Accident/injury while building barn

[grweldon]

Howdy folks.

Had a bit of a mishap last month on Sunday August 9th.

After finishing up the last piece of metal on the roof of my new barn, I had a fall while getting off the roof.  I fell 16' to the ground breaking my right wrist and my pelvis broke in two places.  I was airlifted from the farm in Autaugaville (Alabama) to Montgomery and then on to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) trauma center.

I had surgery on my wrist two days later then another surgery two days after that to repair my pelvis.

I have been home for the last 16 days. I had my first clinic follow-up yesterday and the images show that all is in place and healing as expected.  I am not allowed to place any weight on my legs and am pretty much confined to bed and a wheelchair for at least the next six weeks. Since yesterday I am allowed to place transfer weight only on my left leg to go from the bed to the wheelchair to the toilet.  Previously I could only use the bedside toilet with assistance transferring from the wheelchair.

The wonderful news is that I have no spinal cord or nerve damage and I will eventually be able to walk as normal, maybe even without a limp. I have very little pain from my pelvis area.  I have more pain from my wrist which has a stainless steel rod embedded under the skin which will eventually be removed.  The hydrocodone pain killers I'm taking do a good job easing the pain but they cause hot and cold flashes that keep me damp from sweating and generally uncomfortable temperature-wise.

I am extremely blessed that my injuries weren't more severe or life-threatening.  I did not even require a blood transfusion during surgeries.

I just wanted to send y'all a message letting you know my status.  I'm going stir-crazy not being able to do anything but I'm hanging in there and I'm in good spirits!

Glen

[Ron Scott]

Glen, that was a bad one. Glad that you are on the mend, but take care. At least you finished the barn roof before it happened.

[78NHTFY]

Holy cow, what is going on?  Let's stay safe out there!  Glen, glad to hear you are doing so well given the circumstances.  Only good thing is that with you being confined to bed we'll be getting lots of great FF posts from you   :D :D.  Be well & all the best, Rob.

[dnalley]

Man, I guess you're  unlucky and lucky at the same time.  16 feet is QUITE A FALL.  Hope everything heals to your satisfaction and you get back on your feet, literally.  Best of luck and be careful.  Your prognosis sounds pretty miraculous, at least to me.

[WmFritz]

You and Burlcraft must share the same Guardian Angel.
Nice to hear your on the mend, Glen.

[Magicman]

Thanks for the update Glen.  Our prayers have been with you for a full and complete recovery.  Keep us posted even if it is just to say Hi.   

[petefrom bearswamp]

Hope you heal quickly and well

[mesquite buckeye]

Glad you are still with us. Hope the healing goes well. Watch out for that pain killer stuff. It is highly addictive. I'd rather hurt, and usually do. have a good one. ;D

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

Heal up Glen, it'll take a while but you'll be good as new. 

[4x4American]

Good grief!  Be careful!  Hope you heal faster than expected.

[gspren]

   Wow, that's scary, it also confirms my decision to leave roof work to younger or at least skinnier people. Hope you heal fast and keep your feet on the ground for awhile.

[thecfarm]

That is some mighty nice news to hear!!!

[sandsawmill14]

sorry to hear about your fall but glad you are doing better hope all goes well for you

[clww]

Very sorry to hear about your misfortune. We'll pray you make a full, speedy recovery. Stay off those roofs and ladders.

[WV Sawmiller]

   A big old War Eagle to you. I know that will take 6 weeks off your recovery time. I know you had to go to that other school's hospital but that is the one thing they really do well. Glad they were there for you and hope you heal better and faster than expected with no ill effects.

[Glenn1]

Glen,

I am sorry to hear about your fall.  I also just built a pole barn but I put my two boys up the roof.  I found out that we don't bounce anymore when we hit the ground.  How do I know?  I fell off a horse this weekend and landed on my back.  Hope you feel better real soon.

[sawguy21]

You guys wanna start taking better care of yourselfs, we are not young and bulletproof anymore.  Glen, take care of yourself and give the body a good chance to heal. That could have been a whole lot worse.

[WDH]

Glen,

You are lucky.  Just type with your other hand.  I was worried, and I am glad to hear your prognosis. 

[NH-Murph]

Best wishes for a quick and full recovery.  A hobby to pass the time helps.  I spent quite a bit of time recovering from a bad leg injury, and building remote controlled cars wound up becoming my pass time.  Something you may not ordinarily be into just might become sanity's little helper.  Sometimes the mental frustration can be more painful than the physical damage.  Hang in there and keep your spirits up!

[samandothers]

Glen
That is bad but glad it was not worse. 

[Andy White]

Glen,
So glad to hear this news. You took a rough hit !! I feel your pain, just not as much. The more I read about our members, and ladders and falls, I get real antsy. I'm staying on the ground from now on.     Andy

[Left Coast Chris]

So glad you are going to be o.k. --- 16' is a long way to fall.    I did a similiar thing a number of years ago and was up high towards the crown changing my tie rope and switched to a rope not tied off.   I flipped backwards but had enough time to re-orient feet first and slid then launched off onto my feet then rolled.    Luckily that side of the roof had a shed connected to the barn and the eve height was only 9' or so.   So not nearly bad as yours.  No injuries on that one.

You probably know this but watch out for the pain meds.   They can be addictive.   My neighbor had back surgery and got addicted to oxycontin (?) and was never mentally the same again and never worked again.   Bad stuff.

Not likely you can read much on the meds but when you can check out "The Ezekiel Option" by Rosenberg.   A great fictional story about likely scenario of the end times based on actual biblical prophesy.    Pretty impacting and interesting.

[edkemper]

If you walk away or will walk again from an accident like this, I'd say someone was looking after you. Like landings, any one you walk away from is a successful landing. It's amazing how often we actually cheat death.

God Bless and all speed in healing.

[Howdy]

Healing is a matter of following the Dr's advice and taking care.  Just like you have need of food, healing requires that you also control the pain and discomfort, TAKE your pain meds.  If you are always in pain, your body will not heal as well or as quickly.  Use the meds wisely and follow the directions you have been given.

I hope you recover fully and find a way to handle the boredom.  Sorry for your misfortune.

[Chuck White]

Hope your recovery goes well!

Seems like Jeff said something like "Forestry Forum members" need to stay off of ladders!   ;)

There sure have been a lot of "falling" accidents lately!  :