Still Learning To Listen To That Voice In My Head!

[la szum]

How ya holding up, @TSJMajesty ?

 

[TSJMajesty]

Well, this really sucks. I can't do much of anything, needing to keep my leg elevated as much as possible.
Getting around is ok, since I have a knee scooter, but my toes are swollen (I would've thought my heel would get the swelling..., idk.)

Don't feel like playing guitar either. And it hasn't even been a week.
I see the ortho doc Friday morning.

Kinda hard playing guitar in a recliner with my leg up above my heart, because it puts too much neck weight on my hand (the guitar's neck), so that doesn't last long.

Sitting down is ok, but my foot doesn't want to be low for very long due to the swelling.

I can't keep the splint on for very many hours during the day because it hurts too damn much, and the pain meds don't do shit. So I'm scared that by not keeping it on, I'm extending the healing time.

 

[ᛗᛜᛜᚺDᛜᎶ Ꮤᛨᚳᚴ]

Well, this really sucks. I can't do much of anything, needing to keep my leg elevated as much as possible.
Getting around is ok, since I have a knee scooter, but my toes are swollen (I would've thought my heel would get the swelling..., idk.)

Don't feel like playing guitar either. And it hasn't even been a week.
I see the ortho doc Friday morning.

Kinda hard playing guitar in a recliner with my leg up above my heart, because it puts too much neck weight on my hand (the guitar's neck), so that doesn't last long.

Sitting down is ok, but my foot doesn't want to be low for very long due to the swelling.

I can't keep the splint on for very many hours during the day because it hurts too damn much, and the pain meds don't do shit. So I'm scared that by not keeping it on, I'm extending the healing time.

Damn, that sucks! Wishing you the best in getting through this quick!! Keep your spirit up higher than the foot ;~))

 

[State of Epicicity]

Well, this really sucks. I can't do much of anything, needing to keep my leg elevated as much as possible.
Getting around is ok, since I have a knee scooter, but my toes are swollen (I would've thought my heel would get the swelling..., idk.)

Don't feel like playing guitar either. And it hasn't even been a week.
I see the ortho doc Friday morning.

Kinda hard playing guitar in a recliner with my leg up above my heart, because it puts too much neck weight on my hand (the guitar's neck), so that doesn't last long.

Sitting down is ok, but my foot doesn't want to be low for very long due to the swelling.

I can't keep the splint on for very many hours during the day because it hurts too damn much, and the pain meds don't do shit. So I'm scared that by not keeping it on, I'm extending the healing time.

Man, that fucking sucks. I’m really sorry to hear all that. Pain is a really difficult thing to avoid mentally, so I wonder if you have other things that can just occupy your mind in an excited way just to avoid focusing on the pain as much as possible. Whether it’s reading, studying, movies, games, founding cults, whatever might just occupy your mind enough to distract yourself from the current suckage. I hope whatever the case that this part of the healing process will get better soon. We’re all rooting for you!

 

[TubeStack]

Ah man, sorry to hear that @TSJMajesty ! Hang in there, ugh that's not fun.

 

[Alex Kenivel]

Tommy Boy! That sucks!! No one around to help is a drag but no one around to hear you complain is probably a good thing, no?

 

[Warmart]

Stick it out a couple of days and you are going to be good, no, great even!

Easy for me to say.

 

[FuzzyAce]

Hang in there @TSJMajesty !

 

[TSJMajesty]

Today's episode: "Found My Charger, or, How I Lose Things When My Routines Change."

So I got out today and went down to the job site to meet with my boss, a couple subs, and the guy on our crew who will take over for me, to bring him up to speed. Along with my tools, I had left my phone charger there, so that was something I wanted to grab.

Flashback to 2am the night after I broke my heel, I suddenly realized I didn't have my charger, and figured I left it at the job in my haste to get to the ER.

So now my phone is almost dead, and at this point, I'm still not sure I can even make it out of my house by myself on crutches, without getting hurt further. (I have 4 steps on a front porch.)

