Clumsy Hiker- My Broken Ankle, and Journey Back to the Trails

After a few days of getting used to all of my assorted contraptions, I started to get more and more efficient. Ankle Surgery Survival Kit: Including the cutting edge new beverage carrying apparatus (AKA duct tape, and plastic cups) I’m not sure if it was the fact that I had just over 2 weeks left, or the fact that I felt much more independent at home. Making myself a sandwich was no longer my arch nemesis now. I could shower BY MY SELF. Being able to do something as trivial as that allowed me to feel human again. This made me want to interact with other humans. Testing out my scooter on an off-road adventure (AKA Outdoor Flea Market) And best of all: I did not fear leaving my 2 nd floor apartment because my iWalk made climbing and descending stairs so much easier. No longer would I have to do those dreaded single legged jump squats to get up and down the stairs. I started to have more confidence in myself, and the fact that I could think of something other...

My post-op appointment was something that I had been looking forward to very much. Having been in my own head about the period of recovery after surgery had my thoughts spinning in every direction.  How much hardware had they put inside my ankle? When could I begin weight bearing? When would the cast come off? What did my leg look like underneath the bulky pink monstrosity? Was the tattoo on the inside of my ankle ok? Let's crack open this treasure chest! But mostly, I was excited to see the gnarly scars and the x-rays of my new bionic hardware. I used my knee scooter (the most amazing thing I could have ever dreamed of) to wheel myself into the appointment, hopped onto the bench, and was able to see and learn about all of the things that I had been wondering for the past couple of weeks. Removing Stitches (Still have my Chaco tan!) My weather station (I mean, ankle) I had a 5 inch plate secured onto my fibula with 7 screws. In addition, I had a Synde...

After about a week spent recovering from surgery, I started to feel better. I wanted to be around people. I wanted to feel like myself again. And mostly, I wanted a change of scenery. I needed to look at / interact with something other than my crutches. What are YOU looking at?! Don’t get me wrong- my cats and my husband are excellent company- but after 2 weeks spent cooped up at home, feeling like a lazy blob, without the desire or will to do anything healthy with my very lengthy period of ‘free-time’, we required some fresh air and amusement. Cue: Date Night! In this case, date night meant that I would put on my *most respectable* pajamas, I would wash my face, step outside my apartment for the first time since surgery, and go to the movie theater to feel more like a person than a couch. A very simple thing, but something I desperately wanted/needed/craved. I returned home from the movies, smiling ear to ear. It was the best day in many days. Fancy PJs and...

Days 4-5 were the turning-point when it came to the post-surgical ankle pain. The medication (a medley of Hydrocodone interspersed with alternating Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen) seemed to have downgraded my pain from a solid 8.5 down to a moderate discomfort (4.5). Not quite sure how those numbers help at all: but basically, it went from hurting like hell, to being uncomfortable as hell. The sore throat/irritation was still around, but far less pronounced than before. This eventually dissipated in another couple of days as well. Poor misguided fool: about to embark on some foolish endeavor... Have 15 lbs always weighed this much? As my pain began to subside, I had a surge of motivation, as I wanted to be the best post-ORIF patient ever- and I decided to do an upper body workout, and some yoga. Having been in decent shape prior to the injury, I was accustomed to my daily 5:00 am gym sessions, and I did not want to lose the progress that I had made over the past few mo...

One week from the day of my injury- was the day of my surgery. (Pretty convenient for writing a blog with simplified timing, eh!?). The days leading up to the surgery, I went about my usual pre-surgery ritual: I watched every ankle ORIF surgery video I could find on Youtube. It's hard to explain, but I find it comforting- it's nice to know what exactly they are going to do when they slice me open. The night before, and the morning of surgery- I was instructed to shower using antibacterial soap. These were my first two showers since the accident. Yes, I had been marinating in “bog juice”: various types of moss, miscellaneous dead insects, and dreadlocks made of mud and assorted plant material. And what’s better yet, I truly didn’t care. Pulling out pieces of moss and stringy weeds from my hair was my primary source of amusement for the days leading up to the surgery…but I will admit- that shower was nice. And brown. And mossy. But mostly nice. Pre-surgery ritual of watch...