A Different Boot

Posted byofftheedgegardeningPosted inUncategorized

Wouldn’t it have been grand if it had happened whilst snatching a kitten from the path of a speeding train, or maybe free-climbing the Shard for a worthy charity, perhaps tackling some fiend who had just stolen a dear old ladies handbag and had sprinted of into the distance, or even during some extreme gardening?  But I didn’t.  I fractured my foot because I was under the impression there was only one step to go at the bottom of the stairs and there were two.  Counting was never my strong point.

Apart from the obvious, “foot heading in a direction that quite frankly is not natural” another unfortunate issue was that I was wearing what I like to call my “lounge wear”.  Others might call them (perhaps more accurately) “tatty old mismatching pyjamas”.  Yes I am quite aware that it was 2.00pm, and at this time of day only true slovens and nightworkers are still so casually dressed.  However it was a rain-stopped-play day and I had earlier, at an almost respectable time, changed out of my genuine PJ’s into my LW.   Not certain though if I had brushed my hair.

I will save you the gory and dull details, I am sure your imagination will fill any gaps.  Just in case you are struggling here are a few key words to help you along the way.   Agony, attempting to get into car without passing out,  leaning against a wall outside A&E like a one-legged sobbing stork whilst OH tried to find a wheelchair, being taken pity on by an ambulance driver who managed find a wheelchair and kindly took me to reception, waiting, triage, waiting, doctor, waiting, x-ray, waiting, prognosis, waiting, groovy boot and crutches allocation.  Out with the golden, in with the storm trooper.

If like myself you are rather a curious creature, you will be wondering who else was in the waiting room.  Luckily (yes irony) I had plenty of time to study them.   There was a teenager wearing sports shorts and a blazer with a rugby induced ankle injury (far cooler than me obviously), a young woman with a broken finger who could still text at the speed of light, a workman with a broken arm and a moody wife, a farmer who had broken his wrist last month and hadn’t noticed, and a man in combats with a badly cut chin.   My favourite fellow waitee however was a charming little girl who had stuffed toilet paper up her nose and couldn’t get it out again.  Her reasoning was very sensible I thought, she had a stinky cold and was fed up with having to wipe it all the time. Almost two minutes of arrival she began to ask of everybody and anybody “why have we got to wait so long?” and was still doing so when I was wheeled off to the equipment cupboard.  Hopefully, for the sake of all, she was soon whisked off to the nose vacuuming department.

Onto the actual damage, I have an avulsion fracture to the talus and navicular bone, possibly more problematical is that some of the tendons are also damaged.   It appears that my injuries are very similar to those of our very own Torrington Tina, although she got there 5 weeks before I did.  We have been comparing notes.   I am not sure “great minds think alike” is applicable in this case.   There will be no gardening for me until next year and then I must take it easy, “avoid uneven surfaces” might be a tricky one.

One last point, you will be very pleased to hear that I gave my business card to the doctor in the fracture clinic, seems like he needs a gardener.   He knows of course that he will have to wait for a few weeks, but I told him it would be worth it!

 

49 thoughts on “A Different Boot”

  2. Poor, poor you. That two of us should have avulsion fractures of our same bones within 5 weeks is a bit eerie, as they are not overly common injuries. You did not need to try and top my efforts by involving your tendons as well. Get well soon, Hoppalong!
    The waiting room occupants you encountered are SOOO like I remember as a radiographer. One sees all walks of life. One little boy had pushed beads up his brother’s nostrils to ‘see where they would come out’, I am not sure why the little brother allowed this experiment to even start but the x-ray was interesting, then off to ENT.
    I hope you were treated as well as I was at NDDH, the place is a gem in my eyes and we could not manage without it.

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    1. They were wonderful at the hospital, in my haste I forgot to mention the fact, and such a lovely new A&E department. Another thing I forgot to say was that apparently it is a classic footballing injury. Figures! Thanks my dear, and thanks for all you advice and comfort. x ps love the boy and the beads story.

