Been wondering where I disappeared to? Well, just got home from the rehab hospital today.
Where to start! Way back on 9/2 while at work I had to rewire a streetlight ballast that had burned out in a storm, was 20 up on a ladder that suddenly got blown off the pole by a 35-40 MPH gust. A young co-worker was bent down directly below the direction I was falling, so I one-hand grabbed the pole and held up long enough to shout him out of the way before the ladder came around, raked my knuckles and pulled my grip loose. Probably saved him a broken back but it spun me around the pole to where I fell backwards. Tried the cat thing but only made it ¼ of the way around hitting on my right hip and then shoulder/elbow on a slope of hardpan, followed by the ladder crashing on top of me. I managed to keep my head from hitting, but knew immediately I was hurt. Didnt hear the bones snap, but I made one heck of a thud when I hit the ground. I had Gary pick up my legs and turn me to match the slope so I wouldnt roll down, then had him call our security for EMTs. Anyway, they transported me to a new hospital only a few blocks away where I laid in emergency for 9 hours, got about 30-35 x-rays and then finally taken off the backboard and put in a bed. They didnt operate until 26 hours after the injury, so Day One was a lot of fun. Turned out I had completely severed my femur right at the hip knuckle. Doc decided to try pinning it verse a partial hip replacement, so I now have been screwed 3 times with very long screws. Hehe Wont know for 6 months if the bone will live if Ill still have to do the hip replacement. Laid in a hospital bed for 6 days, refused the pain meds and just toughed it out. So they were going to send me home. But since I live alone in an upstairs apartment, Doc said no way and transferred me to a rehab hospital on the other side of the valley where I have been ever since. Been working my butt off in therapy ever since retraining and strengthening the muscles getting from a limp stump I couldnt move to one I can at least get out of the way now. Got to the point they finally cut me loose today, about 10 days early from what they had planned. BTW, it helped that I told them if they didnt let me go I was going to grab my crutches and leave anyway and they KNEW I would do it. Hehe So I am hopping around with a walker or crutches cant step on the bad leg for probably another 2-3 weeks. Dont know when theyll let me drive again (right leg), or when I can go back to work. Do know my days of doing what I was doing are over, but it sounds like my company is going to promote me to management and give me a desk to fly whenever I can get back.
Sure has been a humbling experience and a stark realization of the simple things we take for granted everyday. Believe it or not, major accomplishments came when I could just go to the restroom, get in a wheelchair, get in and out of bed by myself, hop along with a walker and get up steps with crutches. Getting the muscles to do something was the hardest part that I still have a long way to go on. But I was motivated and made the right attitude adjustment, worked very hard in therapy and can finally see the light at the end of what will be a very long tunnel. I was told Im looking at about a year, but should be able to start putting weight on the leg in 2-3 weeks on the walker and crutches maybe walk in 6 weeks or so.
Anyway
sure is great to be home. Its going to be hard to do the simplest things, but with no help here I'll have to do it myself. I have a home self therapy program that will take up much of my days, but I am sure Ill also wear out my welcome here in between during breaks. Rattled long enough I guess
.. Ill have to fill you in on The Nurses another time (but thats an X rated story anyway not appropriate for public domain). HA HA!
Anyway, great to be back on-line again and part of the real world.
Larry
