Can this day get any worse?

Setting the scene:  Hubby has been in Florida since last Saturday taking care of things for his mother.  Our son went with and his wife joined them on Thursday.  That left me at home with the dog.

1.  Got up and walked to the bathroom barefoot only to step in dog pee.

2.  My car would not start, had to have it jumped by the neighbor.

3.  Went to get more yarn to finish a scarf for the neighbor and they had no more.  I had to rip out an entire scarf to re-knit it to be longer.

4.  Doing the wash, the laundry tub overflowed.  So I had to mop up the basement floor.  (It overflowed because hubby forgot to remove a plug he uses when he is santizing wine bottles.)

5.  Took the dog for a walk (single digits outside).  Decided to take a different route.  Slipped on ice and fell.  I do not have my cell phone and I realize I CANNOT walk.  I flag down a car and with much difficulty, they help me up and drive me home.  I have the neighbor take me to the ER - I figure I have bad sprain.

6.  While in the ER - the nurse is taking info, I am in excrusiating pain - hyperventilating and all.  I ask if I could please be put in a chair that allows me to elevate my foot.  She gets a different wheel chair and in the process of backing up the wheelchair I am in, she swings the chair around and HITS MY SORE FOOT AGAINST THE WALL!!  (My neighbor says she's never heard a scream like that out of me and she is sure the whole hospital heard me).

7.  I have Xrays, and low and behold I have a spiral fracture of the fibula (the outer leg bone).  Gee, no wonder hitting the wall with it hurt so much!

So, I am now home with a cast and crutches and pain medication.  Since it is my right foot, I cannot drive for at least a week, and since I drive a manual transmission (with a clutch), I may not be able to drive for 6 weeks!

What else can go wrong today?

Quote:

What else can go wrong today?

You should never ask.

Gosh BB, that is terrible! What a rotten day...  :(

I am so sorry that you broke your leg! That's just....ugh that's something I can't even comprehend, having never broken a bone - I feel so bad for you!! *hugzzz*

Thank God that your neighbour was there to help! Talk about being up a creek without a paddle. Obviously, you have someone watching over you.  :)

But you know, for as sucky of a day as it was, it sure could have been a lot worse. Think of it...you were able to get the help you needed one way or another - you weren't stranded or suffering for too long, and...you're not dead!  :D  Plus, when your family returns, you'll have lots of people to sign your cast and wait on you hand and foot.  ;D  If I were you, I might count myself pretty lucky in spite of it all.  ;)

Best of luck for a swift & total recovery. You're a strong woman, so I know you won't be down too long.  :)

I'm so sorry to here you broke you leg :-[  Murphys Law "whatever can go wrong will"  I do hope your feeling better soon! God what a bummer!  The most I've ever done is break toes. :P  Thankfully your neighbour was there to help and when you get better go and kick that nurse in the ER!  ((((((Hugs)))))

Holy Moly! I think "bad day" is an understatement, BB.

I'm so sorry about what happened. If only things had stopped at standing in dog pee, or at least having to re-knit the scarf.  :-/

I hope Monday is much better. Take it easy until your hubby returns.

(((hugs)))

BB, you have all of my sympathy. It must have been so hard to have to deal with all that without your family. Be sure to post a lot about how you're feeling and we'll reach through cyberspace and time and remind you that we're here, ready to listen!

awwwww   :-[  
Poor BB!  
it WILL get better, it WILL get better, it WILL get better...

EEEEEkkkkkkk, i'm so sorry BB, i wish i could come over and make you some soup   :-/

Hope you feel better soon :)

*sending you best wishes FAST*

Oh man :-/ That sounds horrible. You have my sympathies and good thoughts. (((HUG))))

Anais

BB, i hope your foot gets better soon! Thats sad about your day. I wish things get better for you. Tomarrow will be a better day. Just relax in bed, watch movies and eat chocolate. thats what i would do.

Oh, Bikerbraid, whadja go and break yer leg fer? *protects face & ducks*
Kidding, kidding, kidding!  ;)

Man, oh man!  Just breaking your leg alone would make for the worst day, let alone throwing all those other commodities in with it!  You've deinitely got my pity!  Boy, you really should've slept in that day!  Broken bones are nooooo fun, I've been through two broken ankles (separately), no fun, no fun, no fun.

I wish I could be there to help you, but I'm sending healing wishes your way.  Relax, take pain killers, and heal up quick!

(((((((((BIG HUGS!)))))))))

Holy Crap!

