Crutches

I thought after calling this blog 'Me and my crutches' I should actually include a picture of the infamous crutches. So here they are. I'm sure you have all seen them before so nothing exciting there.

They are my 'frenemy'.

Friend and Enemy.

I can't do anything without them, but I curse the day I ever needed them!

I must admit, I am getting better at walking with them, although I do find they are fantastic for finding random objects on the ground, usually I discover the item as my crutch is starting to slip out from under me! (favourites are toy cars, my little ponies and books......)they should also come with a non slip attachment for wet surfaces, there is some major slippage on the tiniest amount of water!!

My next review by my surgeon is coming up on Monday. I'm hopeful that he will tell me that I can start weight bearing, which means my next phase of recovery can begin, but I also feel apprehensive about it, just hoping that putting weight on my foot won't bring on pain in my foot again, its been quite good lately in that regard.

I just need to keep positive about it all, and hope for the best!

My latest form of entertainment

This is my new toy.
It arrived today after a 5 week wait. I'm very excited!!

I know this has nothing to do with my crutches or foot, but I had to share! At least it is something new for me to do while I am mostly immobile and unable to get out to get new books etc.

I have had a bit of a play, and I am still in awe that in 30 seconds I can have a brand new book in my hands!! Woot!!

My new boot

So this is my new boot. (Photo taken from my perspective!)
Much more comfortable than my old daggy looking backslab, and much more fashionable if I do say so myself!!(come on, I can't wear shoes, this is as good as it gets for me at the moment!!) Even comes with its own little pump to inflate little bags around my heel to make it fit more securely.

So as it stands, I have 3 more weeks(ish) of no weight bearing, then I go back and see Dr Gooi for a review, if he gives me the all clear (fingers crossed) I can start weight bearing gradually after that. It still feels like forever away, but 3 weeks sounds better than 6 weeks. We also have to discuss when the best time will be to have my screws taken out, at this stage it will be after bubs has arrived. Not really looking forward to 3 surgeries in 6 months!!

I also had my Obstetric appointment today, bubs is looking healthy, performing some interesting calesthenics on the ultrasound (they are so flexible in there!!) and I had the sex confirmed for me, although I'm not allowed to tell a soul as my husband doesn't want to know!! At least I can start buying some new outfits for him/her.

So thats me up to date.

Pickup stick

So this is my pickup stick. It looks like it could do some damage, but it really is quite useful!
I am able to put on loads of washing using this, as well as grab other things that are just out of my reach. I can't lean over too far or else I lose balance so this has been perfect. (I have even managed to nab one of my kids by the shirt as they were running away from me while I was trying to tell them off!! LOL)

My kids love it too, I use it as a bribe to get them to pick up all of their toys, they have become really quite good at it. (Although if I showed you a picture of my loungeroom floor right now, I'm not so sure you would believe me!!!)

This is at least one thing that has been easing a bit of my frustration.

Things I have learnt walking on crutches

1. Walking on crutches is hard. Really hard. My arms hurt, my hands hurt, my abs hurt, my right leg hurts and I get tired just thinking about having to move around on them. It is a real cardio workout at times.

2. They interfere with so many other facets of life. Going to the toilet, having a shower (try showering on one leg with the other in a plastic bag!), getting up from a chair etc.

3. So many things that don't normally challenge my mobility, are challenged and are dangerous for people on crutches. eg Toys on the floor, random clothing on the floor (equivelent to someone slipping on a banana peel!) water on the floor, random pieces of furniture that get in the way.

4. It is nearly impossible to carry anything else while you are walking with crutches. (eg food and drinks etc)

5. I have had to swallow my pride on many occasions and ask for help for what are normally menial tasks. Luckily my husband and family have come to the rescue and have been a wonderful support so far)

6. I am becoming surprisingly inventive with ways to move things around the house and carry things (those reusable shopping bags have become invaluable!) There is a real market out there for assistance aids for those that are on crutches I am sure of it!!

7. Stairs now scare the crap out of me!

8. I now know what it is like to get those pitying looks from strangers in public. They also give me a much wider berth when they see me coming on my crutches. Strangers are also a bit more polite and tolerant when they see my crutches.

9. It is impossible to pick my kids up while I am standing, or to get my son out of his cot, or to sit with my daughter while she goes to sleep because her bed is too low and I can't get up again.

10. The main thing I have learnt so far.....I will never ever take for granted being able to walk normally again.

My Leg in a backslab

So this is my foot post surgery, with pink antiseptic and all!

I have this backslab on until the 11th January, then I either get a full cast or a moon boot put on. Lucky me! Still no weight bearing for at least another 4ish weeks though.

What happened?

So, here I am currently 21 weeks pregnant with a fractured foot.

It all started with an innocent activity on the 22nd December - wrapping the kids christmas presents!

I was sitting on the floor happily wrapping presents, when I heard a stirring from my daughter. Not wanting to be caught wrapping up the presents, I jumped up, tripped over the present, and on the way down hit my foot rather hard on the leg of my dressing table. OUCH.

Denying what I thought had happened, I left it until the following morning to get a medical opinion on my foot.....especially as I wasn't able to put any weight on my foot whatsoever.

Off to hospital we went. A couple of xrays later, they initially thought it was a sprain to my foot, until the radiologist called and wanted an oblique view of my foot done as he suspected a fracture and dislocation of my 2nd tarsometatarsal joint, with a small fracture of my Cuneiform.

After that xray, it was time for an Orthopaedic review. Thats when I knew I wouldn't be going home any time soon!

They came down and confirmed that I had a Lisfranc fracture in my left foot. Not a good fracture to have apparently.......Awesome.

After that diagnosis, it was decided that I had to have my foot put in a backslab, and I fast from midnight for theatre the next day to have at least 2 screws put in my foot.

It was then I was informed I would be in a cast (non weight bearing) for 6 weeks, then in a weight bearing boot for another 6 weeks. Not what a pregnant woman with 2 kids under 4 wants to hear!!!

I then got admitted to hospital, and had to make some mad phone calls to people trying to sort out my life.

My main concern now was getting out of hospital before christmas and sorting out someone to look after the kids!

Luckily, my surgery was all uneventful, pain wasn't too bad post op, and I was able to be discharged home on christmas eve.

Thats when the fun really began!