Just My Luck
My fellow housemates and I have decided to enter into the magical realm of home ownership. As a means to that end, we met on Thursday with a real-estate agent friend of mine to look at properties. We crossed the first one off the list almost on sight, and we almost did the same with the second one because of the neighborhood it’s in. Unfortunately, we decided to take a look for the sake of comparison.
I say unfortunately because as I was going from the main part of the house into the finished garage, I completely missed the two-inch step down from the doorsill. Most of you know that my right leg was amputated below the knee many years ago and that I wear a prosthetic. As I stepped down and began to fall, my prosthetic leg remained firmly affixed to the floor and my knee twisted. SNAP! You know that funny feeling that something just “ain’t right”? Well, I had that feeling but I was able to manage a walk to the car. Once I sat still, there was no real pain, just a vague feeling of unease. So off we went to the next property.
Once there, I swung my leg out of the car and put my foot down on the ground. I wish I could describe the feeling, but I’ll spare you, dear readers. Suffice it to say that I stayed in the car while my roomies went to look. By the way, they LOVE the place. Wish I’d seen it. We headed back toward home base to look at three more places but I asked the agent to drop me off at home so I could seek some medical attention. One of my housemates carried me from the car to the house and as soon as we had me settled in my wheelchair (which has long been relegated to a closet) we were off to the ER.
Once they cut my pants off and removed the prosthetic and its sleeve, it became apparent that things were, well, grotesque. Off to Radiology where they contorted me into several less-than-flattering positions. If I was into BDSM, this would have been just the place because they seem to take great pleasure in pointing out that “this might be a bit uncomfortable”. Ya think? Once I was back in the treatment area, a doctor came in and took a cursory look and poked and prodded at the various lumps and bumps.
Remember that “ain’t right” feeling? Now it hurts! It hurts an-effing-lot! In fact, I am fast sinking into a state of irretrievable nausea. A PA comes in with a Lortab for pain. Lortab? Are you kidding? My leg is snickering at your Lortab! But I take it. Lortabs make me even more nauseous, but that’s okay because when the Lortab does kick in, I don’t care about nausea or anything else. PA comes back in (she’s great, by the way) and announces that I have sustained a “displaced lateral condyle fracture of the lower extremity”. Medspeak for “you have a broken leg”. They try to put a knee stabilizer on me, but that was too painful so they sent me home with a nice selection of Ace bandages and a script for more Lortabs, and instructions to keep my leg still. Oh, and instructions to follow up with an orthopedist on Friday.
First thing on Friday morning, I call the office to which I’ve been referred. They can see me NEXT Friday. Glad it’s not an emergency. It’s only the leg that I walk on, after all.
In the meantime, here’s my question; how does one break a leg she doesn’t have? It could only happen to me!
Comments
Mashie 10 years ago
Oh my Lady, what luck you have? I'm so sorry for all your pain currently and in the future. Remember to stay on top of that pain. Congrats on house hunting, it's a good idea to take a few pain pills prior to doing that as well because house hunting is a pain all of it's own, lol.
Good luck girlfriend.
Mashie
guzzleguzzlekid 10 years ago
My dear, I hope you are felling better soon. I find it incredible & unacceptable that they can't see you sooner for a broken leg!
Lady Teddy 10 years ago
Oh my Sweet Tea! What a horrible thing to have happen and now you have to wait a Week to be seen? As you know, a dog could get an earlier aponitment with a vet. In fact, when my Belgian broke her leg years ago (she slipped and fell while running full out on wet grass), she was in surgery that afternoon. She had a metal plate put in and ten pins. It cost over $2,000 in the 1991.
I am so sorry that this happened to you. Good News on buying a house, though! Maybe another dog will be in the future?
Please let us know how you are getting along.
I am sending you my prayers, Love and Hugs,
Lady Teddy
MissStress 10 years ago
That is so ridiculous, their not seeing you immediately!
I hope it gets fixed soon for you sake ladydoc very soon. *hugs for you (and grumbles about the medical field and scheduling issues)
chester89 10 years ago
Oh OW, to say the least. Sounds like something I would do. When I tore up my left knee while doing my master's, I called an orthopaedist in town - neighbor of my best friend. The receptionist there told me one MONTH before I could get in. I said "This isn't some on-going problem. I have an injury. I cannot walk." "Sorry. That's the first available." I called my GP to get a recommendation. Nurse recommended that same doctor and was not happy about the delay when I told her. She gave me another name. I called that office, and when I asked if they could see me sooner than a month out, receptionist asked "This afternoon or tomorrow?"
Sure hope you can get it all taken care of quickly and completely.
StephenS 10 years ago
Hi ladydocisin. Really a phenomenal event. If it were not so disabling and painful it would be funny. I don't know why an orthopedist would delay seeing a fracture, (and the person attached to it,) within 24 hours. I guess it's something to do with your regional priorities. Anyway, I'm sure that you will be writing in your blog as soon as you have something to tell us but be careful and let others help you. I can picture this fracture, (roughly,) and it's going to be painful until it's treated, (and for some time after that.)
Elizabeth2010 10 years ago
Ouch, that sounds pretty crap. Hope all goes well, keep us posted.
Good luck too with the house search/move, having done that within the past few years it can be rather a nightmare, but then again worth it in the end. New beginnings and all that ........
Are we all invited to your house warming party then? lol