The Fracture Chronicles: Week One ✅

The saying goes “Time flies when you’re having fun.”  Whilst I’m not having a terrible time, I will say this past week has been one of the longer weeks of my life. It was a week and a day ago that I slipped, fell, and broke my left ankle. A lot of people have said, “Maybe things like this happen because you were supposed to slow down.” Hmmm…maybe. Or maybe it is that I have something to learn about being content when things are slow, when it is too quiet, when plans are disrupted, and I have to live each day just as it is. 

If I’m being honest, today has been a rough one mentally. Most of the week, I would say 95% of it, I have been able to stay positive, optimistic, accepting of where I’m at right now.  I have had those 5% of moments where I just shake my head in disbelief that this happened, and I feel like I’m never going to get back to my level of “normal “. Usually, it is when I feel like I need to ask for help for tasks that I normally do for myself, when everything that I do takes so much longer, and I just find that I am drained of my energy much quicker than what I would like it to be. 

Today has been hard. Somehow, I think I have always thought that once you put a cast on a fracture, the pain goes away. I am not sure where that thought ever came from, but I can tell you that the pain does not just go away. It feels more stable, so I feel like I can get around a little better, but the deep aching, burning feeling, does not just go away.  When I am up and about more than an hour, I start to feel heavy in my lower leg and ankle, the pain increases, and my emotions and tears are closer to the surface. 

My body is telling me to rest today. I need to listen and so I am resting, my leg propped up on my Leaning Tower of Pillows, writing my emotions, adding to my story.  And here’s why I blog: The process of writing helps me put things into perspective. It helps me remember that even when life doesn’t feel positive, if I look for those things, they are there. Writing helps me be intentional. 

So here we go: The positives ➡️

• These fractures could’ve easily been so much worse but they are in place and no surgery was required. 
• I didn’t hit my head. I didn’t mess up my shoulders again. 
• I have a healthy body and my bone health is great! I am getting plenty of protein and all the other good stuff in my nutrition. 
• My family is here to help. Leonard is amazing. Adrienne helped me all day last Saturday. We’ve had 3 hour video calls and she keeps me company. I’ve gotten to talk with my grandkids ❤️. 

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  My personal Chauffeur 💙 

  
  

  

  Waiting Room. There may have been some laughter. 
  I may have nearly peed my pants. 

• I’m crushed that my strength training was going so well and now I’ll have to adjust my focus, restarting after I heal.  BUT I’ve got an amazing coach who is going to help me figure it out and we have already started. 
• The knee scooter is fantastic. I can’t say this enough. If I was limited to crutches and crawling about, I think I’d go crazy! Trying to carry anything from room to room with crutches is like asking to fall again. The scooter has a basket. A basket 💜. It really is the little things that make me smile. I am beyond thankful for this piece of equipment and a friend who brought it over so willingly. 
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• I had the ortho appointment on Tuesday, the day after I called. It didn’t take as long to get in as I thought it might. Western PA Ortho has been fantastic this far.  
• -All the upper and lower body strength that I have built over the past 3 years is helping me now to manage. I can get up and down using one leg relatively well. 
• I’m looking at being non-weight bearing as a “challenge accepted” moment and with creativity and strength, I am getting it done. 
• Overall, I have been able to stay in good spirits. I’m researching future hikes. I’m still looking at potential competitions. I’m organizing some projects to complete that I am usually too busy to get at. 
• -A cast for 2 weeks is doable. One day at a time. And I got to pick the color. It’s blue because my squat rack is blue, my backpacking gear is blue, and my massage room is blue. It’s a reminder to behave myself now so I can get back to those things that I love. 
• I remembered I had some Color Street 💅  

•  I have an incredible community who have reached out to offer support and help. People genuinely care.
• Last night I finally had a good night of sleep. 

Already, even just writing these down, I’m feeling brighter. I’m telling you, it works. It doesn’t change my circumstances but it helps me remember that I can have an impact on my attitude. I could still cry, but  it’s okay because I know I won’t get stuck there. 

Onward. Always. 

Love, Dianne