January 19, 2010

Fractured

Today, I went in for x-rays, and the news is bad -- I did fracture a bone in my foot. They put me in a "cam walker" boot, and I am still on crutches. Recovery time is 4-6 weeks. So, the next month is going to suck beyond the telling.

I imagine it will get easier, but so far I've been having a really hard time. I can't drive, and I can't use crutches for more than a block before I have to stop and rest. Being a runner and a soccer player, I have strong legs, but zero arm strength. I just never saw a reason to work on my arm strength when my sports are all legs... and now I'm incredibly sore and tired.

Suddenly, I have to learn about what is accessible for people with disabilities. My apartment building is not accessible. (Lawyer friends: Can I sue under the ADA to get my landlord to build me an elevator?) But, city buses are accessible. This will be my only form of transportation while I can't drive or walk to the train (my train station is 6 blocks away -- way too far).

At home, I quickly realized a great big problem with crutches: you can't carry anything from one location to another. You would be astonished how much basic human functioning requires the ability to walk while carrying an object. I've had to wear my backpack around the apartment so that I can move objects. But what about things that can't go into a backpack? I microwaved leftovers last night, then realized I had no way to get a hot plate of food to the kitchen table. I had to step on the injured foot to do it.

So, right now everything is difficult and painful. The only good thing is that I really like my new doctor. When a fracture was identified, I saw a sports medicine specialist who just returned from traveling with one of the university teams. She seemed extremely smart and referenced recent studies as she explained the injury and what I should do. I can continue to see her at student health services for free, so I'm very fortunate that she was in town when this happened.

Otherwise, I am afraid my blog will become a histrionic pity party for the next month, because life is going to suck suck suck. Sorry in advance...

4 Comments:

  • Well fuck indeed! That just SUCKS DiDi. Hmm... you probably can't use a rollator type walker, can you? They have seats that open with storage underneath so you can put stuff in them and then close the seat and put plates or whatever on the flat surface. Could you push one around the house maybe? They have hand brakes so you can make them hold still from step to step. Or a maybe order some sort of food cart? How amazingly frustrating...

    By Blogger Mamabeek, at 1/19/10, 10:02 PM  

  • I'm so sorry. I was really hoping it wasn't as bad as it sounds.

    By Blogger Psych Post Doc, at 1/20/10, 7:41 AM  

  • Thanks, Mamabeek and Psych Post Doc. Mamabeek, I've actually had some luck using my desk chair, which has wheels on it. I still have to take one or two painful steps in the kitchen, because there is a step that my desk chair can't get over -- but then I can sit down in the chair and wheel myself over to the table, holding food or drinks or whatever. I'm going to have to use things creatively for a while.

    By Blogger Di Di, at 1/20/10, 11:23 AM  

  • Ouch, that sucks! Sorry to hear that Didi

    By Blogger Psycgirl, at 1/21/10, 9:42 PM  

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