Falling Flat On the Back

Gale Hawkins · Sep 21, 2013

At 62 I know being on a farm can be dangerous. Six days ago (last Sunday) I was moving the cattle panel grazing circle over about 20 feet into taller grass for the daughter and have done it many times but mostly when it is a complete circle. I was in a rush and it was open on one side. Since I was moving it up a small grade I decided to move while it was open at one connection so it would not drag so much.

In short I lost my balance when it moved easier than I expected and it not being connected the wire panels near me just feel over offering no support. I heard crunching between the shoulder blades then the pop of my head hitting the ground but it did not knock me out so I got on my hands and knees but the back pain was too much so I got back on my back for like 15 minutes and tried again. The pain shut me down again and I had left my cell phone at the house so I rolled down the hill about 20' to where the cattle panels where still standing upright in a bend and pulled up. The pain was unreal. A neighbor heard her dog barking for 20-25 minutes then came but did not have her cell phone and had to walk to my house. The son came with the golf cart.

Monday I had xrays and nothing showed to be broken or cracked but the muscles were all in a spasm and got worse with movement.

I am doing better and can get around better. I have had a lot of falls but never flat on the back with full weight slamming the ground. I am glad we do not have rocks in the fields and it was dirt and grass I landed on.

Due to much of my spine being fused by ankylosing spondylitis form of arthritis I was really scared and some things did move that had not moved in years.

There is always time to be careful but I forget that fact. Aging and new limits is hard for me to grasp I guess.

nybirdman · Sep 21, 2013

Tough deal!I am about the same age as you and have found things don't work like they use to>>>>
My passion is deer hunting,out of elevated stands.I hunt alone for the most part(retired) and have been very careful.I always carry my cell and use all the safety equipment(fall harness).
I spent years working in the air on contruction sites,only the last few years we had any kind of fall protection.
Hope you heal soon.

pacerron · Sep 21, 2013

Take care Gail. Your gonna be sore for quite awhile.
Ron

murphy1244 · Sep 21, 2013

Glad to hear your alright.

Gale Hawkins · Sep 21, 2013

Thanks guys. There is just so much to do this time of the year with good working temps just getting here. After each accident the next one is just easier because of the damage done in the last one.

rekees4300 · Sep 21, 2013

Gale Hawkins said:
There is always time to be careful but I forget that fact. Aging and new limits is hard for me to grasp I guess.

I'm getting older and have definitely noticed that balance isn't what it used to be. Have had a few close calls with the chainsaw. Not a tool that is forgiving of carelessness! The main thing is to recognize the fact that adjustments must be made as we age and act accordingly. Glad you weren't seriously injured.

jinman · Sep 21, 2013

When I get out of bed in the morning, I have to sit about 10-15 seconds on the side of the bed. If I go from flat to standing, my back muscles tighten up and almost bring me to my knees. Five minutes later, it's like nothing was ever wrong as the muscles go out of panic spasm and everything is cool. I know one of these days it's gonna not quit hurting, but I sure am glad that for the present, it doesn't last very long.

Gale, I suspect you overstressed something as you were going down. The worst spasm I ever had was when I was drying off after a shower. I reached down with the towel to wipe the water off the tub lip and went to my knees. I couldn't stand up straight for the next week. It doesn't take much to put a hitch in the old sacroiliac.

luvmexfood · Sep 21, 2013

We can get hurt doing the simplest things. Glad you are ok. I fell on ice at work about 3 years ago and it was slightly downhill. Could not catch myself it was so fast. Busted my chin open so bad that the workmans comp doctor would not sew it up. Told him I didn't mind adding a scar to my collection. He refused and sent me to a plastic surgen. Just a fall. Bad thing was that I was the 4th or 5th employee that fell in this area. Big cooling towers and instead of piping out the drain water they were letting it run out on the ground.

They did put in a drain after two more falls in the same area.

Gary Fowler · Sep 21, 2013

That type fall can be deadly in after effect. I had an uncle that was trimming up a downed tree and standing on the tree, cutting off sections. Eventually the weight relieved and the main truck jumped up tossing him from about 4 feet in the air flat on his back. He wasn't in pain that much but thought that he better get checked out by a doctor. He went to the hospital for xrays but nothing was broken so they released him. He died that night from a blood clot to the brain. Evidently the fall caused some internal bleeding to the arteries and the tiny blood clot later broke loose and blocked blood flow to the brain.
Be careful for several days or weeks to give your body time to heal properly.