The Ankle

As many of you know, I broke my left ankle. However, if you don't know, you are in for a real treat: how it happened, the struggles and the hilarious moments thus far. 

It all started on a freezing Saturday Morning (Jan. 26th). A group of friends and I annually go to Lake Independence in Long Lake to attend their Ice Golf event. It's always right behind Birches. This year we had a group of about 10. The walk down to the lake was an experience in its own. It was straight up ice, but somehow we managed to get down with no injuries. Candice did fall, but her wipe out was graceful as per usual for her. 

We had a blast playing Ice Golf. If you've never heard of it - or never played, you need to. It's like mini golf on ice. You use tennis balls and old golf clubs (or hockey sticks). It's way fun. Plus, at each hole there is usually a sponsor, and  you bring beer. 

Look, I could bend my left ankle!

I'm cool

These beautiful ladies <3

The team!

Okay, now on to the ankle. We had finished the last hole of ice golf and were headed up the icy hill to get to our cars to go to the Red Rooster to grab lunch. Well, another one of my lovely ladies had a few months earlier had knee surgery and still wasn't 100% comfortable on her knee with icy. So, I offered to help her up the hill. We didn't get too far, and I slipped on the hill and slid down the hill on the outside of my left ankle. I mean it all happened so fast, that I'm not confident that that is EXACTLY what happened, but you get the idea. Oh the bright side, my friend DID NOT FALL. Mission accomplished! I was laughing, it hurt but it was funny. I got up and couldn't walk real well. Toughed it out to the restaurant then to Andrea's and home. By the time I got home, it seemed like this probably was more serious than a sprain. Usually after awhile (hours), I can walk on my ankle better. After talking with my mom and stepdad, I decided to go to urgent care for a x-ray. 

I got to urgent care, with a huge limp. The doctor was moving my ankle around and my body got extremely hot and had to cool off and lay back before I didn't anything. I assume this is from the pain. As I was getting my x-ray they made me stand, and I had to ask her if were almost done because if we weren't, I was going to need to sit down because I was getting that hot again and might faint from the pain. The x-ray came back negative, there was no break. I got a brace and crutches with a note because I had to call into work Saturday and Sunday night because there was noway I'd be able to work.

I had been in contact with my manager and we decided I should just not work my one day that week. Now not working until Monday (over a week since it had happened), I took R.I.C.E serious. I rarely do this. By Saturday I (with the help of mom) decided I would go into TRIA orthopedic urgent care on Sunday. I still wasn't walking normal, it still was hurting significantly, and I really just wanted the comfort that I wasn't going to do more damage by going to work on Monday. 

Sunday came around, I woke up early to get in and hopefully it wouldn't be busy. I got in right away, saw an orthopedic MD. He decided to do a MRI, which was exactly what I wanted, mostly to make sure there wasn't any tears. They could get me in that day morning. Within a half hour or 45 minutes I was in the MRI machine. It was painful, they had to make sure my ankle was in the proper position, but the longer I was in the machine--wooooo nellie, the worse it was getting. But I made it, and then I had to wait another 45-60 minutes for the results to be read. The results were in, a break and two high grade tears. I was told I couldn't put weight on it anymore, I had the choice of putting a cast or a boot on, at that point I asked what they suggested. I got a cast put on and a follow up appointment made for the Tuesday. 

On my way to the doctor on Tuesday, my mom so graciously was willing to take me, I had my crutches and slipped down the driveway, catching myself. It was a very snowy day. Then in a parking ramp getting out of the car my crutch slipped and I stopped myself with my bad foot. Now this doctor said had I displaced my break, or tore my ligaments any more, or had another high grade one, I would have been in surgery. So thankfully, dodged that one! But I will be missing work for 5 weeks because they gave me a knee caddy instead of crutches. Originally we did think I would be able to work Charge, but due to liability reasons, that wasn't an option. 

Things I have noticed while being one- legged

It is really challenging getting around

I almost daily, if not multiple times a day, lose my balance

I am terrible at asking for help

There are often not enough handicap parking spots

The best place to walk in the winter after a snow storm is an orthopedic place-- they clear ALL of the snow and ice

It's hard to cook

Anything more than two steps to get into a house, is too much

Many houses, are too challenging to get into, they typically have nothing to hold onto to let you hop on one foot to get into

You take for granted even pumping your own gas, because if you are like me, it's on the opposite side of the car, and you jump to do it

You can't take out your trash and recycling--because it's too icy

I get extremely warm and like hot flashes just doing easy stuff

Before I got a showering chair I almost fell in the shower

Speaking of showers, it's a lot of work

You don't "quickly" walk into a store or caribou or to grab food

You are probably extremely dehydrated because it takes a lot of work to get up and pee. 

I almost fell pulling up my pants in the bathroom

I almost fell going on my tippy toes to grab a hat in the closet

I do have some awesome people in my family. My mom has been so beyond helpful. Making sure I have groceries, spending time with me, bringing me to do stuff, cleaning and picking up my house. Plus so have my friends. Filling up my tank if they are in the car with me, cleaning Jazzy's litter box if they are over, or taking out the garbage, etc. These people in my life are the best! Plus if we go to the bar, they make sure my scooter has parking! 

My left knee has some issues. From my scooter, but also from crawling up the stairs and crawling when I am up there. It's red, inflamed and itches. How lovely. My days have also been filled with Netflix, a lot of Netflix. I have been sleeping on my couch because A) it's comfortable and B) it's easier getting around downstairs than upstairs. Well, I just have a plethora of things to do around this area, and a plethora of things I need. It's kind of a big mess, but it's just the way it's going to be for now. 

Just riding around

Mom posing for the pic I was sending to my bro

Mom and Tony putting in my blinds

The one day I got to work on my knee caddy,
Got to see my friend 

My new podiatry doc decided he doesn't like casts-
so I got a boot instead!

Took this for granted,
way more challenging

when your friend cleans
your windshield 

When your friends do this at the bar

Puuuurty

Lots of snuggles with Jazzy cat

The patience my friends have had to have with me has been so appreciated. There are just things I can't do, and there are things that are just extremely challenging for me while I have my ankle healing. Yet, they still invite me to do things :) yay! 

In one week I get to find out if  I get to walk on my ankle. The doc did say I will be wearing a boot for awhile though.This brings some fear because I think it will still be painful, however, I can't tell ya'll how excited I am to not have to use a knee caddy every time I want to get up. 

xoxo 

breezy