Stop and Rewind

[Sugarcube]

Stop and rewind, to Sunday night last week. I went outside to grab the newspaper, which turned out not to be such a good idea. Outside the door is a small square cement platform just big enough for my wheelchair to sit on and turn around. On one side of this platform is about a six inch ledge. As I was trying to maneuver to close the door, my front casters went over the ledge and sent me falling forward. It was slow motion, but I couldn’t catch myself. I fell directly on the ground in front of me, onto my knees. My legs were twisted up underneath me. Oh no, please don’t let this be what I am thinking. I looked around, no one is in sight.

Did I mention that this happened at about nine o’clock at night? Yes, it did. I was sitting watching TV, when I suddenly remembered that I had forgotten to get the newspaper that day. I never got the newspaper.

So, there I was in a tangled mess on the ground. I yell a few times, but no one hears. All of the lights in the other apartments around me are out. They all went to bed already. Then I realized that I was stuck. I was really stuck. There was no other choice. I grabbed my legs and gently moved myself into a sitting position. I find my chair and tried to get myself back into it, and I couldn’t. I don’t know why, I just couldn’t do it. I have done it many times before, but for some reason, that night, it wasn’t happening. So I dragged myself back into the apartment and left my chair behind. I made it into the kitchen where the phone sat neatly on the countertop, beyond my reach. It brought me to tears. Now what?

I remembered that my grabber was in the living room and it was within my reach. I dragged myself to it, and returned to the kitchen to retrieve the phone. I called my sister and brother in law for help. As I waited for them to come, I looked at my legs for any signs of injury. There was no redness or unusual swelling. I am good, thank you. My family arrives and helps me back into my chair. We said our goodbyes, and all was back to normal, or so I thought.

I went to bed the following night and for the next three nights feeling awful. I had Goosebumps all over my body and could not get warm. I started to sweat and had a terrible headache. My legs were jumping all over the place and I had a low grade fever. My friends had told me that there was a “bug” going around with all of those symptoms. After a couple of days I should be fine. Three days later, I was. All symptoms were gone, except for the leg spasms. The following day is when I noticed the drastic change.

When I woke up Friday morning, my legs were big, really big around the ankles and halfway up the shin and down to my toes. They were also discolored, extremely discolored. This wasn’t good. I called my doctor, who promptly sent me for x-rays. The news was bad. I have spiral fractures in both ankles at the lower tibias.

Now I am at home waiting to get to an orthopedist on Monday (tomorrow) to have soft casts put on. I am worried. My doctor gave me two instructions when he called me, be careful when you transfer, and try to keep your legs elevated as much as possible, until Monday. Now Monday is almost here and I am really nervous.

My purpose for writing this is to say what I am sure you have all heard a million times, Be careful. Please, always go to your doctor right away. Also, listen to your body; it will let you know when there is something wrong. And most of all don’t be stupid, like me.

[zillazangel]

Oh how awful!!!! You will be in my thoughts and sending healing vibes to you.

[wtf]

That's terrible, it sucks falling. Mend quickly.

[Sugarcube]

Thank you both.

[sjean423]

oh no, hope you heal quickly.

[Jim]

Crap, get better quick

[graybeard]

Got yerself in quite a pickle there, young lady! I am hopeful of 2 things......
That you mend quickly without further medical complications, and that there be someway to modify that lil' platform so that it is much safer for you to use.

[Timaru]

These things are so easily done and the consequences so bad.

Heal fast!

[lynnifer]

Sorry that happened! Been there (without the fractures though). Mend quickly and get a dog to fetch the paper!

[MarkB701]

all that sounds horrible, you poor thing. Heal up fast....