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Travel Forum / Travel Types / RV Travel / July 2008Walking again!
Had my six week x-ray and exam this morning, and progress was pronounced "normal." The x-rays can be seen at http://www.arcatapet.net/xray/sixweeks.jpg Fitted with an "air stirrup" splint, and OKd for full weight bearing. When we got home I went for a short walk of about 1/8 mile to prove that it really does work. I didn't lose as much strength as I thought I would. There is pain on each step at the limits of flex each way, but it doesn't linger. I am supposed to wear the stirrup for 6 weeks, and even after that on uneven terrain, to support the ankle. I'm able to wear a shoe over it. I have an appointment for August 12th, and probably the syndesmosis screw will come out later that week; we are still on track to leave here on August 17th, headed for the East Coast. Boy, it sure is nice to be able to carry things from place to place! --- Don Bradner www.arcatapet.net '90 Wanderlodge PT40 "Blue Thunder" towing '07 Jeep Liberty >I have an appointment for August 12th, and probably the syndesmosis >screw will come out later that week; we are still on track to leave >here on August 17th, headed for the East Coast. That's good to hear. >Boy, it sure is nice to be able to carry things from place to place! I remember what a hassle it was for my wife about 10 years ago when she had a broken foot and was on crutches for six weeks. She went up and down the stairs only once a day, with a backpack to carry her stuff in. GB in NC >>Boy, it sure is nice to be able to carry things from place to place! > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > >GB in NC Fortunately no stairs here, but there are two steps up from the living room to the kitchen. I was nearly unaware of them before this - they were a major speed-bump on crutches! I did not attempt the steps to the bus even once until today (been up twice so far today). That would have been flat dangerous! --- Don Bradner www.arcatapet.net '90 Wanderlodge PT40 "Blue Thunder" towing '07 Jeep Liberty >> I have an appointment for August 12th, and probably the syndesmosis >> screw will come out later that week; we are still on track to leave [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > had a broken foot and was on crutches for six weeks. She went up and > down the stairs only once a day, with a backpack to carry her stuff in. Up and down the stairs! I'm impressed. I was on crutches for a week and was sure I'd kill myself falling with them.  SignatureJanet Wilder Bad spelling. Bad punctuation Good Friends. Good Life >> I remember what a hassle it was for my wife about 10 years ago when she >> had a broken foot and was on crutches for six weeks. She went up and >> down the stairs only once a day, with a backpack to carry her stuff in. >Up and down the stairs! I'm impressed. I was on crutches for a week and >was sure I'd kill myself falling with them. Well, the master bedroom and bath were upstairs, and everything else she wanted was downstairs. So it was down in the morning and back up at night. I helped her (or at least stood by) on each trip. She got better at it with practice. The hardest part, for her, was that one week after the accident she boarded a plane and flew to Lithuania to teach for two weeks -- a country where they have NO facilities or assistance for the handicapped. She stayed in an old Communist Party Workers' dormitory where she had to climb stairs to her room. And the only thing she could carry was a backpack, of course, so everything she needed for the entire day had to fit into it, because it was too much of an ordeal to get back up to her room. In fact, because in Lithuania they tend to hide from view anybody who has any kind of physical disability, even temporary (believing that their appearance in public embarrasses the country), most people there had never even seen anybody on crutches. They didn't even have a name for them -- they just referred to them as "sticks." Priests and nuns would stop her on the street and ask her to let them pray for her. It was a very weird, eye-opening experience. GB in NC >Well, the master bedroom and bath were upstairs, and everything else she >wanted was downstairs. So it was down in the morning and back up at >night. I helped her (or at least stood by) on each trip. She got better >at it with practice. I should have added that that incident (and the inconvenience it caused) was one of the main reasons we designed an elevator into this house before the plans ever got started. In other words, we specified an elevator and then designed the house around it. The elevator goes to all three floors plus the attic. We seldom use it unless we're carrying or moving something heavy and/or bulky, because it's actually faster just to walk up or down, and we also need the exercise. But it's there for us or anybody else who needs it while they're here. Several of our guests *have* needed it -- including one in a wheelchair and a couple of others with leg/hip/knee/back problems -- and we were very glad we have it. I would not want a house where we or our guests can't have access to all of it regardless of whether or not their legs work. People who have never been on crutches don't always think about such things -- but those who have been, do. GB in NC > Boy, it sure is nice to be able to carry things from place to place! > > Don Does that mean you're back to cleaning the litter box again?? [:0) Paul >> Boy, it sure is nice to be able to carry things from place to place! >> [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >Paul It was in my job description only when Joy broke her shoulder in 2002. No plans to repeat that one! --- Don Bradner www.arcatapet.net '90 Wanderlodge PT40 "Blue Thunder" towing '07 Jeep Liberty > Had my six week x-ray and exam this morning, and progress was > pronounced "normal." The x-rays can be seen at > http://www.arcatapet.net/xray/sixweeks.jpg Good to hear. And it was probably gooder for you than for me. > Fitted with an "air stirrup" splint, Nike make it? Signaturebill Theory don't mean squat if it don't work. > Had my six week x-ray and exam this morning, and progress was > pronounced "normal." The x-rays can be seen at [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Boy, it sure is nice to be able to carry things from place to place! I bet you're looking forward to Geo-caching now that you can walk. I hadn't heard about your injury earlier. How long have you been down? Tom >> Had my six week x-ray and exam this morning, and progress was >> pronounced "normal." The x-rays can be seen at [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > Tom He's through with that - reflections off his ankle are going to have him dashing randomly hither and thither. He's going to have to put his GPS on a stump, walk away for a few minutes, then try to sneak up on it. Signaturebill Theory don't mean squat if it don't work. >I bet you're looking forward to Geo-caching now that you can walk. Yes, indeed. We were/are hoping to have 1000 caches by the end of the year. Hard to say if we will make it. >I hadn't heard about your injury earlier. How long have you been down? Six weeks on Sunday. Fell off a ladder; compound fracture with 4 inches of the tibia exposed. Original x-ray at http://www.arcatapet.net/xray/before.jpg Among the worst part of the process is the antibiotics and 4 days in the hospital left me with a C. dificile infection - sick for most of three weeks. Hospitals are not good places to spend any time. --- Don Bradner www.arcatapet.net '90 Wanderlodge PT40 "Blue Thunder" towing '07 Jeep Liberty >> I hadn't heard about your injury earlier. How long have you been >> down? [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > the hospital left me with a C. dificile infection - sick for most of > three weeks. Hospitals are not good places to spend any time. Damn, that hurts just to look at it. Glad you've mended! Tom Signaturehttp://www.rvlover.net http://weather.rvlover.net On Fri, 18 Jul 2008 22:45:16 GMT, Don Bradner wrote: > Had my six week x-ray and exam this morning, and progress was > pronounced "normal." The x-rays can be seen at > http://www.arcatapet.net/xray/sixweeks.jpg Good on you, Don. Heal quickly. Elliot Elliot Richmond Itinerant astronomy teacher > Had my six week x-ray and exam this morning, and progress was > pronounced "normal." The x-rays can be seen at [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Boy, it sure is nice to be able to carry things from place to place! Glad to hear of your good progress. Keep up the good work! SignatureJanet Wilder Bad spelling. Bad punctuation Good Friends. Good Life >Had my six week x-ray and exam this morning, and progress was >pronounced "normal." The x-rays can be seen at >http://www.arcatapet.net/xray/sixweeks.jpg Apart from the syndesmosis screw, it looks almost identical to my ankle at the six week point: No evidence of union of either the fibula or medial malleolous. :-) I had a similar fracture 2-1/4 years ago, except for the major tibial displacement you experienced. Although young athletes like soccer players consider this a mere 43 week setback before they are back in the game, at 2-1/4 years I haven't experienced a *full* recovery, and don't feel much like sprinting or playing tennis. The joint and articulating surfaces are fine; it's just the ligaments, and particularly the medial ones, still tend to feel a tad tight most days; a feeling that might best be described as having leather thongs wrapped tightly around the ankle. Not a big deal for the most part. I can hike for long distances without encumbrance. The only aspect of my limited recovery that *really* bugs me, is that as an organist (the kind that plays with both feet), free heel/toe ankle articulation is imperative; and I know I've lost something in that area that still hasn't returned to its former state. I just can't do some of those pedal runs and arpeggios that I used to take for granted. Nevertheless, although I don't continue to improve on a daily basis, I suppose that mere weekly or monthly improvement is probably considered 'normal' for the geriatric set. :-) You may be able to glean a bit of useful info from: http://www.mybrokenleg.com/forums/list.php?f=2 >>Had my six week x-ray and exam this morning, and progress was >>pronounced "normal." The x-rays can be seen at [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] >the game, at 2-1/4 years I haven't experienced a *full* recovery, and >don't feel much like sprinting or playing tennis. Not exactly what I want to hear! I have, of course, very limited range-of-motion, and I