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Some 70 million nonfatal injuries are reported in the U.S. annually, mostly caused by falls, overexertion, and strikes. While most of these injuries only result in minor cuts, scrapes, or bruising, some do result in a loss of independence.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 34% of all nonfatal injuries result in loss of independence. The government organization further found that loss of independence following an injury is especially common among older adults, noting that 1 in 5 survivors of serious injuries who lose some degree of independence are aged 65 or older.
For those not already aware, loss of independence is measured by the inability to perform routine activities of daily living (ADL), such as bathing, eating, dressing, or walking, without support from friends, family members, or licensed caregivers. Having to rely on a walker, crutches, wheelchair, or another piece of durable medical equipment (DME) to perform day-to-day tasks also constitutes loss of independence.
Orthopedic injuries are the leading cause of loss of independence in the U.S., and these are the injuries many adults experience, especially those over age 65. That's according to a study published by the Mayo Clinic. For reference, orthopedic injuries are injuries that involve damage to bones, muscles, joints, ligaments, tendons, and other components of the musculoskeletal system caused by an accident. The following are some of the most commonly reported orthopedic injuries:
Bone fractures
Rotator cuff injuries
Sprains and strains
Torn ligaments
The severity of most orthopedic injuries can naturally disrupt someone's ability to move and care for themselves in both the short and long term. To put things into context, it can take weeks or months of rehabilitation to recover from a hip fracture, pelvic fracture, major joint dislocation, or other severe orthopedic injuries.
During that recovery, most people will have to rely on friends, family, and others to do things they were accustomed to doing by themselves. When it comes to long-term loss of independence among people who have suffered orthopedic injuries, the following are some of the most common contributors:
Fear of reinjury - Many people struggle with kinesiophobia, which is a psychological condition that causes some people to hesitate, change their movement patterns, and do many other things to avoid reinjuring themselves after they have physically healed. Kinesiophobia can lead to muscle disuse and atrophy, both of which can lead to a loss of independence.
Immobility complications - Healing from a hip, pelvic, or other serious broken bone usually requires prolonged bed rest. Prolonged bed rest can cause some people to lose as much as 20% of muscle and strength in just one week. And it does not end there. They can also experience a substantial reduction in bone density, not to mention the onset of deep vein thrombosis, blood clots, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and constipation. All of these can contribute to long-term loss of independence.
Permanent care - For some people, suffering a hip fracture, pelvic fracture, a major joint dislocation, or another major orthopedic injury can necessitate moving into a temporary rehabilitation center or permanent placement in an assisted living or nursing facility. The same also applies to non-orthopedic injuries, such as severe burns, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries. All of these can create a need for ongoing care, which constitutes a loss of independence.
According to nearly all physicians and personal injury lawyers, these factors and others can make returning to a completely self-reliant life incredibly difficult for people who have suffered an orthopedic injury.
There are many things people can do to cope with the loss of independence after an injury, one of which involves rethinking what it means to lead an autonomous life. For example, if your injury precludes you from driving, you might want to consider using a ride-hailing service or taking public transportation. Doing this alone can help you to regain a small amount of independence even though you are not the one actually driving to and from your destination. Other ways to cope with the loss of independence after an injury include the following:
Adaptive devices or tools- Instead of relying on others, individuals can use a cane, walker, scooter, or other mobility aids to get around. They can also use smart devices, voice assistants, and other technology to restore daily freedom.
Home modifications - For homeowners who have lost independence after an injury, home modifications can help them regain at least some of it. Examples of such modifications include installing grab bars near the toilet and shower in the bathroom, installing a shower seat to facilitate showering while seated, and adding a riser to the toilet seat to make sitting down and standing up easier on knee and hip joints. Depending on the severity of the injury and resulting loss of independence, installing a wheelchair or walker ramp at the home's entryway can also be beneficial. If the home has stairs, installing a motorized stairlift to move between floors might also be worth considering.
Improved lighting - To make moving around a home or apartment safer and easier after an injury, injured individuals should consider installing motion-sensor night lights throughout their residence. Investing in brighter light bulbs to illuminate especially dark areas, such as hallways and closets that don't get as much natural light, is also helpful.
Along with using technology and making home improvements to become more self-sufficient, hiring an occupational therapist is an excellent way to cope with loss of independence after an injury. An occupational therapist can help individuals heal both physically and mentally after an injury. They do this by combining physical rehabilitation with psychological support, which involves providing tips for breaking through psychological barriers, like kinesiophobia, for example. They can also work with families, teaching them how to motivate their injured loved one to become more self-sufficient.
If you have been injured due to the negligence, you may also wish to seek the legal aid of an experienced personal injury law firm like Thomas Law Offices. With the right attorney on your side, you may be able to obtain compensation that can be used for recovery costs and more.
