Another for good measure

I’d been thinking that my blogs were getting quite long, so far I’ve been averaging around 2,000 words. Seems like they’re going to get a lot shorter from now on!

I’d had a niggle in my right wrist since the accident but it hadn’t seemed like a big deal in the scheme of things. There were some limitations in my movement but nothing too far off what I’d expect from a sprain. I mentioned it at the Alfred when I was admitted and an x-ray had showed nothing. When I had a follow up x-ray at the Epworth, again nothing could be seen but my doctors weren’t convinced so a CT was requested. Sure enough, just over 3 weeks post accident on Thursday they found a fracture in my scaphoid.

For those like me who have no idea what a scaphoid is, it’s this pesky little bone:

Josh filled me in on the details. It’s basically an incredibly annoying bone to fracture because there isn’t much blood flow through there. As a result, it takes forever to heal. They’re almost impossible to detect in x-ray because it’s one of the 8 bones that make up the wrist so it’s often hidden from view unless a CT is used.

As soon as I heard the news, I decided I was going to make the most of being independent for one last morning and did as much ‘normal’ activity as I could - shower, wheel myself around my room, transfer solo…because as soon as I went down to physio, it was straight into plaster :(

It’s hard to describe how frustrating it’s been losing the independence I’d gained in the past 3 weeks. I had finally learned to transfer solo, I’d built my confidence wheeling myself down the corridor and to the courtyard in front of the hospital…and now I’m limited to the activities I was doing in my first week here at the Epworth. I know I haven’t lost all progress but it was such a boost to my morale being able to move around on my own and it has been a bit of a blow losing that freedom.

Speaking of progress, I’m slowly getting better at standing up on my left leg. I started the week feeling pretty sore and sorry for myself every time I tried and by Friday afternoon I could manage five attempts. It still hurts like hell if I don’t get the routine 100% right. Any lapse in concentration, loss of momentum or slight unevenness in weight distribution in my foot and you don’t want to be within earshot of me! Poor Margaret (another patient here, best guess aged ~80) has probably made a mental note to not use any of the physio beds near me when I’m giving it a go :)

I have no idea what this now means for my discharge date and overall recovery timeframe. Chris thinks hydrotherapy will be pushed back and so will the progression to crutches but I’m not sure what else has changed. I have an appointment with the orthopaedic surgeon on Tuesday so I’m hoping he can provide more detail on what to do about my wrist.

Despite the bad news on Thursday, there was some fun activity throughout the week.

Suz and Mick dropped in on Wednesday night. Suz went for a roll around the room, she’s clearly still on her L’s.

Gemma popped in on Thursday :)

Sydney buddies Avril and Steph dropped in on Friday for Macarons. We’d planned this weekend months ago so we had to tweak their itinerary a bit :(

During their visit, the magical manicure lady came and provided a very necessary service for Ghita and I :)

And last but not least, I received my scans from trauma. There’s quite a lot and I’m no radiologist but I thought I’d share my left leg scans.

Before

After