Boy On Crutches

I stopped blogging for a while because I kind of fell into a comfortable rut. I got used to crutching, used to scooting, used to people being uncommonly nice or staring at me incessantly. So, now that I have had the final surgery to take the screws out of my foot, I’m having to get used to being normal again. 

I still can’t quite walk, but I can finally put weight on my foot. I can’t even describe the feeling of walking out of the doctor’s office a week after the surgery and being able to press my left foot to the ground. Even resting most of my weight on crutches still, it’s just an incredible feeling to be able to use a muscle that you haven’t used in months. 

I had another appointment a couple days back. After the doctor gets done bragging how awesome he is for fixing my deformed foot (I don’t blame him; I agree), he tells me what I should do for the next few weeks. This time, it’s whatever I want! He said I can put as much weight on my foot as I feel comfortable, with the boot still on, and in about two and a half weeks, the boot should come off for good. 

I’m down to one crutch now. I can actually use hand to carry something. To open doors. To shake a hand. You take for granted the most simple things that you can’t do on crutches. 

It was Nov. 30 that I dropped a tractor tire and crushed all the bones in my foot. A week after Thanksgiving. I can’t believe it’s almost over, but it is. 

3.  Personal shopper at the grocery store where I can never find anything? Yes, please..

2. Handicap access to sold out concerts is possible. I’m have 10th row seats to see Styx next week … in the wheelchair section. 

1. It makes you remember how awesome soaking in the bathtub is, from where I am currently blogging. 

The short story: I feel really great. 

The long story: I’ve learned (certainly the hard way) that there is a major difference between an injury that has sustaining pain and one that does not. Unless I do something really odd with it, my foot isn’t hurting at all now. I’m off painkillers, I can sleep without my boot on, I don’t have to keep it elevated, there is some range of motion in my ankle, and most of all … it. doesn’t. hurt. 

It’s clear that the worst part of this is behind me. It’s just become a waiting game (a really long one). My crushed foot is now an inconvenience more than an injury. I read so much about people getting extremely depressed with a lisfranc injury, feeling completely helpless, etc. I was prepared for the worst onslaught of those emotions, but I’m somehow completely normal and happy. 

HOWEVER, I’m sure I will be a lot more normal and happy in March when I no longer have screwed-together bones. 

I slept on my stomach a little last night for the first time since the accident. I thought I’d be restrained to on-the-back sleeping for the duration of this, but I was able to turn my foot on its side since it’s not hurting too much. Progress is slow, but the little things like that make me realize it’s there.

The doctor asks you if it’s cool if he puts another screw in your foot based on your follow-up appointment and x-rays.

“Seems to be too much of a gap between your second and third metatarsals”

“Don’t worry, it’ll just be outpatient surgery.”

“Yeah, it’ll be a bit of a setback in your recovery.”

“I highly recommend you do it.”

No problem, doc. I will just swing on by Tuesday!

…

I’m learning the meaning of the compound word. Today, using my new (not-doctor recommended, but parental-insisted) knee scooter below, I did the following: 

• Organized shoes on a shoe rack in our closet 
• Removed a duvet from a down comforter and put it in the washing machine 
• Fed our pet gargoyle gecko (Gary)  
• Put dishes in the dishwasher 
• Took an old caesar salad to the outdoor trash can because it was stinky 
• And, finally, fell off my scooter in the driveway and became instantly paranoid that I re-injured my foot. 

I guess one day of productivity was enough.