So I'm freaking. I have no one to help me (live alone atm), and in a few minutes, no way to call any one. So it's either, send someone a text right now to tell them to check their email, so I have a way to communicate to someone to get me a charger, or brave it, and hobble out to my truck, go to a 24-hour convenience store, hobble in on crutches, and buy a charger.

And then I realized I can use my short USB cable to charge my phone from my laptop. Whew! Crisis averted.

So back to today: The meeting breaks up, I go to grab my charger, and Matt reminds me that I did indeed remember to take it with me. So I do another search of my truck, but it's not there. Shit. I go home and retrace my steps.

After I had left the ER, I hit McDonald's, I came in the house using crutches, so I couldn't carry anything...., oh wait! I think that's when I consolidated some things, so I probably put it in that bag from Mc Dees. Which is now in the trash. Great! So now I gotta go "dumpster-diving."

Rip open 2 trash bags..., nope. Not there. I know this incident changed all my routines (like where I ALWAYS leave my keys when I come home, etc.), so I'm even looking in the fridge, thinking it was in my hand when I put food in there, and I inadvertently dropped them in there. Nope.

I'm almost out of ideas when I look down under my desk where my power strip is, and there it is, plugged in. And that's when I remember I had put it there instead of where I usually charge it, so I could keep it close to me, since at this point I didn't yet have my knee scooter. And then I just forgot it was there.

Other than that, it was a good day. Still dealing with the swelling. Still no pain. Yippee!!

 

[CBHScott]

Aw, man, I just caught this thread. Continued healing mojo!

 

[State of Epicicity]

Today's episode: "Found My Charger, or, How I Lose Things When My Routines Change."

So I got out today and went down to the job site to meet with my boss, a couple subs, and the guy on our crew who will take over for me, to bring him up to speed. Along with my tools, I had left my phone charger there, so that was something I wanted to grab.

Flashback to 2am the night after I broke my heel, I suddenly realized I didn't have my charger, and figured I left it at the job in my haste to get to the ER.

So now my phone is almost dead, and at this point, I'm still not sure I can even make it out of my house by myself on crutches, without getting hurt further. (I have 4 steps on a front porch.)

So I'm freaking. I have no one to help me (live alone atm), and in a few minutes, no way to call any one. So it's either, send someone a text right now to tell them to check their email, so I have a way to communicate to someone to get me a charger, or brave it, and hobble out to my truck, go to a 24-hour convenience store, hobble in on crutches, and buy a charger.

And then I realized I can use my short USB cable to charge my phone from my laptop. Whew! Crisis averted.

So back to today: The meeting breaks up, I go to grab my charger, and Matt reminds me that I did indeed remember to take it with me. So I do another search of my truck, but it's not there. Shit. I go home and retrace my steps.

After I had left the ER, I hit McDonald's, I came in the house using crutches, so I couldn't carry anything...., oh wait! I think that's when I consolidated some things, so I probably put it in that bag from Mc Dees. Which is now in the trash. Great! So now I gotta go "dumpster-diving."

Rip open 2 trash bags..., nope. Not there. I know this incident changed all my routines (like where I ALWAYS leave my keys when I come home, etc.), so I'm even looking in the fridge, thinking it was in my hand when I put food in there, and I inadvertently dropped them in there. Nope.

I'm almost out of ideas when I look down under my desk where my power strip is, and there it is, plugged in. And that's when I remember I had put it there instead of where I usually charge it, so I could keep it close to me, since at this point I didn't yet have my knee scooter. And then I just forgot it was there.

Other than that, it was a good day. Still dealing with the swelling. Still no pain. Yippee!!

Brutal. I once looked for my keys all over our 500 square foot apartment. I was loosing my mind, because I knew for sure they were in the tiny space we lived in, but I just couldn't place them. After a while, I go to get a snack, and I found them sitting in a kitchen cabinet, where I had put them down for a second so I could grab more snacks.

Now I keep an AirTag on my keys.

 

[TSJMajesty]

Brutal. I once looked for my keys all over our 500 square foot apartment. I was loosing my mind, because I knew for sure they were in the tiny space we lived in, but I just couldn't place them. After a while, I go to get a snack, and I found them sitting in a kitchen cabinet, where I had put them down for a second so I could grab more snacks.

