I've been scarce around here lately. Here is what happened.

[moparedtn]

Out here, the roofs are not as steep as it is in snowy and icy climates so the slope here is comfortable.
I've been in a funk lately, even before the fall. I've been so driven to make these home repairs, I haven't had time to tinker on the cars and I really miss that.

VERY glad to read you're on the mend, my friend...but yeah, let's get some help when you're mended up
enough to contemplate going back up, ok?
I know you've also expressed gratitude to the Man upstairs, too - this could have been a lot worse.

Reminds me of recent times when we were installing metal roofing on all the structures out here, part of
my "get it done before I'm done" campaign. Garage was built with it, of course, but my bud and I had since
built the carport (it's too big to be called that, but...) and got that metal down ok, despite the height of it.
I had a roofing contractor do the conversion of the house roof to metal (had them take all the shingles and
such off down to the wood, then build it up all new).

Then came time for my bud and I to build the porch roof (16x24). Almost had it done when I got up on the
brand new metal to finish up some detail or what have you - and discovered new metal has a sort of powdery,
almost fine sandy, grit on it.
Slick, especially when dewy wet, come to find out...
My feet came out from under me and down I went, headed off about the same height as you - but in a move
of sheer desperation and luck, I managed to slow myself down by grabbing gutter with one hand and wildly
swinging my other hand towards the ladder, just out of reach - which I also managed to grab, barely.
I came down hard, ladder in one hand and length of formerly new gutter in the other...
Got up, rubbing my rump - and genuinely freaked out at what had just happened; it must have been quite
the scene. Glad there's no pics of it...
At that point, my friend and my wife both ganged up on me and decided that was my last trip on the roof -
ever.
Haven't been up there since.

Feel better my friend - and use your dang head as God intended, not as a landing pod, hear?

 

[lilcuda]

Glad you’re healing up. It could be worse. Many years ago, I came into work on a Monday and there were people talking and crying. A lady who worked there had gone up on her roof to clean leaves off over the weekend and she fell off and died!

 

[threewood]

Here's to a quick recovery Kern!

 

[hugh68charger]

I am wishing you a speedy recovery......take it easy man

 

[Cheapsunglasses]

To quote the Eagles “take it east”

Hope you get better soon so you can get back to work, and out of Commiefornia! They’re fighting back now, they don’t want to leave

 

[Don Frelier]

Here I thought maybe you had a bad case of the shits or something.


Seriously.
I do hope you continue to recover quickly and completely.

 

[PlymCrazy]

Take the extra diligence in retirement for your safety Kern Dog. Hear of too many folks, especially in the trades, who get complacent and get hurt in their retirement years or worse. Please use the extra caution going forward. Those who care about you sure would appreciate it.

Happy you’re back to tell us the story. Heal up quick man!

 

[roadrunnerh]

Hey Greg, Glad you're on the mend! Take it easy for a short while.

 

[WileE]

Considering the incident you've suffered, I'm glad it's not worse than it already is. Yeah, we're not as agile and resilient as we were in our youth. Hope your recovery goes well and quickly !

 

[Baller]

I post next to nothing here, but I do enjoy some members post, hence my reply here- I am here nearly every but rarely post Falls do suck, as a roofer I've had a few. I hope that you mend well. Good luck in your recovery Kern, I've always enjoyed your posts and comments.

 

[f569]

Wow, that is some scarey sh*t. I'm a year or so older than you (conjecture based on things you have posted) and still feel able to do pretty much what I have always been able. Having said that, whether it's my age or stories such as yours, I find myself a bit more reluctant than usual to engage in activities that I wouldn't have given a second thought to just a year ago. My FIL fell roughly the same distance as you did off a ladder recently. He sustained multiple broken bones, muscle damage and had to have his jaws wired back together.
Neither a risk taker nor is he careless, it was just a terrible accident.
Sounds like you are on the mend, thank goodness for that. Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

 

[Chargerjase]

Thats a terrible thing to happen Greg and sorry that happened to you. Two pieces of advice. Watch tge pain killers. Be care not to become dependsnt on them beyond when you meed then. Also, as soon as you are able, gently work your joints daily. In order to not lose mobility, you have to get yourself into small work out routines. Not sure if you are going to be going to physio, but if not then its stuff you will need to do. Good luck with your recovery.

 

[Kern Dog]

I was on the roof twice in the last two weeks.

It's been a while, like maybe a year...and I noticed it wasn't quite as easy as I remembered it.

I wasn't what I'd call "uncomfortable", but I felt I had to work harder.

I kept thinking- great, another thing I'm gonna have to pay someone else to do sooner than I want to.

Please don't interpret this as bragging but....
I am still full capable of working on a roof. My balance is great and my ability to recover from slips is usually great.
The wiped memory is likely from the concussion. I have never had any issue with passing out randomly so my confidence of returning to finish this project is 100%. I'm trying to convince myself that some rare occurrence led to the fall and that the concussion wiped my memory of what led to it all.
The ladders that I have are stable and in excellent condition. They do not flex and slip like an old worn out ladder does. I've been known to shrug off some safety practices but not in this case.

