*sigh* Not again...
It was a tough week for HalfshellHusband. He had an accident while riding on the bike path on Thursday, and fell. He wound up with a broken femur and some serious road rash on his right arm and upper back. :(
It's so heartbreaking. Something like this happens to him about every 2 to 4 years, and he becomes an invalid for the next 6-8 weeks. Then he has to slowly build his way back to fitness again.
It's hard on me too, since I have to take care of him and also cover the things he usually does (like groceries and laundry and errands and cooking) on top of working full time. It just gets overwhelming and stressful, and this is after 4 hip surgeries and a broken shoulder and a broken wrist in the last 25 years or so.
But it's so much harder on him. Painkillers don't really help him, because one of the meds he needs every day has the side-effect of blocking the receptors for things like painkillers and anti-depressants. So, he's in considerable pain 24/7. He also feels guilty about not being able to help around the house, and the whole thing is just so dispiriting. I don't know how he has the tenacity to keep fighting his way back. I'm just glad he does.
He had originally planned to give up biking the next time something like this happened, but it's one of the few things he's still able to enjoy (what with the restrictions from his heart issues and other chronic pain problems). And it keeps him as healthy as it's possible for him to be.
So instead, he's finally considering various types of 3-wheeled bicycles, and trying to find something that rides upright (like a regular bike) but provides the extra balance and stability that you get with 3 wheels instead of two.
Meanwhile, I've discovered that people actually make some really useful walker bags now, so you can carry liquids and other things around. These are much better than the tote bag I affixed to that walker years ago! I got him the best design of the bunch, and also bought a side-bag for the rocking chair that's on the way (made for wheelchairs, but it'll work for any chair with an armrest and rails). That will help him wrangle the 4 remotes for cable/TV/DVR/Hulu, and give him a place to put his phone and Kindle too. \o?
But what an end to an already awful summer. We are in joyless Mudville once again, and now the heat and smoke are back too. :( :(
It's so heartbreaking. Something like this happens to him about every 2 to 4 years, and he becomes an invalid for the next 6-8 weeks. Then he has to slowly build his way back to fitness again.
It's hard on me too, since I have to take care of him and also cover the things he usually does (like groceries and laundry and errands and cooking) on top of working full time. It just gets overwhelming and stressful, and this is after 4 hip surgeries and a broken shoulder and a broken wrist in the last 25 years or so.
But it's so much harder on him. Painkillers don't really help him, because one of the meds he needs every day has the side-effect of blocking the receptors for things like painkillers and anti-depressants. So, he's in considerable pain 24/7. He also feels guilty about not being able to help around the house, and the whole thing is just so dispiriting. I don't know how he has the tenacity to keep fighting his way back. I'm just glad he does.
He had originally planned to give up biking the next time something like this happened, but it's one of the few things he's still able to enjoy (what with the restrictions from his heart issues and other chronic pain problems). And it keeps him as healthy as it's possible for him to be.
So instead, he's finally considering various types of 3-wheeled bicycles, and trying to find something that rides upright (like a regular bike) but provides the extra balance and stability that you get with 3 wheels instead of two.
Meanwhile, I've discovered that people actually make some really useful walker bags now, so you can carry liquids and other things around. These are much better than the tote bag I affixed to that walker years ago! I got him the best design of the bunch, and also bought a side-bag for the rocking chair that's on the way (made for wheelchairs, but it'll work for any chair with an armrest and rails). That will help him wrangle the 4 remotes for cable/TV/DVR/Hulu, and give him a place to put his phone and Kindle too. \o?
But what an end to an already awful summer. We are in joyless Mudville once again, and now the heat and smoke are back too. :( :(