I had a bit of an accident, slipped on ice Friday morning, had emergency surgery Sat night and came home from the hospital yesterday. I broke my ankle in two places and now I have all sorts of plates, pins, screws, staples and stitches and the ankle is in a cast. I'm in pain, all drugged up, struggling with crutches, all in all, not having a good few days :( Needless to say I'll be off work for several weeks, I'm hoping to find a comfortable way to work on the computer. sigh... I guess the office project is postponed for a while :(
Comment Guidelines
We welcome your feedback on Houseandhome.com. H&H reserves the right to remove any unsuitable personal remarks made about the bloggers, hosts, homeowners and/or guests we feature. Please keep your comments focused on decorating, design, cooking and other lifestyle topics. Adopt a tone you would be willing to use in person and do not make slanderous remarks or use denigrating language. If you see a comment that you believe violates any of the guidelines outlined above, please click “Alert a Moderator.” Thank you.
Karen, glad to hear you're on the road to recovery. Just don't forget to let airport security know about the pins in your leg, you can sound the alarm from a mile away :D Hope everything will work out for you
Yikes!!!! That's a lot of repair work to your ankle!! Good to hear that you've moved to the next stage of your recovery. It'll all get better from this point :)
There were many times this winter when I was walking on ice and thought of what happened to you. And I made sure to walk REALLY carefully!!
and able to get around a bit easier. Hoping things continue going as well as they have been.
The Xrays are amazing. I have heard of screws being put into breaks before but I really didn't think the screws were exactly like screws for carpentry. I hope the therapy goes well.
Has Jake started his project of making the built ins for office or is he too busy taking care of you and the house and meals.
That is so cool I love looking at things like that. The human body is amazing and the way it heals. Glad to hear all is getting better just in time for the office to be done right.
karen, im glad to hear that you are making progress. Im sure it feels like a long haul for you, at least the new cast will allow some versatility. All the best karen
smiles
janetc
It's good to hear the update on your ankle. I'm sure you'll be more comfortable with the air cast. The skin thing is a little gross isn't it? I hope your physio goes well and quickly (but progressively) gets you back on two feet again soon.
The x-rays are impressive. You did quite a number on those bones. Heal fast, and may your screws never be loose!!
take care,
kipper
Hi everyone, a quick update.
I went to the hospital on Wednesday and they removed the cast that I had on for the last four weeks. It was kinda gross but not as bad as I expected. Your skin normally sheds daily but when it's bandaged up for so long it doesn't shed.. So I have a bit of exfoliating to do over the next few days, not all at once though as the skin's quite tender.
I got an air cast this time, which means it's removeable and I can take a bath with both feet wet. Progress! I still have to keep the cast on except for showering and sleeping. Now I can treat the cuts with polysporyn, one is about 1" and the other more than 6".
I have my physio assessment this afternoon and start physio twice a week on Tuesday. The doctor wants me to be at least partial weight bearing in three weeks. At last I can begin work that will get me off the sofa in a few short weeks. I'll have a better sense after the first two or so physio appointments.
For those of you who are visual, here are my x-rays from March 1. You can see both breaks, all the hardware and the staples I described in my last update (8 screws and 1 plate). Apparently the one screw that goes straight through the ankle horizontally is expected to break once I put my full weight on it and start to walk around...eeek!. It's holding together two big bones that are not meant to be that rigid but since my ankle was splayed apart, they needed to put it in to hold it together.
And yes, apparently I will set off metal detectors
front view
[IMG]http://i2.tinypic.com/so2z53.jpg[/IMG]
side view
[IMG]http://i2.tinypic.com/so2zas.jpg[/IMG]
just to let you know, still thinking of you and wishing a speedy recovery for you....it is so frustrating to be laid up....i totally understand, you just want that normality back...hang in there
smiles
janetc
Ouch :( I've never broken any bones (unless a cracked head counts!!), but I've sprained practically every part of my body. So I know what it's like to not be able to do things "normally". It takes a bit of practise and creativity, but eventually you'll figure out how to do everything for yourself, and you'll be zipping around on your crutches in no time :)
On the positive side -- at least this happened AFTER your trip to Mexico!! And by the time spring gets here, you'll be all healed and ready to head outdoors to enjoy the sun and ice-free ground!!
