Day 023 – Oh the joy of pain!

Welcome to Day 023!

Let me tell you right now that my day started painfully.  The pain steadily increased over the course of the day.  There were times that the pain was less and eased when I lucked on a “comfortable position” which was mainly in the morning.  

In full disclosure, I haven’t really been taking a lot of pain medication because I have elected to deal with the pain to help prevent me from doing something stupid.  

The other thing you might need to know about me is that, even if I think I’m doing things by halves others certainly don’t think that’s me.  In spite of my best intentions to be “sensible” I still seem to stumble.

This morning was spent in bed with my ankle above my heart level.  At times, the ankle was at head level (knee bent but the lower leg was kept straight).  The increase in pain is what I’ve put down to the swelling subsiding.

Around lunchtime, the pain eased and I thought that I could manage a trip to the regular weekend lunch location.  My husband organised for a wheelchair in advance to be collected from the concierge at the shopping centre.  This sounded like it would make life much easier and to some extent it did – I didn’t have to walk around everywhere on crutches.  I would not have gone had this been the case.

As it turned out the wheelchair while better than walking everywhere on crutches contributed to my pain.  Not wanting to rob my husband of lunch we managed to find a table in the food court where I could put the cast on a seat in line with my hip.  My pain subsided again.   Following lunch it was a quick trip to the supermarket, where I stayed outside and again we found a place where I could elevate my ankle in line with my hip.  

Thankfully, it was then homeward but a quick stop to get a wedge pillow for me to use while in bed. Which turned out just as useful to elevate my ankle because it gave my leg a ramp to lie on.  With a knee support I was set.  Or so I thought.  I took painkillers.

Even following painkillers my right hip is really really hurting because it’s so constrained and my ankle just burns.  Worse still I am unable to tell the difference of whether it’s the cast or my bones.  Am I just overreacting or is it real?   

The pain level is sitting at an eight which is the highest it’s been since I broke the ankle.  What to do?  The paperwork advises to go to the doctor to get it checked out if the pain level changes.  I did this the other day and everything was fine.  

In this circumstance, I am seeking comparison between what others have done and what I need to do.  I know comparison is stupid because each situation and person is slightly different.  Yet, my husband is asleep and he has been so wonderful moving furniture around for me, just so I can sit straight on to the TV.  Think I will try and get some sleep and see how everything sits in the morning.  If the pain has eased, I’ll assess it again then.  If I can’t sleep from the pain, I won’t be afraid to wake Mark   One of us needs to be fighting fit and I need him.  

 So, roll on Day 024!