Sometimes, a setback like this is best viewed with a sense of humor. In case you missed it, I took a tumble down some stairs that resulted in one broken ankle and one sprained one.
My minor issues are nothing compared to the hurdles some people scale every day, so I’m going to try to observe and learn all I can during my little respite. It’s only been nine days, but I have a few observations already.
1) You may as well leave your humility at the Orthopedic Clinic. You’ll need help getting through doors, getting into a car, or getting into the shower. Your spouse, friend or parent (maybe all three if they take turns) will be your personal “go-getter” and there is no way around it. As soon as you get propped up on the couch, you will find that whatever you need is in a different room, on a different floor, or still in the car.
2) Everything takes longer – much longer – than normal. Add 30 minutes on to your morning routine, longer if you have to negotiate stairs or deal with pets. If you are a multi-tasker, your life will be shattered. Making coffee is suddenly a complicated process - resign yourself to drinking it while sitting right in front of the coffee maker. Crutches don’t come with cup holders. Do you need to go to the potty? LEAVE RIGHT NOW. Choosing something to wear is a bit easier when your wardrobe is suddenly reduced to items that fit over the cast (in my case, three sundresses and two pair of yoga capri pants), but getting those items in the laundry is yet another task my poor overworked husband has to do.
3) You will be amazed how many times a day you hit your foot, toe or leg. I’m not even counting stubbing your toe, or kicking a chair leg. Dragging your foot on the carpet or accidentally kicking a pillow will still send shooting pains up your leg. The weight of the duvet will make your toes throb in the middle of the night, and then those same toes will freeze when you kick off the covers.
4) Keep a note pad handy. I’ve discovered six redecorating and cleaning tasks in my living room alone (I have some free time to spend staring at walls). You might want to keep a blog to record some thoughts because you’ll probably never have this much quality “alone” time again.
5) Four to six weeks is a daunting amount of home-bound down time to someone who is usually busy “doing”. I’m worried about my brain melting and my backside spreading. I’ve always hated daytime TV, but I’ve suddenly started to care about Hoda and Kathie Lee. I talk back to the newscasters, particularly the weatherman. And just how many episodes are there of “Say Yes To The Dress? I now have online classes scheduled and books to read, but Netflix is quickly becoming an obsession. On the upside, did you know there was a YouTube channel to help you exercise while wearing a cast?
My minor issues are nothing compared to the hurdles some people scale every day, so I’m going to try to observe and learn all I can during my little respite. It’s only been nine days, but I have a few observations already.
1) You may as well leave your humility at the Orthopedic Clinic. You’ll need help getting through doors, getting into a car, or getting into the shower. Your spouse, friend or parent (maybe all three if they take turns) will be your personal “go-getter” and there is no way around it. As soon as you get propped up on the couch, you will find that whatever you need is in a different room, on a different floor, or still in the car.
2) Everything takes longer – much longer – than normal. Add 30 minutes on to your morning routine, longer if you have to negotiate stairs or deal with pets. If you are a multi-tasker, your life will be shattered. Making coffee is suddenly a complicated process - resign yourself to drinking it while sitting right in front of the coffee maker. Crutches don’t come with cup holders. Do you need to go to the potty? LEAVE RIGHT NOW. Choosing something to wear is a bit easier when your wardrobe is suddenly reduced to items that fit over the cast (in my case, three sundresses and two pair of yoga capri pants), but getting those items in the laundry is yet another task my poor overworked husband has to do.
3) You will be amazed how many times a day you hit your foot, toe or leg. I’m not even counting stubbing your toe, or kicking a chair leg. Dragging your foot on the carpet or accidentally kicking a pillow will still send shooting pains up your leg. The weight of the duvet will make your toes throb in the middle of the night, and then those same toes will freeze when you kick off the covers.
4) Keep a note pad handy. I’ve discovered six redecorating and cleaning tasks in my living room alone (I have some free time to spend staring at walls). You might want to keep a blog to record some thoughts because you’ll probably never have this much quality “alone” time again.
5) Four to six weeks is a daunting amount of home-bound down time to someone who is usually busy “doing”. I’m worried about my brain melting and my backside spreading. I’ve always hated daytime TV, but I’ve suddenly started to care about Hoda and Kathie Lee. I talk back to the newscasters, particularly the weatherman. And just how many episodes are there of “Say Yes To The Dress? I now have online classes scheduled and books to read, but Netflix is quickly becoming an obsession. On the upside, did you know there was a YouTube channel to help you exercise while wearing a cast?
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