Does that ever suck!  I'm very sorry to hear you're injured and in pain.  I hope that your recovery will be swift and painfree.

Sure wish there was something I could do.  I'd cook for 'ya and put on funny movies to make you better quick!  Laughter is the best medicine!!!

Take care and keep us up to date on your progress!

Update:
Good friends are very special.  Good neighbors are also very special.  When you have a neighbor that is a good friend you are exceptionally blessed.  I am lucky enough to have neighbors that are good friends and would do most anything to help out.

These neighbors are the ones that took me to the ER.  They came over a couple times last night to let the dog out.  They went to the airport to pick up my family.  

Today is better.  I did not go to work (I had no way to get there!).  I didn't sleep well last night - the ibruprofin started to upset my stomach.  So I had a 2 am snack of crackers and soup.  I'm napping today and trying to get the hang of the crutches.  I've decided I am a total clutz and have no upper body strength.  I have not figured out how to go up stairs with crutches other than on my butt.  (This could look real professional on the steps outside my work! :D )  Fortunately I don't have to do many stairs.  I've discovered a few additional bumps and bruises from my fall - my right hip has a huge bruise on it and the palm of my right hand is very sore - making it harder to use the crutches. I've also got a screaming headache, but that could be just part of dealing with the pain without narcotics.


Thank you all for your warm thoughts and offers of help. It helps having you all here to "share in my pain".

wrote on Feb 20^th, 2006 at 5:48pm:

I've been through two broken ankles (separately), no fun, no fun, no fun.

And neither is breaking your collar bone twice on the same spot, and the second time just happens to be the night you took off your "cast".... :P ;D

Hi BB, I got back from the ER too and I thought of you. Glad to hear you've got good friends and neighbors to take care of you.

Hugs and blessings
Anais

(((((((((((((((((BB)))))))))))))))))

Bless your heart!  I'm so sorry your suck day ended in actual personal harm.   :'(

I'm sending hugs, best wishes, and virtual chocolate; Rumpole sends a purr, Gorey sends a chirrr-up, Agatha sends a mew, and Bogie sends a well-meaning scratch.

Ack, I would never wish a day like that on anybody.  I hope you recover quickly.  /hug

((((((BB)))))))

Make sure hubby waits on you, dotes on you, and provides many hours of hair minion duty!

On a practical note:  if crutches are a danger, see if hubby can get you a walker.  It is more stable than a pair of crutches.  

Oh, Bikerbraid, I am SO SORRY!!!  I pray you experience a swift healing!  Ever wonder why these things happen??? ??? ???

*Will you be able to ride your bike ever again?*

Where I live we have ice and just got over having single digit temps too.  I'll be thinking of you next time I step over an icy spot on the sidewalk when I'm out walking my pup Smokey...

God bless and speed your healing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

wrote on Feb 20^th, 2006 at 12:20am:

Can this day get any worse?

:o :o :o
Is it over yet?

Sounds like you need a big, warm bear hug. I've never had a day THAT bad! At least this didn't happen a week before SAGBRAW.

I put out a new chapter to the Goddess novel. Maybe Kirby Ann's bad day will take your mind off your's? ;)

Things are getting better.

I actually got several hours of sleep last night - whoo hoo!  Hubby and I re-adjusted my crutches and removed the oversized pads at the top and now I can get around better.  My right hand is still pretty sore, so I can't go very far on the crutches.

I went in to work today - hubby played chauffer and even carried in my work bag!  My job is sedantary, so no problems there.  It is a small office and everyone is helpful.

I'm trying to talk hubby into getting a hand held shower for our walk in shower.  That would make hair washing much easier from a stool, which I will have to use.

I am soooo glad this didn't happen any later - I would hate to have it cut into my biking too much.  I still don't know how long I will be in a cast - I'll find out on Friday.  I'm hoping that cycling will be considered good therapy!


I'm pooped from the day already and plan on veg'n out watching the Olympics with a glass of wine and my foot propped up.  :)

I'm so happy your doing better!! ;D

Omigosh!!  That sucks you had a crummy day...  I sure hope you heal quickly, and in time for your bike trip.  *hugs*

Cynde

Wow. I hope for quick healing. Find some fun stuff to do with your foot proped up, like watch movies or have your hubby rub your back. :)
Meg

BikerBraid! I am so sorry to hear about your recent trauma. Wishing you well to get over the aches & pains as quick as possible.

