F-You, black ice!

Sunday, February 15, 2015

Wow, I can't believe that it's been two months since I posted anything! SO much has been going on. The job is great, in spite of some drama with the black sheep that no one likes. But that's a whole 'nother story.

You all know how very clumsy I am. And how many times I've slammed my big toes into my dining room table and sprained my ankle(s) and found odd bruises all over my body that I don't remember incurring.

WELL......this one takes the cake!

I'm sure a lot of you are experiencing the brutality of this winter and if you're fortunate enough to not live in a snowy region, you still can't escape the headlines on the daily news of snow, snow and more snow!

On January 19, I took Dino and Millie out for one last potty before going to bed around 10:00. It was super cold, snowy and icy, so we didn't venture out much further than a quick trip to the tree lawn. Millie wandered into the neighbor's (who moved out a few months ago) driveway and started heading toward the street. I followed her to guide her back when I slipped on a patch of black ice at the end of the driveway.

I lost both leashes and the dogs took off running toward the house. "Shit. Another sprained ankle." I thought to myself as I started to get up to hobble toward the house, calling for the dogs. Only this time, when I tried to get up, a pain shot through my left leg and I fell to the ground again. I knew right away that I had broken something. I watched the dogs running back and forth across the yard and I was worried that they would run into the street. I tried to get up again. Horrifying pain once more and I fell back down on the ground.

I screamed for someone to help me but it was 10:00 at night in the middle of the winter. Windows are closed, furnaces are running and TV's are blasting. No response. I was hopeful when Dino got his leash stuck under the big trash dumpster in the neighbor's yard. I was sure that someone would hear his barking and come outside.

Nope.

I dragged myself across my front yard, grabbing chunks of snow and ice for leverage. I pulled myself up my steps into the house. Luckily, Millie followed me but poor Dino was still stuck. I called 911 and when the paramedics got there, the first thing I asked them to do was go get Dino. Only when I was sure they were both securely in the house, did I let them take me to the hospital.

I broke my fibula, which is one of your calf bones and I sprained my ankle. They put this loose thing on it, but I could even stand up because the pain was off the charts, even after taking Oxycodone.



They then applied a fiberglass cast from my ankle to mid-thigh. Still hurt like a bitch but at least my leg couldn't move. NIGHTMARE to get around my house and try to do anything. I had to use crutches so I couldn't even take my glass of water into the other room with me to take a pill.
 


I headed to an orthopedic surgeon the next day, who confirmed the break but said "If you're going to break something, this is the best bone to break." Yay.

Apparently, its a pretty common break for athletes and it has a pretty quick healing time. That all sounds good, right? Fast forward to two weeks ago when I followed up with the surgeon and he took the long cast off. Thank GOD.

Bad news. I have some serious nerve damage and can't lift my foot. It's a condition called foot drop. "Maybe it will come back, maybe it won't. We just need to wait and see." As you can imagine, I completely freaked out. There's nothing you can do to speed the process. It's more of a waiting game. I wondered why I had this shooting pain along the front of my shin and now I know, it was from damaging the peroneal nerve, which is part of the sciatic nerve. He said we'll give it about 3 months and see where it's at before we decide on next steps. i.e., physical therapy, surgery.

I'm wearing this lovely boot that I probably would have been able to take off by now if it weren't for the nerve damage. I still have crutches and a walker. A WALKER. I've really only used the walker a few times. It's not really functional around the house.
 
Fuck my life.

Tomorrow: Chrissy gets fitted for a brace.

14 comments

  1. Oh shit, sorry to hear about this, Chrissy! And I hope at least you're out of any pain. Listen, I know you're a Reiki practitioner like me, so try giving yourself Reiki everyday to help repair the nerve damage. I've seen it have AMAZING results. It actually healed the nerve damage in my jaw after I had that tooth abscess drained three years ago.

    Anyway, I'm glad to hear that your job is going well!

    You take care, my friend!
    X

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  2. Thanks, Ron. I'm finally off all pain meds. I had weaned myself to just at night but I stopped that a few days ago.

    I've been giving myself Reiki and red light therapy every day. I just ordered a guided imagery CD on self healing, too. That's so cool that Reiki helped with your nerve damage! So far, it doesn't seem like conventional medicine has many options for me so I'm praying that these work!

    So good to "see" you again! xo

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  3. owch - sorry re the accident. I am already sick of snow headlines and I don;t live up north..

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    1. Thanks, David. I have a two year plan of moving down south but I need to buy more lottery tickets to speed up the process!

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  4. Black ice gets such a bad rap. I had some white ice kick my butt yesterday.

    I saw the pic before I saw the text and I knew. So sorry you are going thru that. I broke an ankle many moons ago and had the full leg cast for three weeks then the half cast. You eventually get the hang of the crutches.

    Good Luck

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    Replies
    1. LOL! It ALL kicks are butts. And I think it secretly likes it. Just a week prior, I watched a woman fall outside my office window and break her arm. Ice is an equal opportunity dick.

      Ouch! A broken ankle would be awful. At least you got out of the full cast in a decent amount of time. I know, it didn't seem like a decent amount of time...

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  5. Oh boy Chrissy - you certainly know how to "do things right"! I feel your pain and misery with all this snow and cold weather. I can only imagine how difficult things must be for you now with "the boot". Hopefully things are on the mend for you - get better soon.

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    Replies
    1. That's right. I don't believe in doing anything half-assed. The boot is a MAJOR pain in my ass. There's no way to be even moderately graceful while wearing it but a few people have let me cut in front of them at the grocery store so that's good!

      Thanks so much.

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  6. And with dogs to walk, too, what a pain (literally). I hope you are fighting fit soon and the awful weather parts of the USA has been having clears up. We have had some snow this winter, but nothing to complain about. Actually, that's wrong, I did complain about it. I don't like snow.

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    1. I honestly don't think it's ever going to stop snowing, Mark! Even though my neighbors didn't hear me yelling for help, I'll give them a pass because they've been incredible. They've walked my dogs, grocery shopped for me and brought me food. I couldn't ask for better neighbors!

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  7. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    On a lighter note, that photo of the dog's head lovingly resting on your cast is iconic.

    Am feverishly sending good vibes your way.

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    Replies
    1. You captured it exactly! Maybe you should enter that into the sentence contest. Of course, you would only be paid for one word..

      Isn't Dino sweet? My dogs have been beside me the whole time. They've really been the best medicine.

      Thank you! Please keep 'em coming!

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  8. There are better ways to be swept off your feet you know...

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