Now I keep an AirTag on my keys.

I have literally found stuff in the fridge a time or 2.

And keys left in the door.

And glasses on top of my head.

I even asked a carpenter I was working with once, while I was explaining something to him, "Let me see your pencil. Idk what I did with mine," as it was in my hand!

We get distracted...

 

[State of Epicicity]

I have literally found stuff in the fridge a time or 2.

And keys left in the door.

And glasses on top of my head.

I even asked a carpenter I was working with once, while I was explaining something to him, "Let me see your pencil. Idk what I did with mine," as it was in my hand!

We get distracted...

I think we might be two peas from the same pod in this regard.

 

[TSJMajesty]

Had my ortho visit this morning. Tokk a couple new X-rays.

Doc is concerned the bone from one of the 2 fractures is displaced enough to warrant surgery. But he and I disagree as to what's in the view.

He thinks the bone has shifted some since I was in the ER, but I think it just looks like it has moved, due to the X-ray taken at the hospital not having my foot in the exact same orientation. (I've never felt any sudden pain that might indicate that bone shifted. But Idk..., maybe if it has indeed moved, it could've done so a little bit at a time, and as such, not caused me any pain... )

So he had one of the sports specialists also look at the films, and then he called me to say they'll check it again next week.

It's basically displaced just enough that it could go either way- let it heal on its own, or just do the surgery.

I really think nothing has changed, but we'll see.


But, I did leave with a proper boot, as opposed to the splint he made for me at the ER. This keeps my entire foot compressed much better, so I feel like I can sit and play guitar for a bit, before I have to get it elevated again.

So that's good. Man I really hope I don't need the surgery. I just have other issues going on that surgery will really complicate.

 

[la szum]

Today's episode: "Found My Charger, or, How I Lose Things When My Routines Change."

So I got out today and went down to the job site to meet with my boss, a couple subs, and the guy on our crew who will take over for me, to bring him up to speed. Along with my tools, I had left my phone charger there, so that was something I wanted to grab.

Flashback to 2am the night after I broke my heel, I suddenly realized I didn't have my charger, and figured I left it at the job in my haste to get to the ER.

So now my phone is almost dead, and at this point, I'm still not sure I can even make it out of my house by myself on crutches, without getting hurt further. (I have 4 steps on a front porch.)

So I'm freaking. I have no one to help me (live alone atm), and in a few minutes, no way to call any one. So it's either, send someone a text right now to tell them to check their email, so I have a way to communicate to someone to get me a charger, or brave it, and hobble out to my truck, go to a 24-hour convenience store, hobble in on crutches, and buy a charger.

And then I realized I can use my short USB cable to charge my phone from my laptop. Whew! Crisis averted.

So back to today: The meeting breaks up, I go to grab my charger, and Matt reminds me that I did indeed remember to take it with me. So I do another search of my truck, but it's not there. Shit. I go home and retrace my steps.

After I had left the ER, I hit McDonald's, I came in the house using crutches, so I couldn't carry anything...., oh wait! I think that's when I consolidated some things, so I probably put it in that bag from Mc Dees. Which is now in the trash. Great! So now I gotta go "dumpster-diving."

Rip open 2 trash bags..., nope. Not there. I know this incident changed all my routines (like where I ALWAYS leave my keys when I come home, etc.), so I'm even looking in the fridge, thinking it was in my hand when I put food in there, and I inadvertently dropped them in there. Nope.

I'm almost out of ideas when I look down under my desk where my power strip is, and there it is, plugged in. And that's when I remember I had put it there instead of where I usually charge it, so I could keep it close to me, since at this point I didn't yet have my knee scooter. And then I just forgot it was there.

Other than that, it was a good day. Still dealing with the swelling. Still no pain. Yippee!!

Whoa!!! That's a LOT of stress and and energy spent for $5 that you didn't lose.

I hate when that happens.

Glad to hear you are getting around some.

 

[la szum]

I have literally found stuff in the fridge a time or 2.

And keys left in the door.

And glasses on top of my head.

I even asked a carpenter I was working with once, while I was explaining something to him, "Let me see your pencil. Idk what I did with mine," as it was in my hand!