On the bright side, perhaps, with that one sucky day, the rest of the year will be suck-free. :)

Thank you all for your well wishes.  Wednesday was a rough day - I was sore everywhere - between the injuries from the fall and soreness from using crutches, I was a mess.  But today I feel a bit better.  My coordination on the crutches is getting better.  Going up stairs is still a mystery to me - thank goodness I only have to do 2 steps to get into the house and hubby is there to help.

I have some sort of a bruise/callous/blister on the heel of my right hand.  I must have done something to it when I fell.  Unfortunately this REALLY hurts when I am on the crutches.  Oh well.  

Tomorrow I see the orthopedic specialist and find out what my recovery plan will be - surgery or a cast?  Obviously I'm hoping for just the cast.   If they put more metal into me, I'll NEVER make it through airport security!  ;D

Good luck at the doctors!  Have them look at your hand too, just in case.

Even though I only broke the fibula, I'm still going to have to have surgery.  Apparently I severly tore all the ligaments in the ankle so that my foot/ankle/leg bones won't work together correctly without the surgery.  :P  My new nickname will be erector set lady!  I will have more screws and plates holding me together!  ;D

It was interesting to see my foot and ankle when they took the splint off.  My ankle was every color in the rainbow!   ;D The inside of the ankle was red, black and blue, the top of my foot was purple, and the outside of the ankle and all the way up my shin was green and yellow!  The entire foot, including my toes were very swollen and the ankle, of course, was swollen to the point of not being able to see any bones.

I'm in an aircast now - at least I can put a little weight on the foot now, which will make things much easier to get around.  And I can remove it to bathe!!!  

The surgery will be next Friday, so I guess I won't plan on hosting a chat next week, but maybe we can work out having someone else host it.

Bikerbraid!!!  :-/ I'm sorry to hear you'll need surgery... We wish you the best of the best. ((((HUGS))))

Anais

I'm so sorry Bikerbraid :'( :'( looks like the bad day hasn't ended, huh? :-/

I hope everything goes well :) Good Luck, and God Bless You :-* :-*

Hope your healing doesn't take too long.
What's an aircast look like? How is it different than a regular one?
Meg

An aircast is also called a camboot or walking cast.  It is a hard plastic with velcro straps to tighten it around the foot and leg.  Once that is done, you pump up the air chambers inside to give more support to the broken bones.

The nice thing about them is they are removeable for bathing and dressing.

Sorry you have to have surgery BB.  Prayers for a quick recovery.

((((((((BB)))))))) How have I been able to miss this?  :o :o :o

I'm so sorry. I have broken bones, but nothing like that- I can only imagine the pain. Everything is so difficult when you can't move normally, but it sounds like you're doing great in this situation.

Healing vibes coming your way, BB!  :-*

I hope you have a fast recovery.  How long will you have to stay at the hospital, or will you get to go home the same day?

More metal parts!  Whoohoo.  We'll call you the bionic woman.  Or The BikerBraidinator.

The surgery is outpatient as it lasts only 1.5 hours.  They usually use a spinal block for the anethesia, but my surgeon was not sure they could use that with my fused back, so they may have to use a general.

I like not having to spend a lot time in a hospital - been there - done that - prefer not to repeat.  I will probably not be moving around much for a couple days, but at least I'll have my computer, my own bed, etc.  :D

(((((BB)))))  

Now you have to have surgery?  That sucks.  >:(  At least you'll get to recuperate at home. :-/

BB sorry to hear your going to have surgery! :( Just remember to take the painkillers afterwards!

BikerBraid I hope your surgery goes well tomorrow.  Hubby and I will be thinking of you and hope you get well very soon!
http://smilies.sofrayt.com/1/u/bigflower.gif
Lisa

Darn it! I just saw that!
Oh BB! I hope you heal soon and the surgery swiftly passes you by!
Darn it! I have slipped on snow/ice myself in the past and it's part of the reason I hate the darned thing, except in vacation time!
I am soo feeling for you. I hope the pain, at least, goes away instantly!!!
((((((((((BB)))))))))))))))
All the best for the surgery!

Thank you all for the well wishes.  I know that the surgery will ultimately make things better, so I am OK with it.  The frustrating part is that just as I am feeling a little bit better, they do something to me to make it all hurt again.   :P  Hopefully  this cycle will soon stop!

