ALS Update: I fall and need a bib

I am doing two months worth of updates.  I don't have much good news to share.  I fell six times during the month of December (four within the space of a week), and I think my strength is starting to fade faster than from age alone, but it seems to vary day-to-day.  My typing us slowing down, but that doesn't affect my day job significantly.  On the plus side, I am still doing all my daily routine, including the chores for the family, and I am still eating a pretty sizeable amount.

That update was intended for the end of December.  Things have changed since then. 

The first fall happened December 3rd when I was putting on my pants, and I pulled my leg out from under me rather than lifting and then pulling.  I had just been advised to be intentional and deliberate in everything I do, and I completely ignored that.  Fortunately, the landing area was soft, and there was no damage.

I fell again on December 5.  I was walking upstairs in my home, and my momentum carried me forward.  Again, there was no damage (I didn't have far to fall before hitting the steps).

Next, I fell on December 10.  I was going down the stairs outside the back door, and hurrying again.  This time I aggravated an old weakness in my right knee.  It's been painful ever since, for some reason being worse in the morning after I sleep, and gradually improving over the course of the day (usually).  Every fall since has involved my right knee buckling at some point.

The last fall of that week was on December 11.  I was carrying three bags of games out to my car, and a bag hit my knee, with the predictable result.  None of the games were scattered externally, but several were scrambled inside the box.

The morning of Christmas Eve, I scored two falls the the same morning.  The first was within the first four steps out of bed, I just dropped to my left knee, which is much better shape.  The second as I was taking my laundry downstairs, where I was at least able to arrange to fall backwards, basically sitting down hard on the stairs. 

Two more falls were on January 7.  Again, my right knee just buckled right after getting up.  The second fall was in the evening, when I tripped over a case of soda cans while not paying attention.  No damage either time.  I fell forward Jan 11, as I was trying to get back into bed after a urine trip to the bathroom, the only damage being a mild scratch on my thigh from the bed frame corner.  A second fall occurred that night, as my foot caught on the sleeve of a shirt I didn't pick up; there was no damage.

The last fall, so far, was on January 17.  I was walking down a dark hallway and not paying attention, and wound up careening off a fixture and falling frontwards.  Again, no injuries.  That's an even dozen including the fall in October, so I guess I'm done falling until I turn 62.  That's how it works, right?

Apparently not, and the 13th fall was the doozy.  I started trying out a knee brace on January 20, and it threw my balance off even while it helped my knee.  The morning of the 21st,  I started doing laundry.  Even though I knew my balance was off, I was carrying laundry down the stairs.  I went from the second floor to the first awkwardly but successfully, thought to myself I should ask for help, but decided not to.  I went down two steps to the basement, turned to close the door, lost my balance and fell the wrong way down.  Based on my injuries I did a full somersault down the 9 remaining steps before smacking my face into the wall.  I had two cracked thoracic vertebrae (initially the trauma team thought it was 3, but only were listed on the x-ray report), 2 more of the cervical variety, and lacerations on the top of my head and face.  There doesn't seem to be other damage, so my legs, arms, etc. have nothing more than scrapes.

I  was admitted to the hospital on the 21st, and discharged to home on the 26th.  I have a swanky MiamiJ neck brace, another brace for showering, and am on very limited mobility at home.  I have another x-ray on the 28th, which I hope will get this brace off and approve me going back to work.  My family has gone above-and-beyond taking care of me, especially my wife.  Outside of personal maintenance, I don't do any chores at all for now.  I expect to make a full recovery.

To end with a little bit of a lighter note, I started wearing bibs in December.  My wife purchased six amazing blue, terrycloth, adult-sized bibs.  They are splendid.  Everyone should get one.