New bionics
From the outside, it looked to be about a 30° unplanned bend
Well, it’s been one month today since I lost an argument with a horse and gravity over directions. It went up and I went down. (For those of you taking notes, that is NOT the way to ride horses!) After a surgery and six days in the hospital (of which I was an “excellent and understanding” prisoner in both pain and addled states of drug-induced semi-consciousness), I was finally released back into the wild. I think they were as excited to get rid of me as I was to be away from them!
- 2 brain bleeds (which I was eventually told were healed and my brain was “perfect”. As if everyone didn’t know that!)
- several fractured ribs
- a fractured clavicle
- a fractured L1 vertebrae
- a minor right wrist sprain/fracture
Fractured Right Clavicle
- a major left wrist break, requiring a manual reduction (I don’t recommend!) and surgery to install a plate and screws
- a plethora of bruises and swollen parts
- and an undying love of horses (as well as an enhanced sense of sarcasm!)
The end result is: I essentially have no use of my arms since my right is in a sling and hampered by some busted ribs and a fractured collar bone and my left has no strength due to the surgery. I do have a rather nice left wrist brace that makes holding and touching things somewhat difficult.
I did test drive the motorcycle on a dirt backroad and found that I can go 5 mph really well, but not so much 6. Thumbing a paddle shifter when you have zero hand strength is a bit of an issue. As is holding down a throttle.
Washing my own hair is almost impossible (God bless Melinda!) as my right arm does not go above my shoulder at all and my left is wrapped against moisture.
Melinda is traveling for work this week, so all bowls, foodstuff, and clothing have to be put at about waist high so I can get to it. God bless Oxycodone. I limit myself to only taking 1 at bed time, and am trying to figure out how to have bed time 5 times per day.
In a million years I’d never thought I would say it, but… I miss the gym. I haven’t put back any of the weight I lost, but I did lose some lean muscle mass. Add that to the fact I can’t do ANYTHING upper body and we can put a indefinite hold on my swimsuit calendar days for a while. Today I am going to check out the fitness center at the Hollywood Casino where we are parked and see what I can do to at least burn calories.
All in all, it sucks. HOWEVER, it’s all part of the adventure. Nobody got to be Indiana Jones by playing it safe. I’d rather be damaged and on the mend from living out on the edge than waiting for a slow death in front of a TV. Plus think of all the great stories I will have in the old folks home! Who am I kidding? They won’t be able to keep me captive either!
All told: A day of being broken above ground beats a day unbroken below ground… barely.
RVonTheRoadYet.com is a blog to keep our friends and family informed of our latest adventures or misadventures. We are NOT RV professionals, doctors, lawyers, or travel guides. We are a couple of people who have decided to embrace the full-time RV lifestyle of idiots and gypsies.