On a "what else can go wrong" note.  Today at work, I'm getting ready for a conference call and the fire alarm goes off in the building!  I am on the 6th floor of the building.  I was not looking forward to trying to get down 6 flights of stairs on crutches!!  :o  My co-workers are starting to panic, realizing I would have a difficult time.  Plus we do not have a standard chair in our entire office (which is what you use to carry someone down stairs).  Fortunately, the alarm stopped and we found out it was just an accidental trigger due to construction work.  My boss immediately went down to the manager and commandeered a conference room chair to have in the office - just in case!  

wrote on Mar 2^nd, 2006 at 9:50pm:

My boss immediately went down to the manager and commandeered a conference room chair to have in the office - just in case!

LOL  Okay, I just got a mental picture here -- the Bikerbraidinator with her long braid flowing behind, casted foot stuck out in front and a couple of those diamond-party-cabana boys carrying her down 6 flights of stairs in a conference chair like the Queen of Sheba.  8) No, no don't tell me those cabana boys turned into balding, middle-aged men with spare tires :o
Sorry, occupational hazard - a bizarre sense of humor about medical issues :P

OH, PL - thank you for the chuckle!  I really needed it tonight.  (No pain meds allowed and I'm a hurtin').

Actually, from my office, I would have a good looking young Dutchman on one side and a slightly older fella on the other.  However, if I was lucky, the young longhaired fella from the other office on our floor might provide assistance!   ;D

Cabana boys...... I wonder what they would be doing on the 6th floor of our office building in March?  LOL!

I got a pic similar to that ;D.i can imagine the panic :P glad it was nothing serious.


Best wishes, and good luck on your surgery. I hope everything goes smoothly, and with as little pain as possible :) :-* :-* :-* will think of you all day tomorrow...

Good luck for your surgery!

Good Luck

Here's a hug from me, a purr from Rumpole, a churrup from Gorey, a (sweet) scratch from Bogie, and a "we know she's in the house we just don't know where but if we could find her we're sure she'd wish you the best of luck" from Agatha P.   http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/tiere/animal-smiley-027.gif

I've been thinking of you all day, and hoping all went well.  Can't wait to hear from you. *hugs*

Can't wait to hear from you. And i hope next time we'll read a " Best....Day...Week...Year" post :D :D


((((((((BB))))))) :-*

Thanks everyone!

Surgery went well.  I'm not feeling ANYTHING from the knee down yet - they did some sort of a nerve block that lasts about 12 hours.  So tomorrow will probably be a rougher day.  But we will see.   :D

Yaayy! ((((((((((((((((BB))))))))))))))))

I hope tomorrow is NOT a rougher day :) :-*

Glad the surgery went well BB.  Hope you are doing well today.

I am happy everthing went okay with the surgery.  Hope your feeling better real soon :)

Thanks everyone!

I have feeling in the leg now and the pain is managable.  I have some good meds to help me sleep and ibruprofin for daytime.  I got to see the stitches today (we changed the dressings on it).  All I can say is the surgeon did not take ANY special steps to minimize scarring!  BIG, HUGE stitches were used.  LOL.  No inflamation or oozing, so it looks like it is healing well.

Hi from Rat on a Sunday morning thinking of that 'Queen of Sheeba' image....

I'm reading about your surgury and recovery. Did you damage ALL the ligiments in your ankle? Has Dr. given you a rehab schedule as yet?

That same morning, my neighbor of 20 years had to go to the hospital for surgury. Although they think they fixed the immediate problem for the constant pain, they found cancer again. This week has been very rough on her 76 yr. old husband who has already had a stroke and 2 heart-attacks in the last couple years.

I was thinking of you both last week, especially Friday.

-------------

Let's make some good come out of this. In chapters 4 to about 6, Kayla hobbles around with a busted ankle and crutch. If you see I've written something she did that you find impossible to do with your ankle, let me know. ;)

Hi Sir Rat!  I'm so sorry to hear about your neighbors.  I hope everything works out for them both.

As for my rehab, they haven't told me anything yet.  I'm supposed to be non-weight bearing for 4 weeks.  We changed the dressing today and the swelling has already gone down considerably.  I'll have to see if I can get hubby to scan the Xrays they took that show the screws.  More Xrays to add to my collection.  8) 8)

I'll re-read those chapters again and see if I notice anything.  

Hi BB, wishing you a speedy recovery :-* I'm glad to hear your pain is manageable. We lurf you!

Anais

Glad to hear things are manageable today.  
Quote:

All I can say is the surgeon did not take ANY special steps to minimize scarring!  BIG, HUGE stitches were used.

:P  Trying to think of a funny here, but the shoot'em up video game in the other room is driving out all creative juices. :-X  Anyway, hopefully by the time it heals all the way the scar won't look nearly so bad.

