.
Featured image: (Unsplash – CC0 License)




