This is probably not great news but I kinda think it is!
About 10 years ago, some will remember this story. Vince wasn’t using his Cpap yet and he was snoring horribly. One night, I got up and went to one of the other bedrooms. In one room, we had an antique, very high bed and I liked that mattress better than the other one so I went to that bed. When I wake up in the mornings, I hop out of bed, full speed, and get started. I forgot that (1) the bed was really high and (2) it had wide wooden rails. When I swung my foot over the bed at 90 mph, I hit that wooden rail, instead of the floor, and it hurt like heck. Within a few minutes, the side of my right foot was swollen and turning blue. We had a garden and the green beans needed to be picked. I grabbed my rain boots because they were bigger than my garden boots and I figured I could slip them on easier over my swollen foot. I shook out my boots and put them on. The boots had a soft lining so the black widow spider that was in there was able to hang on and stay in the boot.
I hobbled out to the garden and started picking beans but something kept stinging my toe. I thought it was a piece of a straw or something but finally took the boot off and there it was . . the black widow spider. I had always thought their sting was deadly so I hurried back to the house. Somehow, I managed to save the spider and take it to the ER. Off to the ER we went. They were hardly concerned about the spider bite but were more concerned about the swollen, bruised foot.
It ended up it was a very tiny fracture. It was the weekend so they wrapped it, told me to stay off it and see my doctor and probably an orthopedic doctor the next week. By Monday or Tuesday, the swelling had gone down some, my doctor told me to keep it wrapped stay off it and let’s see how it was doing in two weeks. That was probably a mistake, and though it didn’t require further medical intervention, I’ve had trouble with it since then.
With all the canning I’ve been doing on the concrete downstairs garage floor, the foot has been getting worse. This morning, just before lunch, I kinda stepped wrong going up the stairs and ouch . . it was almost immediately swollen again and very sore to the touch so we went to the doctor. I like our new doctor! He feels like it’s a “stress fracture” and said a regular x-ray would likely not show it but an MRI would. I asked . . if it is a stress fracture, what would we do about it? He said “stay completely off it for 3 – 4 weeks, use compression and ice and then wear a boot for a few weeks.” He also said that even if it isn’t a stress fracture, it’s inflamed and I need to stay off it 3 – 4 weeks so I said “How about I stay off it for 3 – 4 weeks, use ice and then see how it’s doing rather than pay for an MRI now?” The treatment sounds about the same whether I got the MRI or not . . at least initially. He agreed but said STAY OFF IT! He acted like he had a remote in his hand and said “Sit with the foot elevated, with ice and watch Netflix!” His nurse knows I can and do all the things I do so he admonished me . . no canning, no cooking, no gardening. I will have to continue to take Oscar out and I will water what’s left in the garden. I will put all the canning on hold.
I’m sure I’ll do some cooking but I’ll definitely be staying off my foot much more than I have been and that means more cross stitching time.
We stopped and ate Thai food on the way home, which I always love. I had already cooked the BBQ chicken that was supposed to be for yesterday, and then today and now we’ll have that tomorrow. Chad, Nicole and Addie are coming here to spend the night. We had planned to grill burgers but I called to tell them that we’ll pick up pizza instead and Chad told me he had forgotten it’s Nicole’s cousin’s child’s birthday party so they won’t be here til around 5 so they’ll just eat before they get here.
Here’s a time when having food in jars will be a huge blessing. We have plenty to heat and eat.
The best news . . I can’t go to town with Vince because I can’t walk! How’s that for making lemonade out of lemons? 🙂
Donna in KS says
STAY OFF THAT FOOT!!! The only other thought I have is that you are too funny! Enjoy the lemonade!!!
Donnalyn says
So sorry you have hurt your foot, but it sounds like you are going to be making the best of a bad situation. That Thai food looks scrumptious!! Happy stitching and a speedy recovery.
Donna N says
What about a scooter so when you have to be up you’ll still be off your foot? AT least downstairs
judy.blog@gmail.com says
The main thing I HAVE to be up for is taking Oscar out and going up and down stairs (laundry, doorbell, cooking meals, eating meals, sleeping) and I don’t think a scooter would work so great with Oscar’s trips outside or the stairs. I really think if I just stay off it a lot, that will help. I’ve been on my feet so much lately . . we’ll see.
Twyla says
The image of Judy on a scooter going 90mph around the house and a trip down the stairs made me laugh.
Nelle Coursey says
I think this is great news for you! No “honey do” jobs for you! Don’t even let him suggest you get one of those walkers where you put your knee on the thing and use the other leg! NOPE! The leg needs to be elevated. Even if you are in your recliner, you need to put pillows under your legs. This is so you don’t get blood clots! Believe me I know about those! You do not want them! So be very careful. do as your doctor says, and make sure Vince remembers you cannot walk for 4 weeks! Or 5, depending on what you want to finish. LOL
judy.blog@gmail.com says
Right, and that wouldn’t help me with taking Oscar out on our hilly, rocky yard, and wouldn’t help me with going up and down stairs. Heck, I may need to stay off this foot til Christmas now that you mention finishing things. 🙂
Ana says
Hi Judy. Best wishes for recovering from Spain. It’s just a coincidence but I’m on medical leave just as you for the same reason a broken fibula. So as it is just a matter of patience I ‘m just taking this period as a mini holidays for stitching. I wish I would have a full pantry like you. Jaja. Keep well and take care.
Dot says
Yes, stay off of it! Can’t Vince take Oscar out? I remember a time when my husband had a little cracked bone in his foot, and was told to stay off of it. He didn’t, and when he went back, the crack was wider. The doctor said, “If you don’t stay off of it, I’ll put you in a cast for eight weeks!” That got his attention…
Sheryl says
…Ouch! I know it will be so hard for you to stay off your foot but please take care of yourself. It could get worse if it doesn’t get enough rest.
Joyce says
At least you are making lemonade! LOL Take the time you need to heal. My Mom broke her ankle once, and within a couple of months of getting the cast off had a stress fracture in the same ankle. She spent months in a cast. You certainly don’t want that!
judy.blog@gmail.com says
No. I don’t want that! I figure that if I’m off the foot ALMOST all day, that’s about as good as I’m going to be able to do.
Cindy F says
Oh no! Hope you heal quicker than anticipated and you’re able to stay off your foot!! I know it’s easier said than done. Crazy how some things we’ve been doing for years suddenly become issues. Foot issues, shoulder issues, etc etc etc! My father used to tell me I had no idea what it was like to get older and he was right! I thought I was officially “old” when I turned 55 and started getting AARP invites but now that I’m less than 6 months from turning 65 I’m getting calls and letters regarding Medicare! I guess that really makes me “old” now! lol…Take care!
judy.blog@gmail.com says
You’re so right. I have always gotten out of bed and started my day at 90 miles per hour from the minute I woke up. These days, things are a bit different. Not knowing I was going to have foot issues, I ordered 50 more pounds of potatoes that will be here Friday and those are going to have to be canned. I’ll be able to sit with my foot propped up to peel and quarter them, which is what takes the longest, I’ll probably put them all in jars upstairs where I have hot water at the faucet, then get Vince to bring them down to can. Last time I canned 50 pounds, I did it all in one day. I’ll probably do 25 pounds one day, then wait a couple of days to do the other 25 pounds. Right now I need to chop bell peppers to freeze dry. They aren’t going to wait on my foot to heal and once they’re gone . . they’re gone. I can wash them all and sit to cut them but it still isn’t doing exactly what the doctor told me to do.
Cindy F says
Hope you’re able to get done what you need to get done with lots of rest in between!