Hello BB,

Glad surgery went good.  :)Wishing you the fastest recovery ever! Magazines, books and herbal teas would be wonderful to have during this time. Love always.

:-* :-* :-*
Hope this helps to take the pain away

Quote:

Posted by: Curlygirl22 Posted on: Mar 5th, 2006, 11:55pm Hello BB, Glad surgery went good.  Wishing you the fastest recovery ever! Magazines, books and herbal teas would be wonderful to have during this time. Love always.

and chocolate!  Don't forget the chocolate!   ;D

Thanks - yes, chocolate heals all wounds!  ;D

Here's the Xray of my ankle after the surgery.  You can almost see the break just under the 3rd screw from the top.

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1266/4428415/9365261/132115270.jpg

Oh my! All that hardware :'(  I hope your feeling better. :D

:-/ :'( I'm glad your feeling better :-*

Do those screws stay in forever?  :o

That HURTS just LOOKING at it!! :o

Most people leave the screws in, but they can be removed after a year.  Some people react to the metal in the body, but the doctor said I probably would not have any more of a reaction than what I already experience from the screws and rods in my back. (I guess that is ONE positive note  8) )

Wowsers, I can see the crack.  You poor thing!  I'm glad healing is progressing as expected.  So is that a rod or a plate that they put in there?  

As far as taking the "parts" out, no one I know has had that done unless there has been a problem (who wants to go through surgery again!)  My co-worker had a plate removed because the edges of it rubbed against the inside of skin.

When I get tired and whiney, I ask my boyfriend for back rubs, and claim that "my back hurts - my screws are falling out".  He just rolls his eyes. :)

Khrome;
It is a plate used to align the screws and provide strength while the bone is healing.

I've never used the line about my screws falling out, but I do refer to them as "rusting" when I ache, which is usually during damp weather.  ;D

I suppose now I will ache even more with the changes in weather.  :-/  Maybe my next career should be a weather forecaster?

wrote on Mar 7^th, 2006 at 5:42pm:

I suppose now I will ache even more with the changes in weather.  :-/  Maybe my next career should be a weather forecaster?

Yes!! And you can broadcast it through the AM channels on your teeth fillings.  :)

Beautiful ankle, BB!!  Sorry, there goes my awful health-care-provider sense of humor  ::)-- actually I really am admiring the X-ray, love to look at 'em and figure out the anatomy etc.   ;)

Anyway, hope your ankle recovers rapidly and painfree...and chocolate helps with everything!! ;D ;D

wrote on Mar 7^th, 2006 at 11:20pm:

Beautiful ankle, BB!!  Sorry, there goes my awful health-care-provider sense of humor  ::)-- actually I really am admiring the X-ray, love to look at 'em and figure out the anatomy etc.   ;) Anyway, hope your ankle recovers rapidly and painfree...and chocolate helps with everything!! ;D ;D

Oh, I LOVE the humor.  Actually, I'm already tired of telling everyone I slipped on ice, so I've been coming up with creative causes for the break.  The nurses, etc. loved it and started coming up with their own.  Most of them revolved around Olympic sports.  My favorite is I broke it doing an 720 on the half pike and scratched.  (Just imagine a dumpy 50 plus old lady on a snow board in the half pike!!!  :o )

Khrome - Hubby would prefer if I could improve the HD reception for our TV - AM radio is sooo boring.  8)

Hee, hee. I'm glad you still have you're sense of humor.  :D
My dad has screws in his knee and a beautiful scar to match. I hope you heal nicely.
Meg

My dad had 2 metal valves in his heart.  Back in the 70's when they were installed, the technology was not as perfected as it is now, using smaller, plastic values.  Basically, his valves were metal cages with metal marbles going up and down for the valves.  

To complete the picture, my dad was a thin man - 6'2" and 140 pounds when his weight was UP!.  So there was not much insulation on him to "hide" the sound of the valves.  He also had a slightly irregular heart beat.

All this adds up to a person walking around sounding like a bad watch!  The ticking was noticable in a quiet room or if he exerted himself.  We often joked about his traveling and someone thinking he was a walking time bomb.   Today that would not be so funny, but this was BEFORE 9-11 and the increased security.  After he died, my mother had a hard time sleeping - initially we all thought it was just the loneliness, but then realized she was used to hearing his heart.  So we bought her a wind up alarm clock to set by the bed.  She was soon able to return to normal sleeping habits!

