I'm in a week at this point. I'm figuring some stuff out - and struggling with other shit.
I'd say I'm about 93% compliant with being weight bearing (is that supposed to be one word?). Stairs are my biggest problem. Specifically the ones in our house. Most others are fairly easy to navigate. I sit on a built in bench in the shower, so that helps. But you may or may not be surprised to find that door and halls are not wide enough; doors are difficult to open, bathrooms that are not ADA compliant. All these things we never quite notice when we don't have to.
Oh, water + smooth concrete floors = crutches slipping on floor and out from under you. The water came from the rain, so now I know to wipe my crutch pads.
Amazingly - well, probably not - the four people (all late 20s / early 30s) standing around the gym desk when this happened, not one acknowledged or asked if I was ok. I didn't fall, but still the crutch did.
The irony is, I want to be self sufficient. But like the guy (my age) on the way out, asked if he could hold the door for me, I thanked him but told him I had it. I guess it's just the asking or acknowledging.
On the way to the gym, I got a text from our neighbor saying she saw me on crutches and if I was ok. I mean, that was way nice. We like our neighbors, but this particular set we don't know-know them. But she offered anything I might need, which was really nice, even if it was just an empty gesture.
Oh - shirts matter. Those rubber/plastic crutch which you place under your arm? I'm finding some shirts catch badly, which makes the crutch go askew, making me go askew. As much as I like my running shirts, some of them are definitely out.
It took a while, but I got someone to take my place on the relay team for the Akron Marathon this Saturday. At this point, I didn't even ask to be reimbursed, I just didn't want the team suffering.
Last Saturday I joined the Old Man's Running Group at the bakery. I obvi couldn't run. And while I walked the week before, that was prior to knowing I should be on crutches. The reality is I cannot walk 4-5 miles on crutches. But I will still go for the social aspect. Runners understand and empathize with running injuries.
In theory I have 3-5 weeks left of this. I'm not holding my breath. It'd be nice, but we will see. I have my first ortho follow-up in less than a week, so hopefully I will know more then.
Song by: Walk the Moon
3 comments:
Hang in there Blobby
Accept the kindness of a door being held, and on down the road return the favor. Use the handicapped parking tag (if you don't have one ask) and later you will feel better about people who need them, using them.
I hope you get good news at the ortho appt.
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