you look good in that sweater / and that aluminum crutch
so, having a sprained ankle kind of blows.
actually, being on crutches is the part that really blows. not only is the act of walking on crutches totally more exhausting than regular walking (it involves a lot of upper body strength, which i don't really have, plus it tires out my "good" leg really quickly), it also means that anytime i'm using them, i pretty much can't use my hands either. so i can't do simple things like carry a glass of water from one place to another. this means i have to eat standing up because i can't take a plate of food out of the kitchen, and i don't really enjoy standing up for prolonged periods because i am on one leg, flamingo-style.
i have been on crutches twice before, once when i was 8 and once when i was 14, and each time it was a much less serious injury than this one and i was walking within a week. this time, from what i can tell, it's a pretty bad sprain, and i am supposed to put absolutely no weight on my ankle for at least the first week, then gradually more as pain permits. so far, i don't have a problem not putting weight on it, since anytime i have done so by accident, or even if i just accidentally hit something with my foot, it really hurts. i am on prescription strength ibuprofen, which helps some, and they gave me percocet but i only took one the first day, because i'd rather not bother with that stuff. the pain is totally bearable unless i bump into something or fall.
so i've been doing the bare minimum the past few days, i've gotten way caught up on my internet and i finally watched the first two x-men movies. and luckily, i was at jacob's house, and he has been so wonderful to me, getting ice for my ankle and cooking me dinner and breakfast and doing my laundry and helping me get around. unfortunately, there is the pesky fact that we live an hour apart, which doesn't jibe too well with our respective work schedules.
today i managed to get up and go to work by myself (i had to take a cab because i can't drive yet), and now i'm about to leave, and i hope it doesn't rain between here and lunch and the dentist (three fillings scheduled today), because i don't have a rain slicker and i can't carry an umbrella.
of course, on top of all these day-to-day nuisances, there is the much larger issue of me needing to move before july 29, which involves not only carrying small objects from room to room, but also very large objects from my current (second-floor walkup) apartment to my new (third-floor walkup) apartment. needless to say, the sprained ankle has kind of shaken up those plans.
i guess this is all sort of a lesson in humility, and trust, and accepting the offers from people who are willing to help me, because they love me and because they know i would do the same for them. these past few days have been incredibly frustrating, just on a logistical level--it's made me think twice about handicapped accessibility and how many of the places i go regularly (including my home and my work) aren't very accessible or aren't accessible at all. how many places in baltimore, along charles street for example, have stairs leading from the sidewalk to the entrance?
so i have to stay inside a whole bunch, and look at my apartment and not do any chores. all i can say is, i'm grateful for my friends and family who are helping me. and for sweet, sweet netflix.
actually, being on crutches is the part that really blows. not only is the act of walking on crutches totally more exhausting than regular walking (it involves a lot of upper body strength, which i don't really have, plus it tires out my "good" leg really quickly), it also means that anytime i'm using them, i pretty much can't use my hands either. so i can't do simple things like carry a glass of water from one place to another. this means i have to eat standing up because i can't take a plate of food out of the kitchen, and i don't really enjoy standing up for prolonged periods because i am on one leg, flamingo-style.
i have been on crutches twice before, once when i was 8 and once when i was 14, and each time it was a much less serious injury than this one and i was walking within a week. this time, from what i can tell, it's a pretty bad sprain, and i am supposed to put absolutely no weight on my ankle for at least the first week, then gradually more as pain permits. so far, i don't have a problem not putting weight on it, since anytime i have done so by accident, or even if i just accidentally hit something with my foot, it really hurts. i am on prescription strength ibuprofen, which helps some, and they gave me percocet but i only took one the first day, because i'd rather not bother with that stuff. the pain is totally bearable unless i bump into something or fall.
so i've been doing the bare minimum the past few days, i've gotten way caught up on my internet and i finally watched the first two x-men movies. and luckily, i was at jacob's house, and he has been so wonderful to me, getting ice for my ankle and cooking me dinner and breakfast and doing my laundry and helping me get around. unfortunately, there is the pesky fact that we live an hour apart, which doesn't jibe too well with our respective work schedules.
today i managed to get up and go to work by myself (i had to take a cab because i can't drive yet), and now i'm about to leave, and i hope it doesn't rain between here and lunch and the dentist (three fillings scheduled today), because i don't have a rain slicker and i can't carry an umbrella.
of course, on top of all these day-to-day nuisances, there is the much larger issue of me needing to move before july 29, which involves not only carrying small objects from room to room, but also very large objects from my current (second-floor walkup) apartment to my new (third-floor walkup) apartment. needless to say, the sprained ankle has kind of shaken up those plans.
i guess this is all sort of a lesson in humility, and trust, and accepting the offers from people who are willing to help me, because they love me and because they know i would do the same for them. these past few days have been incredibly frustrating, just on a logistical level--it's made me think twice about handicapped accessibility and how many of the places i go regularly (including my home and my work) aren't very accessible or aren't accessible at all. how many places in baltimore, along charles street for example, have stairs leading from the sidewalk to the entrance?
so i have to stay inside a whole bunch, and look at my apartment and not do any chores. all i can say is, i'm grateful for my friends and family who are helping me. and for sweet, sweet netflix.