Tom King Posted February 24 Report Posted February 24 Last night about 9, I went out to give the horses hay for the night. The hay is kept in a stall on pallets. The pallet I was getting the hay for the night off of only had a couple of bales left on it. As I stepped on the pallet to get to one, my foot slipped like it had grease under it. My foot slid and went in between two of the boards sending me falling. I knew going down I had to keep that lower leg upright and not twist the knee, but there was nothing to grab behind me but hay bales. I ended up on my back with three 65 pound hay bales on me. The light in that stall had quit working from the cold, so I was using my phone for the flashlight. The phone went flying in the fall so I couldn't call Pam for help. In the pitch black dark, I got the hay bales off of me and the ankle was in severe pain but I didn't think I had broken anything or sprained the ankle. After some number of minutes I was able to get the hay bales off of me and very awkwardly get up. I had a hard time getting my foot out from between the pallet boards without doing more damage. I found my phone, gave the horses hay, and hobbled back to the house. Almost worse than the pain in the ankle was Pam yelling at me, "You have to be careful All the Time!! You're old." I kept ice on it for a long time with it raised on my recliner and it kept me awake most of the night. I finally got to sleep about 3 in the morning and this morning it's a lot better already. There is no lost motion, a couple of skin abrasions but no blue bruising. There is still some swelling but it's gone down a lot since last night. I'm able to take longer steps this morning so think it will be back to a functioning foot in a couple of days. The instant that my foot slipped I remember thinking there shouldn't be any reason for it to be that slick. There is not any bare ground to walk on the 75 feet from the house to the barn. What only came to me later was that I had put that foot around the corner of the house into a flower bed to check to make sure the hose was off a freezeproof faucet on my way to the barn. That shoe was completely glazed over with compost stuck in the tread on the shoe bottom and probably was frozen by the time I got to the barn. Looking at the pallet this morning, when I gave the horses their morning hay, I can't see any easy way for my foot to even go between two of the pallet boards. I was very lucky. Much more damage could easily have happened. 10 Quote
Popular Post drzaius Posted February 24 Popular Post Report Posted February 24 Tom, you have to be careful all the time. You're old! I can say that cause I'm only 70 1 4 Quote
Mark J Posted February 24 Report Posted February 24 Tom, I'm glad you're not too badly injured, but jeez what a story! It could have had a much unhappier ending. 2 Quote
wtnhighlander Posted February 24 Report Posted February 24 Don't worry, Tom. My wife tells me the same thing, and I'm only 60! Glad your injury was no worse! 2 Quote
Popular Post Tom King Posted February 24 Author Popular Post Report Posted February 24 It's getting better fast. I can almost walk normally already. The skin abrasion is now the worst part. I think it was sort of like getting caught in a bear trap and I was very lucky the two places pinched were not where any tenons are. I still have to two step going up and down steps though. I was glad I had cleaned out the horses' run-in's yesterday because I thought it would be a good while until I can operate the tractor clutch, but now think it will only be a couple of days. 4 Quote
curlyoak Posted February 25 Report Posted February 25 Quite an experience! I'm glad that after the shock and early concerns eventually will be a distant memory. It is good that Pam complains. She cares! Quote
Von Posted February 25 Report Posted February 25 I notice as I get older, the reasons for my injuries become more and more mundane. Glad it wasn't worse and hope it continues to heal quickly. Quote
legenddc Posted February 26 Report Posted February 26 Glad you're okay! One great features of the Apple Watch is the fall detection. I'm sure other brands have similar features. I don't typically make any phone calls from my watch, but it works in an emergency. Quote
Tom King Posted February 26 Author Report Posted February 26 Thanks for the concern. It's bruised on both sides of the foot and still swollen some, but almost pain free and I was able to work yesterday and operated the tractor clutch without even thinking about it. I don't believe there is any permanent damage done. I've never had any pain that bad that kept me awake before, so I'm kind of surprised it's advancing as fast as it is. No need to 2-step stairs any more either. It still has a little bit of limited range in flexing and pointing and I still feel it when I walk, but not really any pain any more. I think when the swelling and bruising goes away I'll be back to my normal. 2 Quote
curlyoak Posted February 26 Report Posted February 26 That is the best news. progress and healing! 1 Quote
wtnhighlander Posted February 26 Report Posted February 26 On 2/25/2026 at 7:46 AM, Von said: I notice as I get older, the reasons for my injuries become more and more mundane. Made it to the "well, it was fine when I went to bed, what happened?" stage yet? 1 Quote
Tom King Posted February 26 Author Report Posted February 26 I've heard complaints of "sleep related injuries" but thankfully not there yet. 1 Quote
Ron Swanson Jr. Posted February 27 Report Posted February 27 On 2/26/2026 at 5:29 PM, Tom King said: I've heard complaints of "sleep related injuries" but thankfully not there yet. If it helps,Tom, my good buddy pulled a muscle in his neck. From SNEEZING. We're in our early 50s. Lol 1 1 1 Quote
Von Posted February 27 Report Posted February 27 On 2/26/2026 at 6:19 PM, wtnhighlander said: Made it to the "well, it was fine when I went to bed, what happened?" stage yet? "I must have slept wrong..." 2 Quote
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