Vacation to Jersey

So I guess it has been a little bit since I've posted. Sorry if you feel neglected. Between work and
vacation I've kept pretty busy. I know I know... You're thinking "Vacation?!? He's hardly even working why does he get vacation" Well basically I figured since I'm not working I should just take one.

So on July 4th I went to a BBQ at the Boss's house. Got asked the same questions about a dozen times about the leg. But we had good food and went to some pretty craptastic fire works in South Miami. Probably some of the worst ones I've ever seen.

The next day I flew to Jersey. This was a bit interesting. I typically travel with a backpack and a small duffel but I don't think this would work too well with crutches. But I was able to get everything I needed in one backpack. I don't know how exactly but.... I did. I ended up driving to the airport and crutched to the ticket counter to ask for a wheelchair. So this wasn't a bad gig. They wheeled me right to the front of the line put my bag and crutches on the x-ray machine (I should have had them put me through so I could see my post op x-ray pictures) and wheeled me to the pat down area. I think the guy owes me a drink or something, geesh. But it was sure nice to skip the line. Also first on the plane too bad I wasn't in first class but bulkhead seat will do.

The weekend was good. Got to see the rents, hang out with Rachel and Marc, and my grandmother was also in town. Oh and we can't forget the puppy Jayda. Rachel, Marc and I went to the movies a couple times. We saw Ratatouille and Live Free or Die Hard again and saw Transformers. All of them are totally awesome movies!!! If you haven't see them yet you must!

I also got primped and pampered. Well.. sorta. I got my hair cut, a massage and my eye brows waxed. So yes... now I have two eye brows. And I do still happen to go home to get my hair cut. I just haven't found a place here in Miami that cuts my hair the way I like. I've tried a couple times but it just doesn't work out. So all in all the weekend was pretty good. Got to see pretty much everybody and hang out and pretty much do nothing. It was kinda nice.

The return trip wasn't too much different then going there. Except for the fact we pushed back from the gate on time and taxied out to the runway at which point we just sat there. You know it isn't a good thing when captain comes on and says he's shutting the engines off because we are going to be a while. So after about 2 hours of trying to find a new flight path around the storms we were cleared. Finally! So basically we spent 6 hours on a plane instead of 3.

The one bad thing about going home was I miss my first kickball game. Not that I am signed up to play but I figured I could be a good cheerleader or something like that. But my team won!! Congrats Brickell Slap and Tickle!

Well this week has been pretty busy. With our only tech quitting on Friday and starting on Monday it's just going to be my boss and me things have been a bit nutty. I've spent quite a bit of time working on some engineering work but also making as much stuff is completed prior to him leaving. So yeah.. next week will be interesting to say the least. Yeah.. I'll let you know.

Not too much to report on the ankle. I definitely have a lot more flexibility and the bruising has gone down considerably. So we'll see what the doc has to say in a couple weeks.

Plot Thickens

Well I guess I will report that there isn't much of a change to the leg/ankle right now. I've been getting around pretty well with my boot, but I will still be using crutches for another month or so. That is if the crutches make it. I have left chunks of the rubber feet around my apartment and the streets. I have ordered new feet online but it seems like every place I go to order from is sold out.

Also, acupuncture has also been going well. I have a cream and a liquid that the acupuncturist gave me I apply to my leg that is supposed to help reduce swelling and dissipate the bruising. He also gave me the most horrible tasting Chinese herbs to take. After some discussion with him he's going to encapsulate them for me so I can take it in a pill form. Phew.

But that isn't the big story at the moment is not my ankle. It's work. I know I've mentioned before work's been a little harry for the past couple months. We've been busy but we haven't had any new work come in. So with people getting laid off, people breaking ankles, people getting rehired it's been quite a mess recently. Well one of the guys we regretfully laid off has found himself a new job. I am very excited for him and glad that he has been able to find work. So I've been mainly working from home providing support to my other guy in the field, learning engineering software, and doing other office work that I can. Well..... Here is where the plot thickens. Due to obvious uncertainties in the company my remaining guy has decided that he needs certainty for him and his family. He put his two weeks last Friday. So that leaves it to my boss and I.

