One Week Later...

It's been a week since I pulled a totally Klutz move and fell while out walking for exercise.
My leg is still Technicolor, and now it aches.  Not sure if pain is just because earlier it was kinda numb, or if I did too much walking/standing before I took care of myself.
Probably a combination.

Hoping now that I haven't done permanent damage,and that I won't be laid up for too long.


Shortly after I wrote the first paragraph, I got a call back from the triage nurse with TriCare.  I had emailed the clinic through our health info system, and sent them a picture of my leg that morning.

This is how the leg looked on Friday morning, July 17th.

After asking me a long list of questions, the nurse suggested I go to the ER again and have the doctors look at my leg, and perhaps do an ultrasound to make sure there were no clots in the blood vessels themselves. 
This was done, and the good news is, no dangerous blood clots in evidence.  The bad news?  I have a LARGE hematoma (basically, a blood blister) in the middle of my right thigh, where I believe I fell on my left foot when I landed after the right foot slipped completely forward out from under me.  I had also partially landed on my left knee, and both hands,and also the corner of my sunglasses, (which cut the skin above my right eye), but the bulk of the impact was on the back of my right thigh.  Right over the hamstring muscle. 
When I went to the ER the first time, on Friday the 10th, the day I fell, the leg wasn't even red or swollen.  It hurt like anything, and felt kinda awkward, but no clue that it would do THIS. 
Since the doc told me I could go to work Saturday if I felt like it, I went.  Bad call.  I was up and around too much, and the leg is now making me pay for that, and other days when I really should have been basically immobile.  SO, until at least Tuesday, I am being basically immobile.  Foot elevated any time I am resting, and taking 800mg of Ibuprofen 3 times a day for the next 10 days at least.   I also have to apply heat to the area three times a day.  No more ice.  Need to get the hematoma to reabsorb, and ice slows down the circulation too much. 

I have two new pair of walking shoes, and even when I go out for about 10 minutes to get sunlight on the bruised area (which is supposed to help healing), I wear the new shoes.  They make my leg feel SO much more stable, and walking is practically painless.  I cannot resume regular activities until the pain is completely gone, and the swelling has subsided some more.  I will have to get medical advice on that, and will need physical therapy before I can safely begin my walking regimen again. 

Resting the New Shoes

In other news, our new siding is done, and it looks TERRIFIC!!

The painters did a fabulous job, and our house looks better than ever on the outside.  See:

Garage, and contractor sign.

Gable end and split by my office.

We are extremely pleased.  House looks like new again.

That's about all the excitement I have time to write about now.  My leg needs to go back to resting position.

Gravity, and Other Obstacles

Yes, gravity still works.  Entirely too well.  Just ask the skin between my right eyebrow and my right eye, and the hamstring muscle on my right leg.  Seems the shoes I wore for my exercise walk Friday night were the wrong shoes to wear.  Not enough traction on the soles.  (Strangely enough, I changed them because my "good" shoes are now completely worn out.  Heel counters have rubbed through inside, can cause blisters, soles almost worn through in spots.)

I was walking along, had slowed down a little, because I had to go out into the street to avoid a very muddy patch on the sidewalk and to get ready to cross the street, and my right heel just slipped right out from under me.  I guess I tried to soften the landing instinctively, but it happened VERY fast.  I broke the screen on my phone, too.  The scariest injury was a cut to the soft tissue between my right eyebrow and the eye.  It was where my sunglasses contacted the curb, because I couldn't stop the fall fast enough.  The right hamstring on my thigh area is VERY bruised, probably because it landed on my left foot, which was bent under me, my left knee having taken some weight, as well.  Nothing on the left side hurts, though.  The heel of my left hand and the palm have some small bruises, but nothing painful.  I think the only reason I hit my face was because I didn't have enough time for the right hand (holding my phone because NO POCKETS) to fully reach for the curb.  I instinctively tried to get to the grass by the curb to soften the landing for hands, etc. Didn't make it.  (Shoulda tossed the phone toward the grass.  It would've been fine.)

So, now, on top of a budget that is stretched tight because we have new siding on the house, I had to shell out $30 co-pay at the ER (superglued the eyebrow.)  and $99 deductible for new phone.  At least we also got the phone bill reduced while we were at the Verizon store to find out how to get a claim submitted. That'll help the budget!  Got a line on a further possible discount, as well.  Love my Verizon store peeps!

The leg is a bit less sore every day.  It, and my eye, are more colorful every day.  I have to go and ice the bruises now.  This is SO much fun. 

bruise on the right thigh.

eye after glue

Left Knee

I have also gained weight because I can't exercise, though I don't see how, since I haven't eaten a whole lot, either...

Up about 3 lbs since Thursday.  Grrrrr.
Probably water.  Trying to stay hydrated so bruising will heal more efficiently.

So, yes, gravity works, and somehow, budget obstacles get worked out," and all will be well, and all will be well, and all manner of things will be well..."

Also, I have the joy of knowing that a lot of people care about me!  Neighbors stopped to check on me before Matt came to pick me up.  (Right leg felt like it was made of foam rubber right after the fall, so I called Matt to come get me.)  All my coworkers and friends have sent well wishes, and well, I just know that I am loved and cared for,  Always a major silver lining to any mishap. 
I am indeed blessed.