Thank you for 'splainin' that. That explains something. I went into hospital ... I guess during Covid mostly bc my K was so low. And they asked if I was a fall risk. I told them no, it's against my religion to fall. Then she looked over and saw my cane and asked, Is that yours? Well Yes.My suspicious nature working in a branch of medicine where after a certain age when you say you fell, it becomes a matter of record that follows you.
For example. When I saw my orthopedic surgeon the first time and his NP and told them how I had hurt my shoulder while initiating an emergency stop on my dirt bike, they said. You crashed? No I said I didn't crash. You fell? No I didn't fall, I didn't crash, I didn't drop my bike. I initiated a sudden stop, I jumped down with both feet on the ground so I DIDN'T crash and I DIDN'T drop my bike and I DIDN'T fall.
Now if I had fallen this past Sunday and as a result I had to go to the ER I would tell them I fell and how basically I tripped over one of our dogs, stumbled backwards, my sore left foot didn't support me and down I went. Not much to do to avoid it. But my 'define fall' means, there are different types of falls, IMHO. Falling because you are dizzy due to postural hypotension (standing up too fast, get dizzy, hit the floor because your BP drops suddenly due to medication for example) or because you have a mini stroke is different from tripping over your dog who just ran in front of you and you couldn't avoid stumbling over him or her.
My husband went around with one of his VA doctors when she asked him if he had fallen the past year and he said well, I crashed in my recumbent bike. She looked at him and said you fell off your bike. He was at a recumbent bike race, I was there too, he slid out on a corner and went down on his side. The bike had a faring on it so it was completely enclosed so yes, he fell 'in' his bike to be specific and he told the doctor that. She looked at him and said 'don't get smart with me!'. When we left he said to me that well, that one is going to follow me for the rest of my life.
So yeah, you have to be careful what you say and how you say it. I think it's just a sign of our times with the graying of America from us baby boomers. Everyone is anxious to take your independence away from you even if there isn't a legitimate reason to. Everything is documented.
Why do you need it?
My left ankle is weak and goes out on me sometimes. It kind of buckles.
Oh so then you might fall.
No. I don't fall. I have my cane.
But you're a fall risk.
No! I do NOT fall!
Nurse, get some pads on the floor in here. This patient is a fall risk.
Tsk!
They actually padded my floor and wanted me to call a nurse to go to the bathroom! I didn't do that, either. Idiots.