Detective D wrote:

"Maybe I am looking at something wrong, but isn't that the power line in the one picture? You sure you didn't bump it while working? That would explain why you can't remember anything. Just a thought."

That is an excellent observation and I have thought of it but.....
This section that is straight in this picture:

Is now bent down and pointing at the ground at the open end. I think that I might have fallen on top of it and bent it as I fell.

Working around this section did make me a bit nervous:

Knowing as little about electrical systems as I do, I was careful to touch nothing. One wire is unsheathed, two are insulated.
The aluminum extension ladder to the right is only resting there, I do extend it for roof work. The 10" step ladder is a couple weeks old and in excellent condition. I also am using an 8" step ladder that is also in great condition.
I'm shortening the eaves and boxing the soffits like I did elsewhere on the house a few years ago.

 

[Kern Dog]

Here I thought maybe you had a bad case of the shits or something.


Seriously.

I am honest enough to admit that I HAVE had the shits before but this experience is far different than that.

 

[toolmanmike]

Damn Greg, take care and heal soon.

 

[1STMP]

Please don't interpret this as bragging but....
I am still full capable of working on a roof. My balance is great and my ability to recover from slips is usually great.
The wiped memory is likely from the concussion. I have never had any issue with passing out randomly so my confidence of returning to finish this project is 100%. I'm trying to convince myself that some rare occurrence led to the fall and that the concussion wiped my memory of what led to it all.
The ladders that I have are stable and in excellent condition. They do not flex and slip like an old worn out ladder does. I've been known to shrug off some safety practices but not in this case.

Detective D wrote:

"Maybe I am looking at something wrong, but isn't that the power line in the one picture? You sure you didn't bump it while working? That would explain why you can't remember anything. Just a thought."

That is an excellent observation and I have thought of it but.....
This section that is straight in this picture:

View attachment 1484064


Is now bent down and pointing at the ground at the open end. I think that I might have fallen on top of it and bent it as I fell.

Working around this section did make me a bit nervous:

View attachment 1484065

Knowing as little about electrical systems as I do, I was careful to touch nothing. One wire is unsheathed, two are insulated.
The aluminum extension ladder to the right is only resting there, I do extend it for roof work. The 10" step ladder is a couple weeks old and in excellent condition. I also am using an 8" step ladder that is also in great condition.
I'm shortening the eaves and boxing the soffits like I did elsewhere on the house a few years ago.

Pretty sure you didn't get jolted.
Service drops (shielded wire) are
designed to protect against such
contact. The bare wire is a
tension (guide) wire used to take the
stress off the hot wire connections.
So sorry to hear of your mishap, and I
can relate to your present state.
Did your doc recommend any sort
of physical therapy to help with
recovery?

 

[Kern Dog]

I have a few appointments scheduled for next week. I suspect that some of them might be a matter of playing it safe/cover your *** sort of thing.
I don't know much but I would be surprised if they suggest physical therapy. If they do, I'm not sure if I'd follow through.
In the 90s, aside from construction, I had a side hobby where I was making home movies with VHS cameras. I jumped several cars, rolled two, crashed others. This was LONG before YouTube offered a platform for such nonsense. I recovered from all that with next to no lasting effects.
Yeah, I am older now and I am aware that injuries with advanced age can be worse. I can't let this get me down though. I will not let fear ruin me from living my life.

 

[kiwigtx]

Pretty sure you didn't get jolted.
Service drops (shielded wire) are
designed to protect against such
contact. The bare wire is a
tension (guide) wire used to take the
stress off the hot wire connections.
So sorry to hear of your mishap, and I
can relate to your present state.
Did your doc recommend any sort
of physical therapy to help with
recovery?

...and besides ....it's only 110 Volts. Just over the threshold of causing any harm.

Hopefully not two phases or more. A bang on the head or jarring of the back may have caused the memory loss. The brain is pretty good at blanking out serious pain in such situations.

I had a 400 Volt shock across a couple of phases as an apprentice, and I can honestly say I don't remember a small packet of time - but apparently, I was hilarious to watch. I 'came to' standing on the other side of a stack of rebar that I was working nearby. The Tradie I was being supervised by thought I was just pissing about.

 

[Islandkent]

Walk it off!
Seriously though glad you weren’t seriously hurt. You know what I’m saying. I really hear you when you say that we don’t heal the way we use to
I know that for a fact also. Sucks to be getting old
Take care Greg, you will be back to normal soon. The new normal. Lol

 

[chargervert]

That sucks Greg,I fell off a ladder when I was building my garage,and instead of going to the Motley Crue concert as planned,I went to the hospital! I shattered my right heel into five pieces. A titanium plate and seven screws later,I was able to walk again. It's never been the same! Get well Greg!