Stupid broken leg. I’m bored, and feel sorry for myself too.

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

So other broken leg dopers, how long before it stops hurting?

But what really has me down is that doing anything at all is a struggle.

Like going to the bathroom.

This cast is nearly up to my hip so I can’t bend my leg. The distance between my toilet and the opposite wall is slightly less than an un-bent leg. Also, I’m using a walker to get around and so I put off doing anything just as long as I can.

Ya know how when ya gotta go, you really gotta go? Well, I have to slowly drag my 40+ body across the room with my walker: Balance on good leg, lift walker, move walker forward 12 inches, grip handlebars, lift aging body, hop good leg forward. Repeat.

Then I reach the bathroom. I can get into the bathroom with the walker, but turning around is a different matter. I look like a jewelry box ballerina who’s battery has worn out.

So I finally have myself aimed in the right direction, but now I need to pull my blasted pants down! Simple thing? Noooooooo, not anymore:
Balance on good leg, grip walker with one hand, push pants down three inches on one side, reverse hand grip, push pants down three inches on other side. Repeat.

Then I slowly begin to lower myself onto the toilet:
Balance on good leg, grip walker, slowly bend good leg while extending broken leg forward, hope that rear-end is still properly aligned.

So then I finally manage to sit. But OH NO! I am on the very front edge of the potty! Certain parts of me are, well…. Er, um, over the edge. I can’t simply push back because when I do my leg goes boinking out like a 17-year-old guy’s you know what - and hit’s the opposite wall. So now, I must pivot my seated self to the right or left to make room for this blasted cast:
Push up on toilet seat with both hands, inch to the left. Pick up broken leg, move to left one inch. Repeat.

So, after all that I am finally able to relieve myself. And let me tell you, when you put this sort of thing off it is a BIG relief. And during that golden moment you discover…. You have no toilet paper.

Dang I don’t like this one little bit! Thanks for listening.

2

Ah. Poor baby.

Get a big bucket. We’ll understand.

3

I have been recovering from an operation since July 10th. I spent many many days bored and lonely. I had a good support group but they couldn’t do it all. My thoughts go out to you.

4

Oh, I know someone you might like to talk to.

A couple of weeks ago, he was doing his regular Friday Night at the local pub routine when he needed to go to the dunny. Now this is a pub he has been to every week for about the last hundred years, so the route to the loo was not exactly unfamiliar.

But he fell on his way (not pissed, drinks only Lights this bloke) and busted his leg. Badly. Plaster from foot to groin. Not a Happy Camper.

Of course, the rest of us think it was bloody hilarious. :smiley:

5

Thanks for your replies.

I did this about two weeks ago, and wow, I am so tired of it already I think I’m gonna go batty.

I have thought about the big bucket option. But then I have to empty it somehow. I can just see me, my walker, and my big bucket-o-pee all falling on the floor at once.

I must say kambuckta, breaking your leg on the way to the biffy really is hilarious. Poor guy, he’ll never live it down.

6

I know how you feel.
On Tuesday I broke my ankle playing basketball.

Actually the orthopede says the sprain (high ankle sprain) is probably going to longer to heal than the break, which is minor.

But…4 weeks with no physical activity on it…and probably 6 before I can run or play basketball or surf(and the waves are great this week from all the tropical storms).

I managed to convince him not to cast it, and I think I can manage to at least go work out (upper body only, obviously)…

but this just sucks…it’s not easy to drive…and if I go somewhere, I can’t take any pain medicine, so I’m miserable…and I already have cabin fever.

I’m going to get VERY VERY good at Hot Shots Golf though.

I’m also debating the potential damage I could do by going clubbing next weekend(like getting kicked on accident) vs. being able to play up the sympathy card :slight_smile:

7

I’m astonished that you could be so stupid as to even think of going clubbing with a broken/sprained ankle and even more astonished that you refused to get it put in a cast. You seem to be setting yourself up for some permanent damage to your ankle, which you will have to live with, quite painfully I might add, for the rest of your life.

