Living through 2 broken ankles
I am 73 and I broke both ankles going down stairs on
December 2, 2017. X rays verified I had two broken ankles. I was given pain medicine by IV at the hospital. Was told it might make me dizzy if I wasn't used to taking pain medicine. It made me very dizzy and also left with a feeling of such well being, lol. There I was, laying down with two broke ankles and I felt like everything would work out ok. Loved that medicine! Was put in a room. Doctor said didn't look like I would need operation, just boots. He got two huge boots and put them on my feet and told me not to put my feet on the floor because I might unconsciously push and put weight on my feet and make an appointment to see him in a week. Did I mention those boots were HUGE?
December 6, 2017 Transferred to nursing home for PT and OT. It was a nice place, with my own private room. They encouraged me to get in a wheel chair after about a few days. They wanted me to use a transfer board to get from bed to a porta potty and the wheelchair. I thought why not scoot with my feet straight out from bed to potty and the wheelchair. This worked really well. Never did use that board!
December 13 Went for doctor visit from nursing home. They had a van they could put a wheel chair in to take me there. Went to find out if I would need surgery but my ankles looked good enough the doctor decided no surgery. They x rayed my ankles and doctor said I could put my feet on floor but do not put any weight on my feet.
December 15 Left nursing home for home. The problem was getting me transferred from the nursing home to home since the nursing home was 10 miles away from home BUT in another State, so they could not take me home. Living near a state line is a pain. My husband finally figured out I could do my scooting into the sliding door in our van. He put the back seats down and put blankets and pillows and it worked great. So, was able to finally go home. We have a split level house so my hospital bed had to be put in our living room. At this point, I could have cared less my living room was my bedroom. I just wanted to get well and get to walking! A healthcare service was set up to come to my house for PT, OT and I had blisters on one of my feet because at the hospital, they wrapped my feet up (in the emergency room) and it made blisters form. So I also had a nurse come to my home twice a week.
December 26 2017. Went for my doctor visit. He said to tell the healthcare service to start gait training. I was a little shocked, since it had been just a little over 3 weeks! He said he expected me to walk into his office on January 23rd, 2018 using a walker and it's a long walk!
January 6, 2018. Am able now to pivot into wheelchair and go to an actual bathroom, yah! Also, get to brush my teeth at a sink, sitting in the wheelchair. I can use my feet to move the wheelchair. Finally!
My PT said not to rush the walking and take it slow and I'm following that advice. Still uneasy about trying to walk so quickly. I don't want to do more damage! But loving the independence! I can walk about 10 steps and then use the wheelchair. I can stand now also. This helps when I need to wash my hair, I can stand over the sink. It's a big change. I usually am a very active person so I'm ready to get back at it!
No. 1, have not had very much pain at all since I broke my ankles. The boots have given me more pain than anything but they are soooo much better than a cast, I'm sure!! I do not take any pain medicine at all.
No. 2, I cannot say enough how this whole ordeal has been made so much easier with my sweet husband! Who knew he could cook, clean, wash clothes and wait on me so well?? We've been married 53 years and he's never used the washing machine! I did the inside work and he kept the yard, cars and repairs up! It has been an extremely good working relationship for us, might not be your cup of tea, but it suits us just fine. I don't know how anybody gets through this without such a great companion!! On top of everything else, our bathrooms are on the upper floor. Wasn't a big problem since it's just 4 steps up, but it might as well be 12 for me now! So my sweet hubby had to put a toilet and sink in our laundry room so I could use it (we wanted one there anyway). He did it all himself, took him a couple of days. I cannot say enough about this perfect man and he's 77!! Also, my daughter lives nearby. We use her to buy our groceries.
No. 3 I am trying to eat well. I don't want to eat at all since I have gerd and quit taking pantoprazole after I fell because I read it can cause fractures. I wonder if that's why both ankles broke, my bones are not getting the calcium it needs. Doctor suggested to eat ice cream for lunch. I asked him why not just drink milk but he said ice cream would be more beneficial. I eat ice cream, drink milk and eat yogurt. Of course, vitamin D supplements and vitamin B12. I try to eat vegetables and meat everyday. I understand my body needs vitamins to heal! That's it for now. Will update this as I progress!
