Fastforward to present day
It is now January 11, 2005. 3 months since I did all this damage. Here is why disability insurance is a good idea. Long ago, I ran out of paid time off. I did have a small "Aflac" type policy but when you have no income, it didn't go far. I finally convinced my cousin to file a claim on her homeowners for me (this happened at her house). I go back to the Dr next week, and I am just praying to make one heck of a recovery before then so he will let me go back to work.
I never realized what a massive ordeal a broken ankle could really be. After this experience, I don't think I'll ever take walking-or working for granted again.
Surgery
October 20, 2005. Surgery Day. Wasn't so terrible. I got to the hospital, was soon taken in and given a "femoral block" before general anesthetic, so to say the least, I was feeling no pain. That night, not so much. I had to spend the night in the hospital, I had a roommate. She was an older woman but very nice. I think I probably drove the nurses nuts because I kept putting on my call light, but I couldn't help it. Bad pain, couldn't get up to go to the bathroom, all in all it was a delightful experience.
The next day
Early the next morning, my orthopedist's office was calling me. I guess the ER had filled them in on my unfortunate experience. So, I headed to his office, waited for what seemed to me to be an eternity and then finally he entered the room.
First thing he said was "What the hell is this??" Meaning, what kind of a wrapping job had the ER done to my ankle the night before. (lots of ace wrap and tape). He then looked at my X-rays and asked how in the world I'd done what I had. I told him I "fell off the ladder". He then explained that the one break I was diagnosed with at the ER was actually more like 3 and that I was going to need surgery. He also made the comment that injuries like mine are usually seen in Europe on the Autobonne after high velocity accidents and that they sometimes result in amputation. My response to that was disbelief. Amputation after following off a step ladder??? He quickly reassured me that wasn't going to happen to me but surgery would be necessary anyway.Unfortunately, at that point my leg was too swollen for that, so instead I was rewrapped, ordered to have a CT that Wednesday and return to his office on the following Monday.
Something I learned from that experience. If bones are broken, xrays and CT's are a bit painful.
The following week, I returned to his office where I was then told that I had 5 breaks. I'd "jammed the joint" up into the fractures and it would need to be reconstructed. Ah, happy day. He thought I would need plates, screws, pins, to repair the damage and surgery was scheduled for 2 days later.
Wow, that makes me tired just thinking about it. More next time.
A three foot fall
Hi there..The reason for this blog is simple. I would like to become the poster person for disability insurance. Seriously.
This whole drama started on October 10th. Rewind a few weeks prior to that when my brother and his girlfriend announced to me that they were expecting a baby. My brother then proposed. A big wedding was postponed until next December, but they were married in a courthouse. Someone tapped me on the shoulder and said that since my brother was the groom and the bride has no sisters, it's up to me to throw a shower. OK, fine. So, I discuss this with a cousin of mine. I want to have it at a hall and she says "No. I just bought a house and wanted to have everyone over any way. Let's just do it here, but you'll have to help me clean for it." OK , I reason to myself. That doesn't sound so bad, so here we are, October 10, 2004.
It was a Sunday, my weekend off. The last thing I felt like doing was heading to her house to clean, but I promised, plus the shower was supposed to be held on the 24th of October.
Against my better judgment, my cousin picks me up and we head to her house. We spend the next three hours out on her patio cleaning. I asked her for a ladder and a rag so that I could clean the windows/rafters. She brings me a step ladder. I think to myself "What the hell am I going to do with this???" but say nothing. Many, many times I got up on that ladder with no problems. After 3 hours, we are taking a break when I make the comment that I want to quit soon, as there are tv shows I want to watch and I have to get up early for work. She makes the comment that we better hurry up then because we still have a bit of work to do. Break ends, I get up on the ladder. Somehow, I fall off the ladder. I don't even remember exactly how anymore. All I do remember is landing on my right leg and hearing a succession of "cracks".
I know right away my leg is broken and I tell her so. She immediately says 'Let's go to the ER" and rattles off a number of ERs in the area. I'm a nurse. I don't want to go to any of the ones she is naming. I tell her where I want to go and she takes me. The staff there are wonderful. I am in a room about 2 minutes after arriving and they try and manage my pain. About an hour and a half later I'm diagnosed with a "Fracture" and instructions to see my own orthopedist first thing Monday. That night I'm sent home with a temporary cast, Percocet and a bad attitude.
More details on my next entry