hope to get it back quicker than 2 years! Really pushed it today, and it is very fatigued. >Nevertheless, although I don't continue to improve on a daily basis, I >suppose that mere weekly or monthly improvement is probably considered [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > >http://www.mybrokenleg.com/forums/list.php?f=2 I think I posted a note about that site when I made my first post about this break. Lots of good information there, although part of what you realize is that every break, and every recovery, is pretty unique. I'm working hard to make mine as unique as possible on the recovery side :) --- Don Bradner www.arcatapet.net '90 Wanderlodge PT40 "Blue Thunder" towing '07 Jeep Liberty >Had my six week x-ray and exam this morning, and progress was >pronounced "normal." The x-rays can be seen at [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >and even after that on uneven terrain, to support the ankle. I'm able >to wear a shoe over it. An "air stirrup"? So what do you do when you get into the saddle? "O, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth...? >I have an appointment for August 12th, and probably the syndesmosis >screw will come out later that week; we are still on track to leave >here on August 17th, headed for the East Coast. > >Boy, it sure is nice to be able to carry things from place to place! Yeah, there's nothing like being injured to make you appreciate being well. Congratulations, Don. It gets better every day. Bob Those air splints and casts are great. I suffered a severe ankle sprain on a business trip some years back and an air cast saved the day. Just one thing to bear in mind. At airplane cabin altitude (or on the ground at 8000 ft or so), the air sac inside the cast gets bigger and can restrict circulation. It's a gentle change and you don't notice it at first. When I was wearing mine, back on the job in Switzerland, we went to do a cabin de-pressurisation test on a 767 we were working on. When the cabin altitude gets to 14,000 feet and you have an air cast on, it's not just your breathing that gets strained! Fortunately, I was able to take the cast off and vent it before it blew apart! Frank Damp Anacortes, WA >Those air splints and casts are great. I suffered a severe ankle sprain on a >business trip some years back and an air cast saved the day. [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] >Frank Damp >Anacortes, WA The surgeon called this one an air stirrup, but the contents are a mixture of gel and air, with quite a bit more gel than air. This is the brand/style: http://www.procaresoftgoods.com/index.asp/fuseaction/products.detail/id/136 --- Don Bradner www.arcatapet.net '90 Wanderlodge PT40 "Blue Thunder" towing '07 Jeep Liberty > The surgeon called this one an air stirrup, but the contents are a > mixture of gel and air, with quite a bit more gel than air. This is > the brand/style: > http://www.procaresoftgoods.com/index.asp/fuseaction/products.detail/id/136 Have you added 10% for increased performance and safety? When you carry stuff around, are you careful not to exceed 75% of rated capacity? These things are easily overlooked. You're welcome. Signaturebill Theory don't mean squat if it don't work. > Had my six week x-ray and exam this morning, and progress was > pronounced "normal." The x-rays can be seen at [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Boy, it sure is nice to be able to carry things from place to place! Congratulations, but a "thinking" man would have milked if for at least another month. :-) I'm gonna have to design a ladder with a seat belt and an airbag for you and the Adams family. <VBG> Signature"You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, 'My God, you're right! I never would've thought of that!'" --Dave Barry http://www.bobhatch.com http://www.tdsrvresort.com >> Boy, it sure is nice to be able to carry things from place to place! >> >Congratulations, but a "thinking" man would have milked if for at least >another month. :-) I think "nurse Joy" was about at the limits of her patience! --- Don Bradner www.arcatapet.net '90 Wanderlodge PT40 "Blue Thunder" towing '07 Jeep Liberty > I'm gonna have to design a ladder with a seat belt and an airbag for you and > the Adams family. <VBG> Say Bob! Do you happen to recall Jim & Bev from the Ajo RV park? They were from Ohio, had a 5th wheel on the east side of the park. Tall guy with glasses and a real mensch. Bev used to do the turkey for holiday meals. Anyhoo, he too fell off a ladder while waxing his RV last winter and is still in tough shape from a spinal injury which has not healed. Tomorrow he finds out if surgery (vertebroplasty) is an option. If you got friendly with him, let me know if you need an address. LZ > Had my six week x-ray and exam this morning, and progress was > pronounced "normal." The x-rays can be seen at [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > towing '07 Jeep Liberty > How ever you do your recovery, I suggest you stay within your limits and don't push it. Like me, I didn't follow that advice and during my Prostrate recovery I stretched it to much and wound up back in the hospital again this time for hart failure. They have it on the recovery list along with my other problem. SignatureBILL P. & DOG |
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