One Small Step

Safety Tip

Holiday traffic often presents additional challenges on the road. Check your emergency kit. Contents should include: battery powered radio, flashlight, blanket, jumper cables, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, bottled water, non-perishable foods, maps, tire repair kit and flares.  Be aware of changes in weather. Weather conditions across the U.S. will be changing - especially during early mornings and evenings with the cold. Watch for ice, snow and other weather related obstacles. Keep your eyes on the road. Distracted driving is a major cause of traffic accidents. Even just two seconds of distraction time doubles the chances of an accident. Use your cell phone when stopped and never text while driving.  Leave early and avoid risks. Leave early so you won't be anxious about arriving late and to accommodate delays. Road conditions may change due to inclement weather or traffic congestion. Remember these safety steps and ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday season.

One Small Step

Smiling and cheerful the occupational therapist returned to my room the next morning. 

“Well are you ready,” she asked with a smile. “Are you ready to try walking?”

I mustered as much enthusiasm as I could and said “Why not?”

“I’m going to be right here to help you.” She said.

At that moment I was filled with both excitement and fear. I was excited because this marked the turn that would hopefully lead me back to a solid state of health. I felt fear because I knew there would be pain involved - lots of it! 

“Honey, are you ready for this?” my wife asked nervously.

“May as well be,” I said.

The therapist moved around the bed as she spoke.  She positioned the walker she had brought in near my bed and ensured that the IV lines were free and clear of obstructions as I prepared moved.

“We are going to take this nice and slow,” she said. “Do you think you can stand?”

“I can try,” I said.

We decided that it would be best to work my way off the right side of the bed and I started shifting in that direction. I quickly realized that I had very little control of the muscles from my right pelvis down and every movement resulted in jolts of pain.

“Let me help you,” she said as she supported and guided the injured led over the side of the bed. “We are going to take it very slow, OK”.

Using the hanging trapeze over the bed, I worked my good leg and the rest of my body to a sitting position on the bed’s edge. I was surprised at the amount of effort it had taken to do this normally simple movement.

“Ok, we are just going to stand up if you could,” the therapist said, “if you can’t that’s alright. Let me know when you are ready.” She explained how to grip the walker and support my weight with my arms and the good leg. I noticed that my fear was starting to dissipate. I had felt the pain and I knew there would be more, but I also felt that I was making progress and the feeling of accomplishment was motivating.

“I’m ready,” I said.

She positioned herself to help steady the walker and support me as I lifted myself off the bed to a full standing posture.

“Can you take a few steps?” she asked excitedly as she praised my accomplishment.  “Let’s try to walk to the closet door if you can”.

“I think I can do that,” I replied.

Using my newly acquired skills, I slid the walker forward, lifted myself with my arms and stepped forward with my good leg. Making it to the closet, I reversed the motion to get myself back to the bed.  As I eased myself back to the sitting position I endured the pains of moving the injured side of my body and listened as the therapist explained the techniques of extending the leg out and supporting by body weight with my arms as I sat. Once on the bed and feeling as if I had just completed an intense workout session, I turned and looked at my wife with an exhausted smile and said, “I did it.” She quietly smiled back saying, “You did it baby.”    

Next week: Rehabilitation 101

The Long Road to Recovery

Safety Tip

Driving in Snow and Ice

The best advice for driving in bad winter weather is not to drive at all, if you can avoid it. Don't go out until the snow plows and sanding trucks have had a chance to do their work, and allow yourself extra time to reach your destination.   If you must drive in snowy conditions, make sure your car is prepared and that you know how to handle road conditions.  It's helpful to practice winter driving techniques in a snowy, open parking lot so you're familiar with how your car handles. Consult your owner's manual for tips specific to your vehicle.

The Long Road to Recovery

After a few days in the hospital it really began to dawn on me that it would be some time before things got back to normal.  My supervisor at work had arrangement to put me on extended medical leave and I had gotten approval of extensions to turn in work at a later date from my professors at both the online courses I was taking.  In the moments of solitude I tried to imagine how all this would turn out.  I had canceled the vacation plans, my son was banged up with an arm injury,  I had just come through a very serious operation and it seemed that my life had gone into a tail spend.  I decided to let go of everything and just focus on my health.

