Mom fell today in the bathroom and couldn't get up. I spent 10 or 15 minutes trying to get her up myself (my husband was out), and finally just used brute strength to do it. I'm now feeling it in my back (which was already bad) and my neck (ditto) and will probably go into a flare (fibromyalgia). Didn't have a choice on this, though, as I coudn't leave her lying on the bathroom floor. Any tips or tricks?
The awful part using brute strength is pulling your mothers shoulder out or injure her more than you. Sorry Eq!
My sig other, who is very strong, is not infallible to injury when trying to lift up my Dad from a fall. One time he hurt his back to a point where he couldn't go to work for almost a week and couldn't even drive... so I had to cancel my parent's appointments for that week. If you are injured, who is going to help your Mom?
Elders have fragile spines. If they have a slight fracture and you pick them up with a gait belt, you may SEVER the SPINAL CORD.
If they cannot roll over or sit up on their own, you call 911. Be safe.