Top 5 Things To Do With A Fractured Fibula
Ever since I fractured my fibula (left lateral distal fibula displaced fracture, malleolus, to be specific) five days ago, I’ve been doing nothing but looking down at what’s beneath my feet—something I wasn’t doing as I walked briskly along with my dog, Sally, on Monday morning, unaware of the sidewalk’s dramatic six-inch drop until I took a step into thin air and was sprawled on the walk below, my palms smarting from the impact with rough concrete.
It didn’t take long to notice that my left ankle was smarting even worse. A visit to urgent care and the tiny cursor on my x-ray confirmed my fears.
There is a certain rhythm to treating a fracture like mine—one that may not require surgery (yay!), if weight is kept off it for two weeks, allowing nature to take its healing course throughout the next three months of recovery. The routine is simple, but consumes vast amounts of time and energy:
- Ice in DonJoy Iceman foot case
- Elevate
- Encase in Aircast boot
- Elevate
- Repeat
(Emphasis on Repeat.) Insert Advil as needed but not to exceed recommended daily limits. Permission to begin wine hour earlier than usual: granted by medical professionals, when exercising common sense about (not) mixing alcohol with meds.
Exercising common sense is the only activity I’m allowed the next few weeks, as I await the next round of x-rays to determine whether nature is doing its job. But nobody ever said I can’t exercise vicarious thrills during this enforced inactive phase, and I’ve developed a keen urge to do the very thing I can’t. Satisfying this urge comprises my Top 5 List of Things To Do With a Fractured Fibula:
1. I won’t dance, so don’t ask me.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CTR3d2Ly80?rel=0]
2. Maybe I can moonwalk, though.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iX0dkRhj7g?rel=0]
3. Maybe not. Roller skates look easier.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wf4c-LMJeeA?rel=0]
Ouch! Excuse me while I ice the break.
4. So you think you can dance?
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2AitTPI5U0?rel=0]
5. I can’t. Hoof it, that is. But I can type.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8E5qY-LSSI&w=640&h=360]
Repeat. Heal. Dance again. And until then, #amwriting. ♣
Inspiration from the Daily Post’s beneath-your-feet photo challenge. There’s more on the writing process, HERE. For some iPhoneography tips and tricks, click HERE.
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OMG Jann! So glad you are relatively OK altho I am sure this is not fun at all. I fell up some concrete steps recently – yes UP – and it hurt my knees so badly but I am fine. Nothing cracked. What the hell? We are still too young and spry for this action! Take care and behave yourself….
Thanks and back at you! Let’s try some of the dance moves in my post, shall we? 😀
how do you shower? Sleep? Cook?
Indeed!!
Best of luck in these trying times. I hope that you heal well (and swiftly). Ω
Thanks Allan, until then, I’m clicking up my heels and dancing in my dreams!
Ouch. Hope you heal quickly and the process isn’t too painful/boring/irritating. 🙂
Thanks Su, it’s a little of all of the above and it sure could be a lot worse, so I don’t even have to practice gratitude . . . I’m already grateful!! Besides, who needs 104-degree heat?
Hope you recover soon!
Many thanks.
i did a tib fib compound blowout once upon a time back in 2000 an well, have a titanium rod an screws still in it an walk with right leg ppointing towards right forever , can’t snow ski anymore lol.oh well…. take care…… 8_)
Yikes, that hurts my fib just to hear about it! You must set off all the airport alarms. Sorry to hear you cannot ski. Appreciate your commiserating with me. 😀
yep when i went to peru they strip searched me lol….many years as a ski instructor, retired now, can still snowboard though ifn i feel like it but cannot handle falling any more… so i was on crutches 20 outa 24 months back then…hope ya heal fast ! .take care ! Q
🙁 Prayers for a quick recovery, Jann!
janet
Thank you! I’m working on it ….
Oh no, ouch, that looks painful, inconvenient and not at all fun, Jan.
Wishing you a full and speedy recovery. 🙂
Take care and just dream of dancing, for now. 🙂
Thanks for your good wishes. Great excuse to binge every dance video on YouTube . . .
Perhaps add “drop kick bad guys” to your list, because that boot looks hardcore! (Hope you heal fast.)
Thank you Heather, looking for a YouTube clip of that right now!! Appreciate your good wishes. #AmWorkingOnIt
Ouch. And brr. For the ice. No tap dancing! Heal quickly.
Thanks! The ice is surprisingly restorative. Or it kills the pain. Whatever–it works. I’ll live to tap again…most likely the keyboard.
Oh no!……Get well soon…..I would love to see you and catch up when you recover.
Likewise! Thanks for your good wishes.
Well, ouch! At least you still have one foot with toenail polish! Heal quickly.
Appreciate hearing from you, Carol, and wasn’t I lucky that I tripped with a decent pedicure?
Wishing you a speedy recovery, Jan x
Thanks, Bianca, it’s always good to hear “speedy” and “recovery” in the same sentence!
Sometimes we’re forced to slow down I guess! Good luck with a fast recovery, Jann!
Didn’t think I was going that fast before, but you’re right, Colleen, I’ve got more time to wake up and smell the coffee these days. Thanks for visiting and for the good wishes!
Hope your ankle heals well Jan. I had my own accident, a head concussion where another cyclist collided into me. I was on disability leave this year and could not work in my job for a few months.
Maybe your artsy adventures and thoughts be even stronger.
Sorry to hear about your mishap, Jean! Concussions are no fun; had one while skiing several years ago, even with helmet on. Hope you’ve got your head on straight now—thanks for your sympathy.
Ouch, Jann. This is one occasion where clicking “Like” seems inappropriate. Rest assured it was your post and photos that I like. Hugs