December 2, 2017. X rays verified I had two broken ankles. I was given pain medicine by IV at the hospital. Was told it might make me dizzy if I wasn't used to taking pain medicine. It made me very dizzy and also left with a feeling of such well being, lol. There I was, laying down with two broke ankles and I felt like everything would work out ok. Loved that medicine! Was put in a room. Doctor said didn't look like I would need operation, just boots. He got two huge boots and put them on my feet and told me not to put my feet on the floor because I might unconsciously push and put weight on my feet and make an appointment to see him in a week. Did I mention those boots were HUGE?
December 6, 2017 Transferred to nursing home for PT and OT. It was a nice place, with my own private room. They encouraged me to get in a wheel chair after about a few days. They wanted me to use a transfer board to get from bed to a porta potty and the wheelchair. I thought why not scoot with my feet straight out from bed to potty and the wheelchair. This worked really well. Never did use that board!
December 13 Went for doctor visit from nursing home. They had a van they could put a wheel chair in to take me there. Went to find out if I would need surgery but my ankles looked good enough the doctor decided no surgery. They x rayed my ankles and doctor said I could put my feet on floor but do not put any weight on my feet.
December 15 Left nursing home for home. The problem was getting me transferred from the nursing home to home since the nursing home was 10 miles away from home BUT in another State, so they could not take me home. Living near a state line is a pain. My husband finally figured out I could do my scooting into the sliding door in our van. He put the back seats down and put blankets and pillows and it worked great. So, was able to finally go home. We have a split level house so my hospital bed had to be put in our living room. At this point, I could have cared less my living room was my bedroom. I just wanted to get well and get to walking! A healthcare service was set up to come to my house for PT, OT and I had blisters on one of my feet because at the hospital, they wrapped my feet up (in the emergency room) and it made blisters form. So I also had a nurse come to my home twice a week.
December 26 2017. Went for my doctor visit. He said to tell the healthcare service to start gait training. I was a little shocked, since it had been just a little over 3 weeks! He said he expected me to walk into his office on January 23rd, 2018 using a walker and it's a long walk!
January 6, 2018. Am able now to pivot into wheelchair and go to an actual bathroom, yah! Also, get to brush my teeth at a sink, sitting in the wheelchair. I can use my feet to move the wheelchair. Finally!
My PT said not to rush the walking and take it slow and I'm following that advice. Still uneasy about trying to walk so quickly. I don't want to do more damage! But loving the independence! I can walk about 10 steps and then use the wheelchair. I can stand now also. This helps when I need to wash my hair, I can stand over the sink. It's a big change. I usually am a very active person so I'm ready to get back at it!
No. 1, have not had very much pain at all since I broke my ankles. The boots have given me more pain than anything but they are soooo much better than a cast, I'm sure!! I do not take any pain medicine at all.
No. 2, I cannot say enough how this whole ordeal has been made so much easier with my sweet husband! Who knew he could cook, clean, wash clothes and wait on me so well?? We've been married 53 years and he's never used the washing machine! I did the inside work and he kept the yard, cars and repairs up! It has been an extremely good working relationship for us, might not be your cup of tea, but it suits us just fine. I don't know how anybody gets through this without such a great companion!! On top of everything else, our bathrooms are on the upper floor. Wasn't a big problem since it's just 4 steps up, but it might as well be 12 for me now! So my sweet hubby had to put a toilet and sink in our laundry room so I could use it (we wanted one there anyway). He did it all himself, took him a couple of days. I cannot say enough about this perfect man and he's 77!! Also, my daughter lives nearby. We use her to buy our groceries.
No. 3 I am trying to eat well. I don't want to eat at all since I have gerd and quit taking pantoprazole after I fell because I read it can cause fractures. I wonder if that's why both ankles broke, my bones are not getting the calcium it needs. Doctor suggested to eat ice cream for lunch. I asked him why not just drink milk but he said ice cream would be more beneficial. I eat ice cream, drink milk and eat yogurt. Of course, vitamin D supplements and vitamin B12. I try to eat vegetables and meat everyday. I understand my body needs vitamins to heal! That's it for now. Will update this as I progress!
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