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A broken leg slows me down
Feb. 11th, 2005 07:20 pmWell, I had intended to update my LJ before now but events intervened.
On the morning of the 9th, a rainy day, I was on my way to Tyche’s Games to open the store when . . .
And you know this next part will be bad.
I was riding the University of Georgia bus (specifically the East-West), the steps of which get exceedingly slick, and I was getting off in front of Ogilthorpe House (one of the dorms). I slipped on the top step and then I was on the concrete in a lot of pain. The first thing I did was roll away in case the bus started to pull out, luckily it did not. The bus driver and another young lady helped me to the bus shelter and a bench. On the way I tried to put some weight on my right leg but the immense pain quickly dissuaded me from that course of action. When my leg was elevated on the bench, the lower third of my leg flopped which creeped me out. The Campus Police showed up, I made sure they had called an ambulance and told them what happened. By that time I was getting a bit shocky but I did not have to wait long for the ambulance.
They took me to Athens Regional Medical Center where I got the experience of riding through the hospital ER on my back just like in the movies. Laura came down from work (having been told that I was in the ER and nothing more). They X-rayed me, gave me a bit of morphine and slapped my leg in a huge cast that prevented me from moving any part of my leg from the knee on down and weighed about 15 pounds (but seemed like twice that). Then off to Athens Orthopedics Clinic where we waited for about two hours before speaking with a Doctor who showed us the X-rays. Where it turned out that I had broken my leg in three places: once below the knee, a clean break, and both bones above the ankle, which needed plates and to be screwed back together. I was scheduled to return and talk to another Doctor, Doctor Moye who specializes in trauma cases.
Back home and the fun of climbing (more scooting) up a flight of stairs. Elevating the leg, packing it with ice and having a fitful night for both Laura and I followed. Next morning, down the stair (more fun), meeting with Dr. Moye (who is very cool) and then off to ARMC for the surgery. Pre-op included two tries to get an IV in me, gah, I hate needles. Then off to the OR where I was out within a minute of being moved to the operating table. Next thing I knew I was in the recovery room and off to a room to be observed for the evening. Rah.
My father, Laura and Dave all stopped by to visit. After they went off to get some rest, it has been very stressful for them as well, I spend another fitful night. When I did manage to fall asleep, I was soon awoken by a nurse checking on me or giving me another drug treatment (two each of pain relief, anti-inflammatory and antibiotics, I think) including having to have another IV put in (taking two tries) as my earlier IV had become fouled.
Next morning, at about 8:15am Dr. Moye came in and said that the surgery went as planned, keep the leg elevated and that I could go home. Neal and Laura showed up about 9:30 and it only took until 11:15am to actually get on our way home. As my new cast is: a) slightly lighter and b) allows my knee to bend, getting around is much easier though getting up the stairs was still a serious drag. A week from Monday (the 21st), I will go back and see Dr. Moye and hopefully move to yet a smaller cast.
So, I am sitting on the living room couch with my leg up watching TV while Laura runs around getting things for the store and the house sorted out. I feel so useless, being only able to limp around on crutches, and this in the first time since it happened that I have been coherent enough to think and write things.
OK, update. Laura and Dave got a new bed set up for the bedroom so we are no longer sleeping on a futon on the floor. Laura is back and we are waiting for dinner to cook.
On the morning of the 9th, a rainy day, I was on my way to Tyche’s Games to open the store when . . .
And you know this next part will be bad.
I was riding the University of Georgia bus (specifically the East-West), the steps of which get exceedingly slick, and I was getting off in front of Ogilthorpe House (one of the dorms). I slipped on the top step and then I was on the concrete in a lot of pain. The first thing I did was roll away in case the bus started to pull out, luckily it did not. The bus driver and another young lady helped me to the bus shelter and a bench. On the way I tried to put some weight on my right leg but the immense pain quickly dissuaded me from that course of action. When my leg was elevated on the bench, the lower third of my leg flopped which creeped me out. The Campus Police showed up, I made sure they had called an ambulance and told them what happened. By that time I was getting a bit shocky but I did not have to wait long for the ambulance.
They took me to Athens Regional Medical Center where I got the experience of riding through the hospital ER on my back just like in the movies. Laura came down from work (having been told that I was in the ER and nothing more). They X-rayed me, gave me a bit of morphine and slapped my leg in a huge cast that prevented me from moving any part of my leg from the knee on down and weighed about 15 pounds (but seemed like twice that). Then off to Athens Orthopedics Clinic where we waited for about two hours before speaking with a Doctor who showed us the X-rays. Where it turned out that I had broken my leg in three places: once below the knee, a clean break, and both bones above the ankle, which needed plates and to be screwed back together. I was scheduled to return and talk to another Doctor, Doctor Moye who specializes in trauma cases.
Back home and the fun of climbing (more scooting) up a flight of stairs. Elevating the leg, packing it with ice and having a fitful night for both Laura and I followed. Next morning, down the stair (more fun), meeting with Dr. Moye (who is very cool) and then off to ARMC for the surgery. Pre-op included two tries to get an IV in me, gah, I hate needles. Then off to the OR where I was out within a minute of being moved to the operating table. Next thing I knew I was in the recovery room and off to a room to be observed for the evening. Rah.
My father, Laura and Dave all stopped by to visit. After they went off to get some rest, it has been very stressful for them as well, I spend another fitful night. When I did manage to fall asleep, I was soon awoken by a nurse checking on me or giving me another drug treatment (two each of pain relief, anti-inflammatory and antibiotics, I think) including having to have another IV put in (taking two tries) as my earlier IV had become fouled.
Next morning, at about 8:15am Dr. Moye came in and said that the surgery went as planned, keep the leg elevated and that I could go home. Neal and Laura showed up about 9:30 and it only took until 11:15am to actually get on our way home. As my new cast is: a) slightly lighter and b) allows my knee to bend, getting around is much easier though getting up the stairs was still a serious drag. A week from Monday (the 21st), I will go back and see Dr. Moye and hopefully move to yet a smaller cast.
So, I am sitting on the living room couch with my leg up watching TV while Laura runs around getting things for the store and the house sorted out. I feel so useless, being only able to limp around on crutches, and this in the first time since it happened that I have been coherent enough to think and write things.
OK, update. Laura and Dave got a new bed set up for the bedroom so we are no longer sleeping on a futon on the floor. Laura is back and we are waiting for dinner to cook.