So how is this going to work? I can't walk and really work in the field and my boss has been really out of the field work for about the last 2 years (it's been my job). So we think we have an idea. In, what I think is Disney Pixar's best movie ever and probably the best movie this summer, Ratatouille. Remy the rat hides under Linguini's hat and by pulling his hair in different directions gets Linguini to do what he commands. It may be our only option for the time being.

At least for right now I've been able to work. I have yet to figure out if I am allowed to work and supplement my disability income or if I am screwing myself. I got a whole 'nother set of papers to fill out. I have started to see the insurance claims come into my insurance company though. They haven't all been processed but anybody want to guess what the total billed to the insurance company is up to so far?

Well, I am off to figure out how I can carry my bags when I head to the airport on Thursday.

Have a happy and safe 4th.

I've upgraded!

Well today was a long awaited day. Today marked my first real step toward recovery, toward walking, and toward getting back on a bike. Wow, that sounded dramatic. But really it was only the first step.

I met with the doc today. Yes the doc that needs a lesson on bed side manner. I have heard nothing but good things about this guy from the day I fucked up my ankle. Three people went out in different directions to look for a good orthopod and all ended up at the same spot. So this guy must be good. Now... don't get me wrong. I am certainly not doubting that. But since the surgery he hasn't been very communicative about anything.

They led me to a room and one of his staff came and cut my splint off. I was quite anxious for this moment. I really wanted to see what it looked like. My first though was "wow look at all the dried blood". Then I though "oh my, that looks gross". Then..... "oooo I've got to take pictures." I took a hand full of really crappy pics with my camera phone. I emailed them out to a few people right from there. But I decided as an amateur photographer I couldn't post those low res pics. So here is the real deal. I found it is kinda hard to take pictures of the left side of my leg but here's what I've got. (official I warned you.. it's a bit nasty. The people that have seen the sneak peak pics already have been a bit grossed out.) click a picture to see a larger version.









Oooo look more scars!

People have asked what the sore is on the top of my ankle. That is where the bone decided it was about to pop out of the skin when I fell..





You still with me? If you are reading this then you have either seen the pics or you skipped over them right to here. If you skipped over then I suggest you go back and peak. You know you want to.

Yeah I thought you'd like those.

The doc came in and checked to see if I could move the ankle. I had very limited dorsaflexion (flex foot toward body). By limited I mean 1/4". But he said the stitches were ready to come out.

So before he left I decided to get some information. I cornered the doctor and asked him exactly what the procedure was that he did. Did he do anything to the ligaments or was it just the screws. Basically he said I pretty much shredded the ligaments but these soft tissues will heal on their own. So all he really did was put two screws in the tib/fib at the ankle. ok... fine. Now my next question "are they going to stay or take them out when we are done?" He says most of the time they leave them in. Despite the fact that many times they break on their own. Exqueeze me? Many times they break?!? But he says most of the time when they break they don't effect anything and you don't notice. If you do notice they will take them out. I didn't mention it then but I would think taking out screws that are in one piece are easier then taking out a broken screw... but that's just me. I did however express my concern about them breaking. I mean your ankle takes a hit of 4-5x your body weight as you walk. Ok so for you math people out there figure this out one. Lets say I weigh 250lbs and I am on a 30lb bike. I decide to do a drop off a 3 foot ledge to the ground. As I hit the ground my bike absorbs 3" of travel. How much force is put on my ankles then? I know there may be some variables missing like how many lbs of pressure in the front and rear shock, etc, etc. But I think you math and non-math people get the point. It's A LOT. So I guess we will just wait and see for now. We are still 1.5-2 months away from that point.

So that paragraph looks like I talked to the doctor a lot. No, that was mostly inner monologue.

The same staff guy from before came back and cut my 6 stitches out. He fitted me up for my upgrade. I went from this lightweight plaster and ace bandage splint to this heavy rocker boot looking thing.



The boot basically allows for me to begin flexing my ankle to start stretching it out and improve the dorsaflexion. This boot is a 24hr a day thing including sleeping. I can take it off to shower. The boot also help to force my foot to a 90 degree angle.

This guy was much more informative. After the boot, he hooked me up with my handicap form to get my temporary sticker and gave me some information about exercises I can start and general timing.

Basically I am heading back in one month for x-rays and see when I can start physical therapy.

It is nice to be able to wash my leg and get my whole body in the shower. Well, I'm one small step closer. I'll keep you posted.