Coping with Accidental Falls
The physical body is like a chariot or car; we cannot do anything without the delicate physical body. So, we must be utterly careful about its health, mobility, and the psychological moods. Nowadays the family physicians (General Practice, Geriatric) are a bit more attuned to the needs of elderly people. At every annual checkup visit the family physician keeps asking about any physical fall, a trip, surgery, or injury to the head. Some home visiting nurses or doctors advise the patients about “fall avoidance”. They say: “Try not to keep any loose or slippery rugs on the floor. Make sure the bathroom tiles are rough to prevent slips. Put friction pads on polished floors or steps. Keep the bar soap away from the slippery floor. Hold on to sturdy bars or wall supports while taking showers. Always use the banister (side bar) while climbing the stairs, etc.” But any advice, even a well intentioned professional one can go only so far; much more valuable things we learn through the stern master of “experience”, sadly after paying the painful dues.
Now, what to do in a real life accidental fall? First we have to seek grace from our “guru” (or Ishta-devata, इष्ट देवता) in such terrible situations. I may, with ample humility share some of my own terrible mistakes to shed some light on this problem. With age our bones become brittle – a number of factors conspire to arrive at the “brittle bone” condition. Lack of calcium (with vitamin D and other minerals) or poor nutrition is one contributing factor. Poor physical activity and hormonal changes also produce brittle bones. As young children we (my sister and I) just lived on potable water and clean air. Mother’s pure affection compensated for all the missing nutritional elements – lack of milk, protein, essential minerals, or fresh fruits. My own excellent eyesight (not to crow) and dental health is a testament to my formative years in the village (bless our parents). Much later in the college father took pains of providing nourishing milk and fresh tasty yogurt (curd). But even that modest correction of calcium was minimal and sparse.
Though I experienced several falls or slips over the years luckily I escaped the broken bones situations. Once I was swinging on the front wooden (hinged) door and lost my grip. I fell down on the hard dirt floor near the porch. In the bygone era we used to improvise and play with whatever we could find. I escaped with a minor wrist dislocation. The local village doctors (Puttur Rajus massage and physical therapy) fixed it with a soft muslin cloth bandage and oil (cow ghee) massage. I owe much of my education and professional career to those lovely doctors and physical therapists. They did not take a single penny (paisa) for the orthopedic care; they politely refused payment from a young school going lad across the street, down the block. Such was their magnanimous spirit, extraordinary generosity.
In school days I had many more falls during bicycle riding – it was part of a learning process. Many of those falls were minor, with scratch on the shin or elbow. Some of the falls produced deep wounds with bleeding cuts. Again I escaped without breaking any bones; that saved the day for me. Luckily father never reproached me for such minor accidents. As I look back on those very active vigorous physical exercise days my only regret now is merely the lack of “basic first aid box” at home. A quick wash with alcohol and dressing with tincture of iodine (Povidone, Dettol, Bacitracin) would have kept my cuts dry and free of infection. In the highly humid coastal Andhra I would often get into complications with superficial wound infection. Many a time simple cuts or scratches on my skin used to grow into big septic wounds – an eyesore for several weeks, a sure curiosity arouser for all my classmates.
Recently we witnessed firsthand the disastrous effects of falls in our family. Three of our sister-in-laws experienced bone fractures due to accidental falls. In later advanced years surgeries or casts become very complicated and burdensome. In some cases doctors refuse orthopedic surgeries and weeks of postoperative confinement in bed. Prolonged inactivity or lying in bed increases the chance of blood clots and bedsores. All this analysis is to impress on adults (and elderly seniors) to stay physically active and continue with regular walks, stretching, or yoga etc. Also, we must assiduously try not to run or trip over loose water hoses, electric cables, extension cords, or furniture while we walk around or rush to attend a door bell. There is no need to run to the door and trip resulting in a bone fracture. Things can wait; a healthy mobile body is more valuable than meeting some one quickly at the front door. If Panduranga did not rush to the door to greet Sri Krishna, why should we hurriedly run to the front door for a mundane call? Accidental fall may usher us into a new “troublesome chapter” in life. It may, in some unfortunate cases lead to permanent disability or wheel chair confinement.
But we can certainly avoid such pitfalls with the help of a cane, walking stick, or a walker; yet this simple instruction is easier said than done. What are the other physical infirmities that contribute to poor balance and persistent falls? Here are some factors: Loss of hearing, poor vision (particularly peripheral acuity), dizziness, sudden changes in blood pressure (low), weakness, low blood sugar (often occurs with poor blood glucose control), dehydration, or nausea. Sudden acute cardiac events (angina, abnormal rhythm, electrical pulses, vagus nerve) or strokes can also lead to catastrophic imbalances and loss of body strength. To this we have to add the foot problems too: Hammer toe, deformed foot, improper arch, etc.
I will conclude with my own (limited) experiences with physical falls. On the steps of Pinakini River in Andhra I lost balance and fell on my back. I was a bit careless, did not notice (rather appreciate) the slippery moss on the river steps. But the sandy bank protected my head and I escaped without a scratch – thanks due to the presiding Lord Narayana (Sri Ranganayaka). Once during the wee hours I slipped and fell on the stairs with a transistor radio in my hand; then too I got saved due to the soft carpet on the stairs. But there was some other invisible grace guarding me all along. Another time I fainted in the bathroom due to extreme dehydration or stomach upset. Miraculously I regained consciousness after ten or fifteen minutes. Very recently this writer accidentally slipped from a swing while playing with children. It was totally unexpected and I badly hurt my shoulder, neck, and back. Fortunately the playground was filled with wood chips and that saved me from serious hard knocks on the head or bone joints. Still the recovery took more than three weeks. Only after lot of physical stretching, yoga, and repeated oil massage I got a complete relief from the chronic pain, joint aches, and stiff muscles. The over-the-counter pain medication did not help much. Again I pay my umpteen salutations (नमस्कार) to the guru and the Lord of Seven Hills.
I share some of my own difficulties with the body out of pure concern for others. I do not imply any gloating, any special privilege, or luck. Even in the best of times and circumstances “falls” can and do happen. There is a saying in America, it goes somewhat like this: “When you fall off a horse, get back in the saddle”. Similar injunction applies to the body also. We should simply forget about the fall and try to nurse the delicate physical body back to shape without dwelling too much on the misfortune. This article was prepared without using any of the modern AI tools. Copyright 2025 by the author