We get distracted...

There's been scientific studies on this, and it was something
that was taught/discussed at the Motorcycle Safety Course
I took earlier this year. There's a blindspot directly in front of
our face.

 

[la szum]

Had my ortho visit this morning. Tokk a couple new X-rays.

Doc is concerned the bone from one of the 2 fractures is displaced enough to warrant surgery. But he and I disagree as to what's in the view.

He thinks the bone has shifted some since I was in the ER, but I think it just looks like it has moved, due to the X-ray taken at the hospital not having my foot in the exact same orientation. (I've never felt any sudden pain that might indicate that bone shifted. But Idk..., maybe if it has indeed moved, it could've done so a little bit at a time, and as such, not caused me any pain... )

So he had one of the sports specialists also look at the films, and then he called me to say they'll check it again next week.

It's basically displaced just enough that it could go either way- let it heal on its own, or just do the surgery.

I really think nothing has changed, but we'll see.


But, I did leave with a proper boot, as opposed to the splint he made for me at the ER. This keeps my entire foot compressed much better, so I feel like I can sit and play guitar for a bit, before I have to get it elevated again.

So that's good. Man I really hope I don't need the surgery. I just have other issues going on that surgery will really complicate.

Dang!

Hope it gets sorted out in the best possible way for you. I feel for ya. The
unknown sure can induce a lot of anxiety and distress.

 

[TSJMajesty]

Whoa!!! That's a LOT of stress and and energy spent for $5 that you didn't lose.

I hate when that happens.

Glad to hear you are getting around some.

Yeah, I'd have just gone and bought another one, but it meant going out late at night, when my right ankle was also still in pain, and also before I had gotten to the point of feeling comfortable navigating my front steps. I had more than a couple thoughts of falling down those steps, and having no way of contacting anyone. It has nothing to do with $5.

Then knowing it was somewhere in my house, I really didn't want to stop anywhere to buy a new one, again..., crutches.

 

[TSJMajesty]

Ok, rant time:

I mentioned earlier in this thread how I'm so disgusted with our health system, the main reason being how specialized everything has become, and the disconnect it causes within itself.

Here's 2 examples of that, just from today:

I meet with the doc, and after discussing things, he tells me they're going to get me a boot. Next person comes in, tells me, "Ok, you need to go to the desk right outside, and they'll give you the paperwork for the temp parking pass, and then you'll get set up with your next appt."

I ask, "What about the boot?"
"Oh, I didn't hear about that."

Not a huge deal, but what if it were a larger issue? Shit falling through the cracks, because everyone in that office has only their certain jobs to do, and everything seems to be communicated via computer-written notes. So when I hobble to the desk, the next person I'm handed off to isn't prepared to deal with the Work Comp billing for this boot, nor does she know how. So I'm standing there, waiting, with all my weight on 1 foot, and finally I said, "Look, this is very uncomfortable for me. I'm going back in the room until you're ready."

"No, don't do that. They're getting the next patients ready for that room. You can go wait in the lobby. And then she comes out with an Ipad and makes me sign a completely blank screen!"

And 2nd- The whole deal with the X-rays. They must've taken 8 different X-rays of my foot at the ER, plus a CT Scan, but I could clearly see in the X-ray they took today, my foot WAS NOT at the same angle. So there's yet another failure of this system, due to specialization, that now I'm not sure if this broken part of my bone has indeed shifted.

Like I said, because I could clearly see my toes sticking out to the side of the 1st X-ray, yet NOT sticking out on the 2nd one, I know the views that doctor is looking at are not giving him the same info!!


Now that I've had time to think about it, whether this is practical or not (because I DON'T GIVE A FUCK!!), the doctor should've been right there in the room, at the ER, looking at how the bone was displaced, AS THE X-RAYS WERE TAKEN, and he could've said to the tech, "Take another shot, but twist his foot just a bit more to the side, so I can really see what that fracture looks like."

But no, it doesn't work that way.