But, if that’s your decision, go ahead, just don’t come posting any threads about how much pain you’re in and expect much sympathy.

8

Wow. My SO broke his elbow 2 months ago, and then a week later they realised he also had a severe sprain and dislocation of his wrist, which required surgery to fix. His arm was in a cast from wrist to half up the upper arm for 2 whole months (June 27 to August 28th). It kind of ruined his summer a little bit in terms of activities, and he’s going to need a LOT of physiotherapy, but his wrist will be 90-95% back to normal, if not 100% eventually.

On the other hand, he met a woman with a similar injury, but who didn’t get it put into a cast/operated on soon enough (due to a large range of circumstances) and the best she can hope for is about 50-60% recovery.

Going clubbing on a sprained and broken leg is insane! Heck, I walked two days on a 1st degree sprain (thinking it was merely a slight twisted ankle) and I did enough damage to it just walking from class-to-class at school that it STILL hurts me sometimes, one year later!

See another doctor, get that foot into a cast, and be bloody grateful it isn’t worse! Good waves or not, good clubs or not - let it heal properly now, rather than suffer for it later!

9

The break is very very minor, like I said the sprain is the worse deal.

It IS in a temporary cast/splint contraption that completely immobilizes it, but lets me take it off put in on ice or to shower, etc.

10

get some depends…just pee and crap without getting up

11

Well, ok Brad. When will you be coming by to change me?:smiley:

12

Just stay the hell away from that window, pervert. Looking out there ain’t gonna make Grace Kelly come back.

13

Ooooh, I feel for you. I broke my arm last year, and as inconvenient as it was to have my writing arm immobilized, I kept thinking, “well, at least it’s not my leg, that would be even worse.” Seems I was right . . .

14

Oh, but Eve that must have been rather a hardship when you wanted to type up a post for the SDMB!

And JaxBeachBoy you take care of that ankle, sounds like you’re a very active person. You’ll want it to heal properly. And, a sprain can be worse than a break! Bones heal with bone, tendons heal with scar tissue.

Is anyone else totally confused by Mr. Moto’s post?

15

Rear Window, dear—you must watch it while still in your cast.

Actually, I could still type with my broken wing: my fingers poked out through the end of the cast and wiggled freely.

16

I had knee surgery Friday, indecisive1, and I feel for you. At least I’m only bandaged, not in a cast, but it’s still a pain trying to land accurately on the throne. And this with a handrail on the edge of my bathtub that I installed last year after foot surgery – the more things you can hang onto that won’t break when you lean on them the better, is my current bathroom philosophy.

17

I had knee surgery a few years ago, indecisive1, and my leg was immobilized for a couple of weeks.

I had the same problems with the bathroom, except that I was on crutches, instead of using a walker.

I feel your pain.

Get better soon!

18

I had a cast on from my toes to my hip when I was 14 - and in the summer no less!

All of my friends running around playing ball and I was stuck more or less on the sidelines the whole damn summer.

I’m really sorry - I know it’s not fun!

19

Sheesh, I started a thread over at IMHO a few weeks ago about how to allieve my cabin fever. I’ve been recuperating from a laceration in my right Achilles tendon. When I went to the doctor’s last week, she referred me to an orthopedist because she thinks I might’ve pulled the stitches from trying to walk/hop around (I’m in one of those oh-so-jazzy orthopedic shoes :rolleyes:)

Bottom line: I’ve already been out from work for 3 weeks. If I have pulled the stitches, I’m looking at surgery and minimum 4-6 weeks of more recuperation.

And yes, I still have trouble in the rest room! Manuevering with the crutches was one thing (I won’t go into details), but trying to balance yourself on one foot while praying that you’re not going to tip over before removing your pants…

20

Thanks all! It’s really great to get sympathy without having to beg!

Mama Tiger and Kiz, I will send good vibes in your direction for a fast recovery.

Eve, thanks for the info. I shall put it on my movies to see list. The name sounds familiar, but i am hopelessly out of touch with performing arts type stuff!