BB this braught back some memories for me!!!  When I was about 3 my grandfather had his first open heart surgery by the doctor that operated on Pres. Eisenhower and the doc used pig's valves on my gramps.  Talk about old technology.  I remember listening to his heart,that sounded; I dunno know, maybe  like an old watch and a sucking hose sound!!!  He was 6'4'' and thin too,but not as thin as your dad was.......
Ah,memories................ :-/

LOL
Curlgirl -- your gramp's valves may have come from my dad's pigs -- at least I think some of them ended up in that program.

BB -- I remember seeing pictures of those artificial heart valves.  Cutting edge technology at the time, as were pig valves.

Hearing your grandfather's heartbeat -- wild!  What a great memory.

lol ;)PreciousLocks!  

My continuing saga..........

Do any of you have any idea how narrow the steps are to get up into an RV?  Hubby has decided we need a larger unit (one with a dedicated bed instead of a sofa bed).  So he drags me out to the RV lots to look at the rigs.  

Picture me on crutches trying to hop UP 4 steps into these monster vehicles!  Then, of course, you have to come DOWN the steps.  The steps are about my hips width (I know, I know, I should have smaller hips!).  So I have to put the crutch tips on the very edges of the steps so that they will support me as I hop up the step.  SCAREY!  :o

Even worse - try to get into the passenger seat from outside.  Most of the rigs have a running board, the frame step and then the floor.  But the running board and frame steps are only 4 - 5 inches wide.  I can't get my whole foot on it and re-position my weight to move to the next step!  I finally gave up and went up through the RV door and hobbled my way into the passenger seat (which has room for 1 normal foot - not 2 normal feet, just one, and I have this ski boot sized monstrosity on my right foot, leaving nowhere for my left foot.).

The sales people were all "watching" me - some in horror, others in facination, as I hobbled and hopped in and out of several rigs.  ;D  My arms and hands are killing me today.  It was quite the workout!

Wow your brave!  I wouldn't even try it!  Hope your feeling better! :)

:o :o :o A PT's nightmare! :o :o :oWe'd write something like "poor safety judgement" in your chart BB!!  :-X  I've actually had a discussion today with a guy who had a stroke about NOT getting into his RV, at least not by himself.  Same guy I've had to tell repeatedly that I will NOT teach him how to climb a ladder, his ladder days are over. :(  There have been quite a few other things I have agreed to work on with him though, he just keeps pushing the envelope - and good for him!

Now y'all know where my gray hairs are coming from ;)

Bikerbraid, I've just been reading the saga of your injury from beginning to end.  All I can say is  YOU POOR BABY!!  Please be careful!    

wrote on Mar 23^rd, 2006 at 10:56pm:

:o :o :o A PT's nightmare! :o :o :oWe'd write something like "poor safety judgement" in your chart BB!!  :-X

Ah - come on!  Can't I have any fun?!!   ;D To put your mind at ease a little bit - my hubby was ALWAYS there, ready to steady or catch me, if necessary.  And I took it slow - making sure I had my balance before moving to the next step.

It has been interesting to see how my body and brain have adapted - My left leg/foot is becoming stronger and I have much better balance than I did before the break.  

My next "challenge" is to get on my bike/trainer.  The doctor said that as soon as I can get my bike shoe on my foot, it would be OK to clip it in and let it "ride along".  No pushing with that foot - all the work would be done with the left foot/leg, but the right foot would get the passive movement and flexion.  I'm hoping that next week I will be able to get the shoe on and give this a try. (FYI, my bike is a recumbent so my feet are at the same height as my rear, which will reduce the chances of swelling from being lower than my body.)

Just wanted to say that you totally rock, BB! Your attitude is great. I hope you'll get to try your bike soon.

Wow. You're such a trouper.  :D
Good luck with your bike. I hope it doesn't take too long.
Meg

Hi BB... I hope you're feeling better day by day. Even the littlest dull pain can get awful if it drags on for a long time....

Here is a (((hug))) and a pretty picture.

This is the surface of our lake on a good day
http://i1.tinypic.com/s4t5bp.jpg

Thank you all for your encouragement.

Anais - I love the picture!  It is so peaceful.  Thanks!

BB

Quote:

Ah - come on!  Can't I have any fun?!!