My supervisor checked in with me and asked when was a good time to come by and visit. I told him anytime was as good as the next because it looked as if I was not going anywhere anytime soon.  Two days after surgery a soldier from my officer stopped by to visit.  He was not sure who I was but he was directed to visit and get an assessment because he lived in the area. I recognized him as a fellow office worker who had helped me setup my computer the week before. We talked about the accident and the operation until my family arrived.  The young man asked if there was anything he could do to help, politely said goodbye and left.

I enjoyed the afternoon with my family. My son, in addition to having his arm in a sling, was walking with a crutch due to an apparent injury to his leg. The doctors said that the leg was not fractured but he was still in some pain.  We sat around and talked about everything.  We discussed my daughters’ requirements for college and issues she was having with finance. After several hours my family left and I again contemplated my status. I was frustrated by the fact that I could not see past this situation. I had no reference to gauge what this would do to my life or what my physical state would be in the aftermath. I recall thinking that I had no control of what was happening.  I felt I was just a pawn in this huge game waiting for the next move. 

The next day I met the physical and occupational therapists. They came in with a morning nurse, introduced themselves and informed me that they were to help me get back on my feet.  “The sooner the better,” one lady said.   Initially I thought they were out of their minds. I had just gone through two of the most traumatic events of my life and my optimism was at a record low.   However, deep inside of me I knew that if there was any chance of emerging out of this dark episode life had delivered me, I would have to fight. So that’s what I decided to do.   

Recovery Begins

Safety Tip

Plan ahead for harsher weather

Have your car winterized before the winter storm season sets in. Keeping your car in good condition decreases your chance of being stranded in cold weather. (And as you high-mileage enthusiasts already know, it also increases the life of your vehicle.) Have your mechanic check your battery, fluids, ignition system, thermostat, lights, exhaust system, heater, and brakes. This is also a great time to have the oil changed. In your trunk, be sure to have a first aid kit, thermal blanket, a working flashlight, a shovel and sand. As always, buckle up before heading out to enjoy all the fall has to offer. Be safe!

Recovery Begins

I woke up in a dark room trying to understand where I was and why.  It seemed as if I had awakened from a long night’s sleep. I felt no pain and had completely forgotten about the surgery. I looked around and saw other beds and noticed people walking around in the dim light of the room. Someone walked up to my bed and noticing that I was awake started to disconnect me from lines attached to equipment nearby equipment. Before I knew it, I was being rolled out of the recovery area. The person rolling my bed didn’t speak to me but I heard the conversations and activity of others centered on several patients being attended to as I was moved out of the area.

The trip through the hospital helped me regain my awareness and I realized that the surgery was over. I began to wonder if it had been successful.  Going into the surgery I was never clear on the extent of my injuries. I knew that I had broken the right hip and it was extremely painful. My feeling was that the injury was bad but just how bad I wasn’t sure. I looked for the doctor whom I spoke with earlier.  I was eager to learn how things had gone and what the next steps were. The trip across the hospital brought me back to my room where I found my wife waiting. As we talked I could see the concern in her eyes as she tried to access my situation. She explained that although the estimation of the doctor before surgery was that the operation would last two or three hours, the reality was that the surgery had taken nearly six hours and there had been no interim reports or communication from the OR during the event. I was surprised, but I reassured her that I felt fine.

I spent the remainder of the day sleeping and trying to gain some sense of my overall health physical health.  In my room the medication was setup to automatically be administered through an IV line. The nurses made frequent visits to the room checking my vital signs and monitoring the operation of the equipment I was connected to.  I noticed that the traction device was no longer hooked up to my leg, but I had zero ability to move any parts of my lower right extremities.  I found there two drainage tubes plunged into the side of my right thigh and connected to collapsible discs containers that lay next to me on the bed.  Overall, I felt pretty good and I hoped that the worst was now over.

Later that evening Dr. Stewart arrived to check my status. He asked how I felt and explained that the surgery had required much more time than anticipated but everything had gone well and he did not foresee any complications. He generally explained the treatment and what needed to take place immediately as well as the length of the healing and recovery process.  He asked if I had any questions about anything at that point. I told him how much I appreciated what he had done and asked about my future mobility. I explained that my favorite sport was running and wondered what his predictions were for the long term.  His response was vague. I am not sure how he phrased the answer but it came out positive but with no guarantees.  We shook hand and he was off. 

Next week: The Long Road to Recovery