DAYS 196-203 RECOVERY

Thinking I was turning into a pain weenie and because the pain and swelling was increasing day by day, I went back to the orthopedic doc last Friday.  The real source of my pain is not so much from the broken bone, but from a skin infection that goes from my toes to my knee, the area covered by the orthopedic boot.  It is very much like the continuous searing pain one endures with shingles.  On a 1-10 pain chart I'd have to give it an 8.  It could easily claim the 9  or 10 spot, however I reserve 10 for the birth of a child or the death of one's child.  I save number 9 out of respect for the intensity of pain that a man feels when getting kicked in the balls.  Of course not having this equipment, I have no first hand experience, but what I witnessed when being the kicker appeared intense, although short-lived.   Now that I think about it, maybe ball kickees shouldn't get the 9 spot after all since the pain is so ephemeral.  Sorry guys, this means I have to trump your 9 and give you the 8.     

I'm supposed to keep my damaged leg elevated at night and from time to time during the day.  The doctor tripled the dose of the pain med but it sill doesn’t do much to numb anything during those times when I lower my foot from an elevated position.  I'm taking an anti nausea med along with the pain med. So far it's doing a good job of curtailing this side effect, however the two meds are causing me to spend more hours sleeping than awake each day.  I'm looking forward to the antibiotic kicking this infection, so my body can focus solely on healing my  broken ankle bone. 

Meds:   Coumadin, Amiodarone, Cardizem, Promethazine, Percocet, Kelex, Vayacog, L-Carnitine, Vitamin D, I-Caps, Flax seed oil, Multivitamin, B-12, L-Arginine, DHEA, Calcium, Glucosamine

DAYS 192-195 RECOVERY

It hasn't been a full 4 days since my ankle injury and already cabin fever has set in.  Being such an outdoors person, it's killing me that I can't get outside to take advantage of this prime time in autumn to work in the gardens, tend my animals, maintain our property, paint some buildings, and party in and around Asheville. I don't have to sit here all day staring at the same four walls because I do have plenty of indoor projects to do, but I was saving those for the winter season when working outdoors isn't an option.  Things don't always go as planned, and sometimes I feel they NEVER go as planned, so I'll put a smile on my face and carry on.  If I can bring on the inspiration, I can use this valuable time to focus on writing and who knows, maybe finish the two books I was working on at the time of our son's death.

 

Fortunately the bone in my ankle was only broken and not displaced, so surgery wasn't required.  I'm wearing a big black Transformer super hero looking boot, but I'm not feeling very super nor very heroish since  I'm still in quite a bit of pain. The pain meds are either ineffective or they cause nausea leading to vomiting.  I can't afford to lose any of the eight pounds I've gained since heart surgery.  I've been hobbling around on crutches the past three days.  Crutches get me around and maybe once I master them I'll be able to do more, but for right now stairs and maneuvering around our mountain side is a big no-no.  The biggest drawback to crutches is not having a free hand so I can't carry much of anything from place to place.  Using them aids me in maintaining my upper body strength and is a practice in balance.  After bashing my arm and head into the countertop yesterday, I'd say I have to do a lot more work on perfecting the balance thing. 

Once my ankle heals, the docs tell me it will be a full two months, I'm going to be more wary of those slippery slopes. 

DAYS 185-191 RECOVERY

That one mile road up the mountain just got longer and farther away.  I fractured a bone in my ankle today while walking along a slope on our property.   We just returned from the emergency room.  Those slippery slopes can be hazardous to one's mobility.  l have to see an orthopedic surgeon at Southeastern Sports Medicine first thing tomorrow morning.  How pathetic since I wasn't doing anything but walking.  I wasn't even wearing my stilettos! Fortunately I still have one good leg since the broken ankle is on the same leg as my bummed knee.  I took the ER nurse's crash course, Crutches 101.  

Meds:   Coumadin, Amiodarone, Cardizem, Vayacog, L-Carnitine, Vitamin D, I-Caps, Flax seed oil, Multivitamin, Hawthorne, Garlic, B-12, L-Arginine, DHEA

DAYS 170-184 RECOVERY

I haven't abandoned my goal of a one-mile run up the mountain road to claim my "Rocky Moment," but working toward it has been delayed somewhat due to pain and soreness in my left knee.  I've been fortunate that I've never had joint or knee problems before.  I'm right handed, but I must be left kneed as it's my left knee that does most of the work when I'm climbing and supporting myself on our rock wall.  I've been working hard to remove the out-of-control weeds from under and between the rocks and then planting English Ivy. The project is about 3/4 complete, but it too is being delayed while I give my knee a rest.  

Meds:   Coumadin, Amiodarone, Cardizem, Vayacog, L-Carnitine, Vitamin D, I-Caps, Flax seed oil, Multivitamin, Lutein, Hawthorne, Garlic, B-12, L-Arginine, DHEA,