Owie Update

This time last Sunday I was getting x-rays in urgent care. Here's the story: Unscheduled Emergency Dismount with Owies

I still can't walk normally -- but it is a nearly-normal hobble with a walker, something like this.  I bruised my ribcage or the intercostal muscles or something, and that's not improving as fast as the smushed hip muscle assembly because -- well, the more I walk, the faster the lower body recovery, but the more time I spend putting weight on my hands....and the hand bones are connected to the rib bones. 

The bruising is impressive and is still that so-attractive deep purple color.  Oddly, the purply areas themselves aren't sore to the touch or even deep pressure.

By Wednesday I was pretty confidently going up and down the two steps from the house floor level to the patio, but I didn't really try it without a spotter until Friday.

Thursday I tried out my car, which is a manual transmission.  Nope, that clutch depressing motion still smarts, and worse yet, is unreliable.  So  I rented a car with  automatic transmission.

Friday I actually took a shower and washed my hair.  I no longer bear a resemblance, hair-wise, to Severus Snape.

Saturday the daughter was at home doing homework, so I got in the car, went to the grocery store, shopped, visited with a few friends who happened to be shopping also, came home, unloaded the groceries and put them away...all by myself.  The point of the daughter being home is that if I stalled out at any point, she was there to rescue her mommy.

I was impressed with her self-control -- she wanted to take care of me so badly but really got it that the "taking care" part was letting me see how much I could do by myself.

Also, I got dressed all by myself, including socks and smalls, for the first time.

This morning I walked outside -- well -- hobbled with the walker -- all of one half a block.

I'll try a longer walk tomorrow with my friend Sue, who has been here every morning to provide care and companionship. 

So.  This is like a preview of frail old age.  It's renewed my motivation to be as fit and flexible as I can be.

Comments

[Katy Seib]

Liz, I too had an UEDwO on mothers day. Mine from a bike, going fast, face first into asphalt. Purple bruises all over the left part of my body, abrasions on my face, a concussion accompanied by headaches and mild fine motor skill impairment, left me too thinking it is a preview to old age. Especially when for two days in a row I couldn't pick up a bar of soap in the shower - not because of pain but because of the fine motor skills impairment. I'd taken my first long bike ride in years in preparation for riding to work every day. I still want to - and my doctor advised me not to give up on that, as have many others. But husband is not too keen on it. I hope your recovery continues steadily and that we can both get back up on our respective horses. :) Big hugs.

[KWombles]

Glad you are making improvements. ((()))

[fp]

Glad you're on the mend. Don't overdo!

[Whitney Hoffman]

Wow Liz! I hope you feel better soon! I hate ortho stuff!

[Barbara Boucher, OT, PhD, PT]

Hoping you are feeling "much better now!" (Ever watch John Aston on Night Court?)

I agree with Whitney that the ortho stuff is nasty but I fear the neuro stuff far more....speaking of old age preview....Snape should have a potion for that! (LOVE your literary references!)

Sincere get well all-the-way wishes.