about the sitting position, when you sit on the couch, pull up the coffee table and put a few pillows on the coffee table to keep your leg up. You will notice when you keep it up its less painfull. If your lying on the couch or in bed (on your side), put a pillow between your legs and ankles. I have been there, its tough in the beginning but when you figure out how to do everything, it does get better. In the mean time....take a load off and just relax, think of it as time for yourself ( I know it sounds stupid but thats what it is)
I hope you feel better soon. Make sure Jake takes good care of you!
im glad to hear that things are getting somewhat better, still a challenge but its amazing how we find a way to manage, and it helps to have a hubby that is so helpful. That is nice to hear that you are having some time with friends and family. As for you paperwork and banking, it will get done...and im sure you will accomplish that before its too late. hang in there and continue to get well
smiles
janetc
That really stinks :( I'm glad to hear that the surgery went well. I hope that you have a speedy recovery, so that you can get back to normal asap.
Take care of yourself :)
Sounds like you are managing a bit better now, that's good to hear. I was in a similar situation a few years ago, it was a royal pain in the butt but I adapted as best I could. Showering was the most challenging. The worst for me was when they took the cast off. I would suggest keeping busy getting all those things you never seem to get done, done now. You'll be back to normal in no time :)
Thanks guys, I'm tryiing to keep my spirits up. Everything takes so long, to go to the washroom and back is exhausting on the crutches. Jake brought down an office chair on wheels so I can wheel myself around the kitchen to get my meals when he's at work. He brought everything I need to on top of the countertops and he perpares a plate and leaves it on the lower fridge shelf. I'm managing but it's no fun just staying in one spot. I have yet to find a sitting position that's comfortable that doesn't cramp my leg. Jake put the kitchen computer in the family room next to me so I have a remote mouse and keyboard to use. I kinda have to contort myself to use it but at least I have access for short periods of time. I still have a lot to do in terms of banking, sorting out rrsps since the deadline is coming up, catching up with friends and visitors so I'm not completely bored. Hopefully I can find a good seating position soon so I start going through my foot and half high stack of magazines.
I hope the time passes quickly, you're probably learn to get more mobile as the weeks go on. Focus on the positive - you're all drugged up :D
So sorry to hear your bad news. Do take care of yourself and let your DH pamper you a bit ;)
I broke my wrist last summer too and it was quite an inconvenience, but time flies so fast....enjoy looking through those magazines...(hug)
take care, hope you are feeling more comfortable soon, get lots of rest - and start ripping those decorating mags for inspiration pics !
I'm so sorry to hear of your accident! I hope that you are able to be comfortable soon on your own without the painkillers. They really do make it difficult to function.
Rest, keep that leg elevated and let Jake take care of you. On the bright side, we'd love to have you spend more time with us here, and you can further research your office project.
Hope your recovery is quick,
kipper
You have been through a rough time. I hope you don't find yourself too miserable for much longer and then when you figure out a way to stay comfy at the computer, you can always spend some more time here. Maybe that will help keep your mind off it all. In the meantime, take care.
Sorry to hear Karenm
That's a real bummer. I hope you start to feel better real soon. Take advantage of this time off to relax, let hubbie pamper you and to gather lots of ideas for your next projects.
All the best
Awful! I hope the pain goes away soon. Aside from the obvious discomfort, the pain has to be the worst. Hopefully that will disappear so that you can find a way to enjoy this time at home.
lots of hugs karen...take care of yourself and hope you're feeling better soon!!! :)
karen that is awful....get well soon and hope for painfree days ahead for you
((((((((hugs)))))))))
smiles
janetc
Oh Karen, that's horrible!!!
Hope you feel better soon and take care of yourself....
(((HUGS)))
ouch!!!
that's horrible Karen. is hubby taking a few days off to help you? if you're alone be extra careful moving around...between getting used to the crutches and the meds you'll probably be unsteady for the next while.
take it easy....
I hope you get well soon. At least it happened in the winter not the summer. Take care of yourself!
So sorry to hear that take care and get Jake to baby you for a while. Rest Rest Rest that is what you need right now.