- LOL- I agree you've got a great attitude and I would enjoy working with you in the clinic ;D  
Just to let you know what kind of patient I am (stubborn and terrible) -- I've been fussing over a badly sprained ankle since mid-Jan.  Finally getting an MRI on Monday.   To paraphrase an old saying "A therapist who is her own PT, has a fool for a PT". :-[ :P

Oh, PreciousLocks - I hope your ankle is OK!  When I fell, I knew my ankle was broken or sprained.  From what my friends who have sprained their ankles have gone thru, I was almost hoping for the break.  Let us know how you MRI goes.  

All of you have been so sweet.  And Sakina went above and beyond - look what I got Friday:
http://photos.tarsk.com/d/576-1/flowers.JPG

Thank you Sakina!

Since I showed you all the "inside" of my ankle - I thought I'd show you the outside.  Hope no one has a weak stomach.  :-X  

Here is my ankle 1 week after the break.
http://photos.tarsk.com/d/590-1/Robsfoot2.JPG

This picture was taken about 8 days after the surgery.
FYI - the yellow in this picture is not necessarily bruising - it is still the remnents of the surgical scrub.  
http://photos.tarsk.com/d/586-1/robinscar.JPG

I know what you mean about tiny steps.  I'm short so I really need the steps to get in.  But the steps in trucks, vans, and SUVS are still too small for me to get in comfortably.  Did you guys find an RV you like?  

It sounds like you're progressing rather nicely, and I'm crossing fingers that you'll get to try out your bike soon.  

I think those are the same kind of sutures I had my back surgery.  Are they kind of prickly and feel like they are growing out of you?  When I had them, I felt like that guy from "The Fly" when he started mutating.  lol

Sakina, that's such a pretty flower arrangement!!

Boy, the last time I read this thread you, erm, only had a fractured tibia, but since then you've had surgery and screws put into your leg?! Holy moly, BB! :o :o  Still, after reading all of the posts, I'm really glad you're on the mend and have a good sense of humor about what happened.  :D

wrote on Mar 27^th, 2006 at 5:46am:

II think those are the same kind of sutures I had my back surgery.  Are they kind of prickly and feel like they are growing out of you?  When I had them, I felt like that guy from "The Fly" when he started mutating.  lol

Yes, they are prickly and just like the ones I had for my 1st back surgery.  It was worse on my back.  I didn't feel these as much - I think because I have lost so much sensation on this foot.  Between the nerve damage I already had from my back problems and the hematoma from this surgery I can only feel the first 3 toes and about 1/3 of the top of my foot.  Hopefully I will get a bit more sensation back with time.

You know what? You would be really comfortable in my Volvo!  Heated leather seats, lots of room, lighted mirror in the visor(all this in a $500 car!)  ;D  I really appreciate that car when my hip goes out.  I see they did a good job at the stiches, somehow i thought they would have used staples for some reason.  They did on my Mum but that was a different part of the body.  Do they have you using an anti-bacterial wash like Benadine?  We had to use that on all stiches the family got.  What pretty flowers you got from Sakina! Oh and that look like chocolates on the plate!

I'm so glad you like the flowers & chocolate, BB!

It looks to me like the bruises are healing well.

You'll be on your trainer in no time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was surprised they used stitches too, but the doctor said that because the skin is so thin around the plate that it is less likely to tear open if they stitch it.  I didn't have to use any special washes on it.  But I am to watch it for infection.  I'm not too worried - it is under a sock in the aircast all day - not much opportunity for anything to get near it.  The skin has healed now, and has just a few scabs left.  It itches alot, so I am moisturizing it and putting aloe vera on the incision to help with the healing.

I had dissolving staples for my 2nd back surgery.  One of them refused to dissolve and we had to remove it (hubby performed that "surgery"  ;D)  Strange - I never saw my back for either of the surgeries and we never thought to take pictures.  I've had people comment on the scars, so I know they are there and noticable.  I figure a good knee and/or hip replacement and I'll be Ms Frankenstein in the locker room!

You sure did a good job.  :D
I'm glad to hear you are healing well and not having too much trouble. How's the hair fairing?
Meg

BB,you hang in there!!  It's almost over!  You did a great job and behaved(albeit,sometimes you didn't want to) ;D

Why, your stitches are lovely.  ;) But the flowers are lovelier, :D  and the chocolate is the loveliest of all.   ;D

I'm glad you're doing well.  So, most of this should be behind you once the weather turns nice?  Hopefully?  

So did you get an RV ??? Inquiring minds want to know.