They take the x-rays at the ER, upload them to my file, he looks at them when he has time (he's in a completely different building across town that day) in between seeing patients (ANOTHER problem- everyone is spread so thin, trying to see as many patients as possible, because the CHARGES, NOT THE COSTS, of care are so fucking expensive, while the pharma industry gets filthy rich!), orders a couple more views, remotely, while I sit and wait another couple hours.

The whole thing just makes me mad. Because in reality, a broken heel bone ain't that big of a deal, nor should getting it fixed be this convoluted.
Not in this day and age. But the whole system is overly-complicated. I think I saw/talked to 6 different people during my visit today-

Intake
Nurse
X-ray tech
Doctor
Billing
Discharge/next appt.

Speaking of CHARGES, not COSTS of care being so high..., while I waited for the billing woman to get her shit straight, I overheard her say to someone else, "I wanna make sure I do the billing for the boot right, because I know they're expensive."

Probably $40 in plastic and velcro, that gets charged $800 to the insurance.

 

[State of Epicicity]

Ok, rant time:

I mentioned earlier in this thread how I'm so disgusted with our health system, the main reason being how specialized everything has become, and the disconnect it causes within itself.

Here's 2 examples of that, just from today:

I meet with the doc, and after discussing things, he tells me they're going to get me a boot. Next person comes in, tells me, "Ok, you need to go to the desk right outside, and they'll give you the paperwork for the temp parking pass, and then you'll get set up with your next appt."

I ask, "What about the boot?"
"Oh, I didn't hear about that."

Not a huge deal, but what if it were a larger issue? Shit falling through the cracks, because everyone in that office has only their certain jobs to do, and everything seems to be communicated via computer-written notes. So when I hobble to the desk, the next person I'm handed off to isn't prepared to deal with the Work Comp billing for this boot, nor does she know how. So I'm standing there, waiting, with all my weight on 1 foot, and finally I said, "Look, this is very uncomfortable for me. I'm going back in the room until you're ready."

"No, don't do that. They're getting the next patients ready for that room. You can go wait in the lobby. And then she comes out with an Ipad and makes me sign a completely blank screen!"

And 2nd- The whole deal with the X-rays. They must've taken 8 different X-rays of my foot at the ER, plus a CT Scan, but I could clearly see in the X-ray they took today, my foot WAS NOT at the same angle. So there's yet another failure of this system, due to specialization, that now I'm not sure if this broken part of my bone has indeed shifted.

Like I said, because I could clearly see my toes sticking out to the side of the 1st X-ray, yet NOT sticking out on the 2nd one, I know the views that doctor is looking at are not giving him the same info!!


Now that I've had time to think about it, whether this is practical or not (because I DON'T GIVE A FUCK!!), the doctor should've been right there in the room, at the ER, looking at how the bone was displaced, AS THE X-RAYS WERE TAKEN, and he could've said to the tech, "Take another shot, but twist his foot just a bit more to the side, so I can really see what that fracture looks like."

But no, it doesn't work that way.

They take the x-rays at the ER, upload them to my file, he looks at them when he has time (he's in a completely different building across town that day) in between seeing patients (ANOTHER problem- everyone is spread so thin, trying to see as many patients as possible, because the CHARGES, NOT THE COSTS, of care are so fucking expensive, while the pharma industry gets filthy rich!), orders a couple more views, remotely, while I sit and wait another couple hours.

The whole thing just makes me mad. Because in reality, a broken heel bone ain't that big of a deal, nor should getting it fixed be this convoluted.
Not in this day and age. But the whole system is overly-complicated. I think I saw/talked to 6 different people during my visit today-

Intake
Nurse
X-ray tech
Doctor
Billing
Discharge/next appt.

Speaking of CHARGES, not COSTS of care being so high..., while I waited for the billing woman to get her shit straight, I overheard her say to someone else, "I wanna make sure I do the billing for the boot right, because I know they're expensive."

Probably $40 in plastic and velcro, that gets charged $800 to the insurance.

Dude, that's the full brutality right there. My wife and I don't have insurance, and all this shit is just waiting around the corner. Even if we can ever afford insurance again, this is the deal. I hate it so much. I call this "late stage capitalism," where unregulated markets go so far it becomes cartoonish, and, for anyone who's not actually rich, a nightmare.