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  4. Oh poor you! A word from the experienced – take it very easy on the crutches, particularly if they’re the elbow type! They could stress shoulder muscles in ways the muscles (aforementioned) are not used to. You have probably achieved your goal of getting out of cooking Christmas lunch this year. Incidentally, I wonder how many of your readers could say, without checking, how many steps make up their stairs! Take it easy and let nature take its course (and let OH get the satisfaction of pandering to your every whim in the meantime). Hugs. xx

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      1. 9 steps on our flight of stairs, 12 and 1 round the bottom at my Mum’s. I am used to sneaking around at night!
        John K is right about crutches. Learn to walk with them properly on flat ground. Always use them in front NEVER put them behind you to try to go backwards. If you need any help I shall come to Ilfracombe and demonstrate, I managed 1 1/2 miles at Lanhydrock in my final days on crutches.

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  5. Twelve from top to bottom. I know because I fell down them in the middle of the night and didn’t break a thing!
    Does this mean that those golden boots are going spare?
    You take care and make the most of the enforced break…..oops!

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      1. Oh shame, I fancies gold for Christmas! As for my fall, I’d got up to take some tablets and didn’t want to disturb Steve so didn’t turn any lights on… instead of turning into what I thought was our bedroom, I stepped off into oblivion ending up at the bottom of the stairs. We had to be up early the next day as we were picking Malcolm up from hospital after having his pacemaker fitted, and he had to wait for me as I struggled to get from the hospital to the car! All I broke was a couple of pictures as I flailed about on my way down.

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  6. Ouch! This sounds extremely painful. Sorry to hear about this accident and I hope everything heals well. I was just congratulating myself on the fact that my foot wasn’t painful any more (after over a year) when I discovered that following a long drive in the car (an automatic at that) and more pavement walking than I have done for a long while, the pain is back. Hip, knee AND foot. I think perhaps it is time to seek medical help. Though I have to confess waiting is the main reason I haven’t done so before. Take it easy and watch those darn stairs!

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  8. oh dear – that will be a real trial to you. Here’s hoping you recover quickly. After my own ‘how stupid do you have to be to fall over your own feet in the safety of your living room while perfectly sober and crack a bone’ incident, I recommend swimming and doing the tedious physiotherapy exercises. Sending good wishes your way

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  9. Sending best wishes from down under, Gill. I’m so sorry, I did laugh while reading your post, your description of the waiting room is so apt. I suppose you’ll be able to rest as it’s almost winter, and books by the fire ( interspersed with a few gentle exercises) sound like the go to me. Take care.

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  11. Sorry to hear about this Gill. What a bad luck, the only consolation is that it happened in the almost winter time….if we can call it consolation. I hope you are not in pain.
    Take care XOX

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  13. My sympathies. One small consolation is that it’s probably the best time of year for something like this to happen. I’m sure that you’ll be doing lots of armchair gardening, but don’t eat too many biscuits. Take care. xx

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  15. Hi x Oh poor you! Still, it’s the run-up to Christmas, Ha Ha! No, really, the weathers crap, afternoon films are brilliantly crap, I love them, so, I guess in that respect, if you’re going to break something, this is a better time of year than many… if that’s any consolation? xxx

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  16. Sorry to hear about the injury. I bet OH is looking forward to waiting on you hand & foot!! Good time of year though as I’ve just had a cataract op and another 2 weeks to go before I can do gardening or DIY.

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    1. Well…… he is trying his best! We have been saying that we haven’t seen you for a while, bumped into Nikki a couple of weeks ago and she said she hadn’t seen you either. Glad to know you are OK. Get back to full health soon xxx

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  18. Oh no! Poor you! That sounds so painful. I do hope you can get comfortable in that boot. Hope your poor foot heals swiftly. Sending much love and many hugs. Karen xxx

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  20. Ooh what a shame. This seems to be the season for it. My neighbour did something similar a month ago. For myself, I am paid up member of the David Beckham fractured metatarsal club having qualified a few years back. I do wish you a speedy recovery – the inability to drive ‘drove’ me crazy!! Do you have Netflix??

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