Thanks for asking about my ankle.  Here's my (long)update:

Got the results of the MRI yesterday.  Good news:  no fractures or loose bodies in the joint, the ligament between the tibia and fibula is intact so no surgery needed, at least not at this time.  Not so good news: I still have a grade 2 sprain of 2 ligaments on the outside of my ankle joint and some of my ankle bones are still bruised.  Treatment:  quit smoking (well, if I did smoke I'd have to stop to help everything heal better); continue with the brace and avoid uneven surfaces.  I'm not allowed to mow the lawn.  ;)  
For Uganda, the doc gave me an aircast to alternate with the current brace I have, asked if I have boots I could wear.  I have hiking boots, but he is saying combat boots....the jokes are already flying around.  I've got visuals already about wearing combat boots and skirts.   :o
The concern here is that another twist of the ankle will tear the ligaments completely and then I'll need surgery for sure.  Apparently I have fallen into the 20% category of those people who take a long time to heal and it could be 6 months to a year before I heal completely.  :P  At the 6 month mark I will have a stress radiograph to assess the stability of the ligaments-- can't do it before due to the pain it would cause and the fact that my muscles/tendons would splint because of the pain giving a false negative, so I've got to wait for the ankle to settle down a lot more.

The doctor showed me the MRI and pointed out all the structures, etc.  That was cool 8)

Sakina - what a sweet surprise for BB

The flowers are beautiful, and the chocolate -- I expect it's just empty wrappers by now :-X

Ooooo, PreciousLocks - I'm so sorry to hear you will have such a long recovery.  I'm hoping mine wil not be so long.  I've heard breaks are faster to heal than bad sprains.  :-/

As for the boots - I'm wearing an ankle high boot to help support my left ankle.  Not quite combat boots, but boots none the less.  Of course, the other foot has the aircast on it and I'm wearing my zip-off pants - with a capri length zip off, so that I can get it over the aircast.  I'm quite the fashion statement!  

I'm all for the combat boots and a long, swingy skirt.  But then I wear Birkenstock sandals in the winter with handknit socks.  Probably best to not ask me for fashion advice. :D

oh - and for an update on the chocolates - I still have half of them left -  ;D

Ok,ok you girls may be the fashion divas with your combat boots ;D ;D but I am the Birkenstock queen at about 25-30 pairs!!  Actually I find that Clarks are a better support for my right ankle,just alittle FYi  maybe they'll help you both when you've healed enough!!  Speedy healing to you both :)

Oh my!  That's a LOT of Birkies!  I can't afford full retail on the originals, so I've been picking them up on eBay.  I've tried Clarks, but they didn't have enough arch support for me, but maybe I'll try them again!

If you're a 38 in Birks,let's talk about selling!!  It's hard for me to walk in them and I have lots of styles and either they are brand new or in mint condition.  I thought about selling them on e-bay,but without a digital camera it's a little difficult.  If you are interested,let me know.  I bought most on QVC,I'm not rich either to pay full price!!! ;D

Let's talk!  Yes, I wear a 38.  Funny - most of my Birkies are QVC returns!

Do yours have the filled in foot?

Filled in foot?  You'll have to explain that one!  I've not heard of that.  Sure,we can talk and hopefully do business.  Would you lke to e-mail me?  I have clogs and sandals (2 strap and three strap)  The clogs are the Boston kind and I have the Woodby( 2or 3 pairs of those)  We can talk in detail :)  
I have a pair called House clogs that are working for me when I do wear them outside.  It's been a while since I wore those.  I also have Footprints that I can't bear to part with.  Those ran me $140,too.
Anyway,let's talk!
I'm not looking to make a fortune and would love to help you out with a decent price.  You'll probably be wide-eyed and rack up on shoes!!!

The little footprint that is displayed by the size of the shoe tells you if it is a wide or narrow shoe.  The filled in footprint indicates "narrow" which is the common width.  If the little footprint is just an outline, it is a wide width.

BB  I hope your leg is feeling better. Im sure you will be biking in no time. We are here for you!

Ahhhhhhhhh,(light bulb goes off) after I thought about it I thought you might mean that.  I happen to have both.  I normally wear a wide wide (d),but with Birks,Birkenstocks,Papillos and Footprints I have a whole bunch of different ones.  Go figure!!  So it's kinda like tell me what you're interested in and I can give you colors,width whatever!  Gee,almost like a kid in acandy store! ;D ;D  P.S.  I even have Betula

BB, your ticker says 11 days till off crutches. Is this true? Is the end in sight?!
Meg

I may not be off the crutches right away, but my ticker should represent when I can put weight on my foot - getting rid of the crutches shouldn't be far behind that!