Subj: [Simegen-L] I broke my fibula at the left ankle and sprained the right ankle
Date: 8/16/06 6:38:01 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: <jlists@simegen.com>
To: <simegen-l@simegen.com>, <WRITERS-L@simegen.com>


Folks:

The orthopedist said this ankle break doesn't require surgery or pins, so he
put a Velcro-removable cast on it and I absolutely have to stay off the
broken one for 2 months, and at least 3 weeks of completely off the sprained
one.

He ordered a wheelchair with an extension to prop the leg up for around the
house and the rental company should deliver it once that's arranged.  Right
now, it hurts worse to put my weight on the broken ankle than before they
strapped the Velcro and ACE bandage around it.  But at least it's not a
fiberglass (or worse, plaster - remember those?) cast.  And no surgery or
hospital stay.  BOY WAS I LUCKY!!!

He doesn't want me on crutches because of the poor right ankle.

Salomon found my father's cane -- or I could never have gotten to the
doctor!  I'd forgotten where it was.

CONVENTION!!!  The ankle specialist said I can travel handicapped and get
the wheelchair treatment, but at the con I must have a scooter.  They are
always in short supply and (as Karen can attest) they often promise and
don't deliver.  I don't know if the hotel can provide a wheelchair up to the
room -- trust me, I couldn't make it by myself!  I don't know how to get the
scooter if I can't get TO the scooter-desk.

I can't do COPPERCON the following weekend without a scooter -- and frankly,
I can drive there only when my right ankle can do brake-duty.  Right now, no
way.  So I need to go to "provisional" at Copper-con -- and I can do it if
my right ankle doesn't take additional damage (a possibility) traveling.

Anyway, a whole raft of brand new problems need solving and I'll need a
whole LOT of help at this con if I can get the handicapped access folks to
get me a scooter (and learn to drive the thing!).  (I will as soon as I
finish this missive.)

OK, story of what happened.  I was out for my morning walk, striding through
the park when my right foot curled inwards.  The "save" step onto the left
went awry, and the left ankle bent outward.

The inward turn usually just sprains (may have a torn ligament there - time
will tell -- the doctor said they would put a cast on THAT ankle ordinarily,
it was that badly hurt, but in view of the major problem, they left it with
an ace bandage.)

It was the outward twist that broke the fibula bone -- nice clean break.
Actually, I was very VERY lucky!  I fell onto soft, uncut grass so deep it
was like hitting an exercise matt -- a couple inches the other way and I'd
have hit pavement and had gravel embedded in my bleeding skin.

So I lay there hurting and stunned for several minutes -- nobody came by.  I
managed somehow to get to my feet without screaming out loud, and hobbled an
inch at a time home -- about 3/4 mile taking the short way home, instead of
completing my walk.  It hurt more with each step (waddle) and I knew I was
in big trouble.

That was at 6:15AM -- I got home well after 6:30 and Shlomo was aghast.  I
sat down at the kitchen table, propped both feet up and he put ice on both
and served me breakfast while trying to call the doctor (too early).  And he
found my father's cane.

At 8AM we got an appointment with our family doctor (specializes in bones)
and they have a neat computerized practice -- they took X-rays right there
(onto disk) and my doctor declared the left one broken.  They don't have a
soft-tissue analyzer there (MRI or ultrasound).

So my doctor sent me to an ankle-foot doctor.  We went home and waited, and
eventually my doctor's office called with a 1PM appointment with the
specialist.

Salomon had to drive me again -- this was not easy for him, to a strange
place.

The soft tissue damage will heal by my staying OFF both feet entirely.
(theoretically) So the orthopedist didn't think MRI was needed even though
there may be some tearing.

So here I am desperately trying to figure how I can make it to WorldCon and
do all the stuff I have to do.

You all know that the twisting fall stretched and wrecked all the rest of my
body and I haven't seen my chiropractor yet.  Tomorrow the major damage may
begin to emerge.  My husband had to change his eye appointment to tomorrow
in order to help me with all this.

The rental company is supposed to deliver the wheelchair -- no way could my
husband fold and lift it into the back of a car.  Those days are long behind
us.

Please forward this to anyone you think needs to adjust plans based on this
information.  I know I haven't thought of everyone.

I have to go find handicapped services email at WorldCon and see what is
possible.

Live Long and Prosper,
Jacqueline Lichtenberg
http://www.simegen.com/jl/
Creator of the Sime~Gen Universe
where a mutation makes the evolutionary
division into male and female
pale by comparison.