The Extended Breakdance Version

[andpuff]

If you follow me on twitter or fb you may already know that I broke my right arm last Saturday. A number of people have been requesting the greater than 140 characters explanation so...
A friend and I were picking up bales of straw for the garden - we know someone who'll do the old fashioned small bales that can be moved by hand if we order them

Comments

[maiac]

Yikes!

I empathize, having broken my right arm (just below the elbow) about 6 weeks ago. Since I got surgery, I only had to wear a splint for a week either side of the surgery, but I was doing things one-handed for quite a while and yeah, it gives one a whole new perspective on how the world is designed.

I hope your arm doesn't hurt and you get the lighter fiberglass cast, and that the pets aren't freaked out by the big strange thing on your arm.

FYI, Glad Press-and-Seal plastic wrap works very well as a waterproof cover for taking showers.

[andpuff]

See this is what happens whenI lose track of lj, I hadn't known you'd broken yours. Did you post about what happened? Re you okay now?

The dogs are sympathetic. The cats are annoyed their talking monkey is broken.

I'm trying a shower tonight so this is timely advice. Thanks!

[maiac]

I stumbled and fell, landed with my forearm smack on the concrete. It's disturbingly like how I broke my right leg way back when. Just -- one misstep, and wham. (X-rays pre-surgery and post-surgery, in case you're curious.)

Immediate post-surgery was unpleasant, but the improvement was rapid. Fortunately, I'm practically ambidextrous and I don't wear mascara, so I was able to do a lot of things with my left hand. (And doing things like putting a shirt on a hanger one-handed gave me a feeling of accomplishment.) By now, I'm able to do most things that don't involve lifting weight or exerting pressure. I hope I'll be able to start physical therapy after I see the surgeon again next week.

Since your prognosis is "only" six weeks in a cast, you're probably better off with that than with surgery. I hope it's not too uncomfortable. I have actually seen kits in the drug store for cleaning inside a cast (I suspect "cleaning" is a euphemism for "scratching like mad with something relatively safe").

[andpuff]

The plastic wrap trick worked beautifully! I HAD A SHOWER!!!!

[blueeowyn]

I haven't broken my arm but have messed up hand and shoulder a few times. If you don't have Velcro or slip-on shoes, I found that using my 'free' foot to help tighten my laces (for the slip-knot) worked fairly well. Clothing is beyond annoying (though at least you can twist your arm around a little to work things through).

I hope you heal with amazing boringness.

If the press & seal doesn't work, old bread or newspaper bags with sports tape on the edges can work (though getting the tape off is annoying).

Wirecutters do work well on baling twine.

[mzlizzy]

Ouchie! You have my sympathy. I wrenched my right shoulder several months ago and it took over a month to get most of my motion back without pain. (Fell on the stairs and slid down on my right side.)

For the first week or two I recommend elastic waist skirts as a practicality, they make it much easier to deal with the basic necessities of life with one hand in a sling.

Here's to fast healing!

[markbernstein]

I'll be at Worldcon. I'll be kinda busy (you'll generally find me either working in the art show or at the Detroit in 2014 NASFiC bid table), but if there's anything I can do to help when I'm around, let me know.

[bedlamhouse]

That's a lot like how ladyat broke her leg the year before we moved - she was yanking on a stubborn weed at the top of a fairly steep hill and took a tumble.