So I fall down disco skating week before last, and it hurts like a mother--I'm squeezing the life out of my roommate's hand and demanding drugs. I keep telling the rink people, "I don't feel it in my ankle, I feel it in my leg..." but they kept insisting that it was a sprained ankle, and my feeling it in my leg was just proof of how whacky ankle injuries really are.
Whatever.
I call my parents late at night to say that I found my wayward insurance card and was ready to go to the ER at a moment's notice. The motrin has kicked in so there is considerably less pain than earlier, and they recommend waiting for a while. Going to the ER would just be a miserable experience anyway, so the best thing to do would be to lay down, prop and ice the thing, and sleep. So I did.
The next morning I take some motrin and feel a bit better, though my foot has taken on some attractive swelling and bruising. I skip church and use a chair to get from my couch to the bathroom when necessary. Mom and Dad call back and I give them an update--it's getting better, hooray.
On Monday I'm starting to feel paranoid. The swelling has changed locations, and I can't put weight on it. After talking to my uber-hypochondriatic sister, I decide to get some xrays for my peace of mind. Turns out, I broke my fibula, not too far above my ankle. I get a fancy boot put on it and make plans to see an orthopedist back in Arkansas as soon as I get back. Vindication feels good, at least.
So today, I saw the orthopedist. No big deal, just a few more xrays, a plaster cast that I can walk on, and I'll be over it before my brother's wedding? Nope. The ortho finds ligament damage and schedules surgery for Thursday, with plans for a cast upwards of six weeks afterwards, and screws in my leg for months. >.<
Seriously, though, for this past week it's only really been a bit sore, twinging once in a while if I handled it funny. When the nurse said, "you obviously have a very high threshold of pain" I had to stifle a laugh.
I am a wimp. A huge, hysterical, crying, blubbering fool of a wimp. I demand not to feel anything at the dentist. I have to psyche myself out just to get a shot.
I figured with this whole leg business that I must have a very psychologically unstable fear of anticipatory pain, but if I don't know what I'm expecting, I'm fine. That's what I figure, anyway. Especially with the news of this surgery. I'm a wreck just thinking about it. >.<
Anyway, I'm really worked up over Thursday, so if you can spare a few good vibes my way, I'd really appreciate it. The surgery will be sometime around 1:45 CST.
In the meantime, They put on this cool splint. It's a gauzy material made with fiberglass that they wet down and it forms right nicely on my leg. It's not too comfortable to rest with, though.
posted
Aw honey, I'm so sorry. I'm so glad you went to the Dr. and started to fix this. I'll definitely send good vibes your way this week for your surgery and quick recovery! Posts: 6415 | Registered: Jul 2000
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I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayeres. Be sure to demand all kinds of special treatment and extra ice-cream as you recuperate. You need it, you know? Posts: 8504 | Registered: Aug 1999
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posted
Good healing vibes on the way. And yep, hold out for ice cream and chocolate and whatever else you want for rewards. Surgery sucks.
Posts: 8355 | Registered: Apr 2003
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posted
That's what you get for "Disco Skating" 30 years after that travesty of dance died the quick death it deserved.
But, otherwise, sorry to hear about the trouble and the pain.
Get better.
(Plan is to get him mad enough to threaten to kick my backside, which he can't do until the leg heals.)
Posts: 11895 | Registered: Apr 2002
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posted
Ugh, something like this happend to me at college back in '98. I was sliding down a banister when one of my frat bros scares me and I slip, with my foot inbetween the railings. Twist. Ouch. The most horrible pain in my life. They take me to the local hospital. Oh, and we are in the middle of farm country so this hospital barely deserves the name. I'm there for a bit in a wheelchair, they x-ray me. I'm about to leave when they have to do it again because the tech didn't do it right the first time. Well, they say there is nothing wrong with me but give me a little flimbsy aircast because I complain. I wasn't able to put any wieght on it or move it for like two weeks. I seriously think I must have broken something and torn ligaments. It still bothers me to this day. As soon as I get insurance again I'm going to have a real hospital look at it again.
Posts: 4953 | Registered: Jan 2004
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My Arabic's getting rusty...I'm thinking about auditing the 100-level courses before moving on to the 200-300s. You forget a lot in a year.
Or maybe I'll take French.
((((Telp)))) My dad is "making me feel better" by talking about what might have happened if they just put a cast on the thing instead of treating the ligament damage right away.
Posts: 4089 | Registered: Apr 2003
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posted
~~~~~~~~~prayers for your surgery on Thursday ~~~~~~~~~
So many young people, and sports people I know, try to shake off injuries as sprains, when I wish they would put ice on it immediately (to reduce swelling) and get an X-ray to be sure.
Glad you finally got it looked at and got a proper diagnosis. It is good, as you said, that they get the ligament damage fixed as part of the healing process instead of finding it later.
quote:The ortho finds ligament damage and schedules surgery for Thursday, with plans for a cast upwards of six weeks afterwards, and screws in my leg for months.
*mouth falls open* No way! Oh, you poor baby. *hugs sm* I'm so sorry. Holy crud.
I suggest NOT seeing Roll/Bounce this summer.
Posts: 26077 | Registered: Mar 2000
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posted
[disco skating] there's a light at the end of the tunnel there's a light at the end of the tunnel well the inside might be as black as the night but at the end of the tunnel there's a light
Seriously, though, I hope you feel better soon!!
Posts: 4515 | Registered: Jul 2004
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posted
I've been out of it for a few days...the surgery went well, and they put a plaster half-cast on it so it can swell and stuff. I have an appointment May 12 to get a full cast on it. Maybe I'll be healed enough to get a walking cast, but in the meantime I need to take care of myself and stuff.
The surgery couldn't have gone better, I don't think. The anesthesiologist put a nerve block on my leg and I didn't feel any pain whatsoever until about 1:15 the next morning. I'm taking fewer painpills today than I was yesterday, so I guess I'm getting better.
Not that oxycodone actually takes the pain away, it just makes it so that you don't care.
Now I'm just bummed at my inability to do any but the most basic things to take care of myself. My mom took the day off yesterday to take care of me, and I cried at the prospect of having to go to the bathroom.
But it is getting a little better. For one, I could wangle myself to the computer.
Thanks for the good vibes, everyone. It's meant a lot.
Posts: 4089 | Registered: Apr 2003
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