On a brisk fall morning a few years back, I eagerly threw open the door of my travel trailer to reveal a beautiful blue sky and the promise of a new day. Without looking down, I took my first step out the door and suddenly I was upside down looking straight up into the blue sky; the steel stairs were covered with black ice. With my back parallel to the pavement and for a second, suspended in mid-air, the forces of gravity took over and I began to plummet downward, toward the steel stairs that had betrayed me and the asphalt pavement below. Realizing an impact with the stairs or pavement was imminent and could result in injury, I executed a twist with the precision of a diver off the high-board. I heard a loud explosion from within my lower back. Nonetheless, I deftly landed with my hands on the steel stairs and my feet on the asphalt, with nary a scratch, or so I thought. The next morning, I could barely move; my lower back was on fire. I managed to hook up the trailer with great discomfort and drove directly to a chiropractor’s office. Immediately after treatment, I felt fine again and left the office thinking it was all behind me. I was partially correct; the pain in my behind started slowly that night, then radiated down my left leg where it blew up. I was subsequently diagnosed with Sciatica and prescribed opioids to deal with the pain until the condition subsided. It didn’t subside, but over a period of about 4-6 weeks it got worse, I had begun to experience drop-toe and I became addicted to the drug to boot; withdrawal included extreme dizziness, nausea and the cold sweats that lasted about a week. I finally found relief with physical therapy where I also underwent electro-shock therapy to reawaken the nerves that had shut down due to lack of use. The physical therapy was successful and I have regained full use of my left leg, ankle and foot.

Today, I never worry about falling 3-feet to the pavement when I exit my motorhome. That’s because I installed the “Rip Cord”, a non-slip rope anchored to the motorhome door frame that I grab before I open the door and gently lower myself to grade. The feeling of safety and stability I get from my “Rip Cord” has removed the fear of injury. I use it every time I leave my RV with a sense of confidence. I highly recommend the “Rip Cord”, it works for me!