9 Month Follow Up

Today marks 9 months since my accident (well, technically it was Apr 30th) and things are looking great. I had my last visit with the orthopedic today and I got a thumbs up from him. He said my bones are completely healed and the pain that still lingers is normal. He also confirmed that the screws will remain in, as there is no need to take them out. That made me very happy because I don't want to think about being immobilized another 3 months for those holes to fill back in. Uh uh, no way.

So, I left today for the last time (provided something doesn't happen to my foot in the future) with a "prescription" of exercise, a good multivitamin, and a little bit of sunshine for some Vitamin D to keep my bones strong (He so generously pointed out that 27-30 is peak age for bone density and after that it's all a decline). Yay. Thanks Doc ;)

So, I spose I get to add some exercise to my mornings now and I get to nag Johnny about adding me to his Planet Fitness account (GHFC, oh how I miss you).

Here's to strong bones!

Orthopedic Follow Up

I had my ortho follow up on Wednesday. It was very stressful for me. I thought I was going to have a panic attic when they brought that saw out to cut off my cast. Very traumatic experience. Definitely one I don't want to repeat. I did get a boot to wear, but still not weight bearing for 6 more weeks. No walking, of course, but I have to take the boot off 5x a day to work the ankle so that I can regain my range of motion (after this long, plus the swelling, my ankle barely moves) in my ankle.

Thankfully, the pain in my ribs and back has subsided drastically, so moving around doesn't make me cry anymore. But with my foot as it is, exercise is pretty much out. I try to keep my arms strong, but my core is very weak (wasn't too strong to start with) and my right calf is almost non-existent. In order to do physical therapy in 6 weeks, doc says, I have to regain my range of motion in my ankle and be strong enough to actually use the leg. Therefore, each time I remove the boot, I'm doing isometric exercises for my calf and some circulation exercises to decrease the pain and swelling in my whole leg. Plus, I'm using my ace bandage as a "theraband" type thing. I'm wrapping it around the top of my foot (near my toes) and pulling toward me and then working my ankle back and forth, strengthening my ankle and helping to increase the movement in the joint. It feels like I have a mountain to climb and I forgot all my gear at home...BUT, in just two days, my range of motion has increased, so it gives me hope that this really will work. Though I have to admit, I think it will be scary when I actually get to walk on the foot.

I did manage to lose 10 lbs since my accident (very happy about that!), but it's only because the first 2 weeks I was barely able to eat. But regardless, its lbs lost, so I'm happy. I have PLENTY more to lose. Though thankfully, my appetite has returned. It's just difficult because I can't cook for myself right now, so I tend to chose things that are simple, so that I can make them, and so that those who are helping me, don't have a million things to prepare. Unfortunately, this usually involves frozen dinners and other bad things. But for now, that's all I can do.

Ok, so it's off to bed for me. But if anyone has any suggestions for things I can do to strengthen my core (from a sitting position in a wheelchair, or a hospital bed) and to strengthen my calf (without the use of my ankle, like when doing calf raises), please let me know.

Good night!

New Cast and a Nazi Nurse

Today was my first orthopedic appointment since the surgery on my foot. To sum up this day in one word: Painful.

They got me out of bed around 11:30. I decided to do as much as I could by myself today and I was very surprised at what I accomplished. I raised the head of the bed to an almost sitting position, then I pulled myself forward until I was actually sitting. Then I slowly swung my legs to the floor, so that I was sitting on the side of the bed. I did all this without the brace that I usually have around my ribs. At this point I actually put on a bra and tank top (I've been in a hospital gown this whole time) and a pair of shorts for the first time in two weeks. It felt good to feel normal.

Then the van arrived and Johnny and I went to the doctors office. I felt very tense waiting for the appointment. I was really nervous. I'm not really sure why or what I was expecting, but it was like I was waiting for bad news.

First, they cut open my soft cast, exposing my stitches. I was very nervous to see my foot, to see if I was going to have really bad scars. But it wasn't bad. I saw two main incisions, one about an inch long and one about three inches long. They did a couple xrays and then moved me into a room where they began removing the stitches. For the most part it just felt weird, but a couple of them hurt. I tried not to look, but I did the long incision after the stitches were out and it was pretty wide. I know that one is going to leave a pretty good scar.

Then came the horrible part. They had to bend my foot so that the ankle was in a 90 degree angle. Well, after two weeks of NOT moving, my foot did NOT take kindly to being repositioned. Let me say, this was the absolute worst pain I've felt since the accident and I had taken my last pain killer about 3 hours prior. I had one guy holding my foot in place (inflicting the pain) and another wrapping the cast around my leg. All the while, they are both like, "Honey, stop crying we aren't hurting you on purpose." and I'm like "I'm crying because it hurts! Now stop talking and hurry up!"

They finally got the cast done and wrapped in neon orange, of course. By this point, the pain has subsided some, but no where near enough. We were able to leave then, so we called the van to pick us up and then headed back to the nursing home. At this point, I had been sitting in a very uncomfortable wheelchair for over 5 hours. My rear end was so sore, I couldn't wait to get in bed. I asked for my pain pills, but it was too soon for Percocet, so I had to settle for Ultram.

At 6pm, I asked for the Percocet, since I took it at noon and I can have it every 6 hours. But that damn Nazi nurse, tried to give me the run around. She was like, "You get a pill every 3 hours, so you gotta wait til 8". I'm like "Hell no!" The Percocet's have nothing to do with the Ultram's. I made a scene, asked for her boss. The boss also gave me a hard time. I tried to explain that I've gotten them closer than three hours many times before...this time, not very nicely. She still refused and I ordered her to call the doctor. And FINALLY, at 7pm, the doctor approved the meds. Smart man. Somehow, I managed the 6 year old inside me wanting to tell the nurse "Told ya so."

So, here I am. Waiting on another Percocet and a good long sleep tonight. I just keep repeating to myself "This is only temporary... This is only temporary"...