These
are the continuing adventures of a Swedish immigrant during her first
year as an American. She boldly went where she'd never gone
before...please come along on Adventures
in America.
Last
hip story, I promise. It's just that I'm writing about one year in
my life, and a 1/3 of it was in that darn cast...but I feel like I
can't leave you with me still immobilized. Closure and all that
stuff.
I
can't remember the exact date they cut me out of my prison, but it
was in March. Silly me had expected instant relief and instant
return to normality. Not so fast. What I saw when they removed the
cast shocked me. My legs were covered in what looked like wax. Dead
skin. It would take a LOT of scrubbing to get it off.
The
other big surprise was that the knee which hadn't bent in four
months, didn't really want to bend without severe pain. I had to be
really careful and move it slowly, and just a little more each day.
But oh the joy and relief of being able to take a bath! (Even if
there was a layer of dead skin floating on top of the water when I
was done...sorry, reality...) I could also scratch anything I needed
to. Oh the contraptions Aunt Risky tried to make me to get inside
the cast to scratch...partially successful, but you know how ALMOST
getting to scratch an itch is almost worse than not getting to
scratch it at all.
So
to wrap this up: I spent 6 weeks on crutches, then a month feeling
great and walking around, and RUNNING, and life felt normal.
Then
the pins came out. 8 weeks of crutches. It was the most
uncomfortable time. I felt so fragile – like if I moved wrong I
was going to break it all over again. Then I was free. Big scar.
Lots of life to contemplate, but the big ordeal was OVER.
I
went on to become a gymnast, a long distance runner, a mountain
biker, I climbed a 14er (for you non-Colorado folks, that's a
mountain over 14,o00 feet. It's a status symbol to summit one.
Kinda a rite of passage to be a “real” Coloradan). I RECOVERED.
18 comments:
Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww dead skin. Groooooooooss.
But a very happy post! I'm glad that you were able to recover the way that you did. I know the cast had to suck, but I'm just so happy you're okay now.
That must have been such a relief but it still took patience until you were fully recovered, difficult for anybody let alone a young child.
That's quite a story. The dead skin is gross though.
That was a long recovery! But you bounced right back, stronger than ever. Like you do!
Glad it's all just a memory for you now. I know about waiting to bathe, had that after hip replacement. In the UK they use glue so you can shower straight away. Took a long time for recovery, but so glad you eventually did. You don't mention, what about the driver? or don't you know?
JO ON FOOD, MY TRAVELS AND A SCENT OF CHOCOLATE
Wow you did all that afterwards? I didn't know you climbed mountains too! I used to have a mtn climbing friend who would literally get mad at me if I teased that I'd also bagged a 14er....by driving to the summit of Pike's Peak.
Wow, long recovery for a child but nice to know you healed fine and went on to have no problems :)
Lucy from Lucy's Reality
That's an impressive list of things you've done.
I remember trying to find things to help my brother scratch with. He never had to be on crutches, but that was more to do with him being three.
Is there anything left to do on your bucket list? Sounds like there isn't much you haven't done. I'm glad you healed e nought to be able to enjoy life to its fullest.
http://agutandabutt.blogspot.com/
Hi Tina .. the medics obviously did a good job - if you were ultimately able to do all of those things .. I fail most of that list!!
It's an interesting tale of life you're telling us .. and I find it so interesting - never having been in plaster --- no please don't dash over the pond to give me an opportunity to experience it!!
Well sincerely glad it's over - but the stages and then the pins coming out - can understand why you were so anxious ..
Cheers Hilary
Aw man! I can imagine that first bath, delicious! I'm glad you healed so fully that you were able to be so active and do so much. That's a truly happy ending.
Hi Tina
GReat stories here
keep coming in
more to follow in
the series right
Thanks for droppin by.
Best Regards
Phil
Nothing was going to keep you down!
Knock on wood, I've never broken anything or had a single stitch.
Huzzah for recovery! Thanks for giving us closure. :-)
It sounds like you were an amazing trooper with great supports.
Lyre @ Lyre's Musings #atozchallenge
Hi, Tina! I'm so glad to know you recovered from your injury. My son was in a body cast after hip surgery so I can relate to the dead skin issue.
This is my first A to Z and I'm having a blast! Thank you for being one of the organizers!
Ugh. That must have been a relief getting out of that cast after such a long time and then to be on crutches two long stretches following. It's amazing what the body can recover from, and it sounds like you had quite a full recovery. Still in the throws of recovering from knee surgery myself, I could really relate. God bless, Maria Delight Directed Living
Tina, I love your blog! Thanks so much for finding mine through A-Z. I have to go back and make sure I followed you. I think I did. I also read a few posts. What a time you had, but I can see you zipping around on that creeper :)
The young heal so quickly and totally, I broke my ankle at 60, and it still gives me fits 5 years later.
Katie atBankerchick Scratchings
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