The Blog is Still getting read!

I’m thrilled that the blog I started in 2012 in the days immediately after my accident is still being read by people, many of whom are leaving lovely messages to let me know that I’ve been able to help them by sharing my experiences. That’s precisely why I took the decision to blog about the experience – it feel very rewarding.

And four-and-a-half years on I can very happily say that I live a very full and active life, with very little pain these days from the injury. It sometimes ‘niggles’ with a little pain, particularly if I’ve overdone things during the day, or on colder days.  But in the scheme of things, if that’s all I have to remind me of that day, well then I’m truly blessed and very thankful for the brilliant medical care I received and for everyone who supported my remarkable recovery.

My main message to anyone out there who’s experiencing similar circumstances, and particularly if you have an x-fix frame of your own, is to keep strong and make sure you have the support you need to deal with things mentally as much as physically. There will be lots of attention to the physical injuries, medication and later physiotherapy. But you won’t necessarily focus on your mental state enough – and that’s going to be very very important.  Find ways to make the recovery period into an opportunity – to do things you’ve been putting off, or to make new friends, or to take up a new hobby. Don’t let yourself sink into miserable acceptance of months of pain and immobility, but instead look for advantages the temporary situation can bring. Our lives are so very busy when we are fit and healthy, so why not make the most of being less active and try your best to bring positives into the experience whenever you can.

Oh, and the horses of course! Well I’ve enjoyed three very happy years with Zak, and we even went out competing in some One-Day-Events last summer which was like a dream-come-true for me. I still have to pinch myself several times to believe that its me in the photos! And now Zak has moved on to a new and very lovely owner to have more fun.

And I have a new horse – Frankie.  He’s young and very very sweet, and I’m looking forward to bringing him on and seeing what we can enjoy together too!

 

One Year On

Well here we are on August 16th 2013, a year since the day I DID fall off and all that followed as set out in this blog.

And so here are the key factual updates –

– my leg has recovered very well and apart from the scars there really isn’t much to notice on the outside. I do limp slightly when I’m not thinking, and there is pain and swelling if I do too much. I haven’t run much, but I can walk a fair distance.

– I’m back in hospital next week and there will be assessment of the X-rays and a bit of stress-testing on the bones. I’ll learn more about what happens next, but I really hope it’ll be all good and no more treatment needed in the short term.

– I am back I the saddle and a new horse, Zack is helping me to get my confidence back. We mainly just plod around the lanes together.

– I’ve continued to support Devon Air Ambulance and just last week helped to celebrate the launch of their new helicopter. Very honoured to be a part of the event

I think that the main reflection about the last year I have now is that I have so much to be happy about in life – wonderful family support, some truly special friends who’ll probably never really understand how much they’ve helped, and then a wider group of people who have inspired, motivated and intrigued me whilst I had plenty of time to contemplate, read and reflect.

And I’ve also realised that for me living life to the full is essential. I am not prepared to live in fear, to resist temptation or to stop myself from loving those people who deserve it. It’s me. And that’s what I’m going to make the most of.

So major thanks to everyone who has sent kind words, messages, hugs and motivation.. Even thanks to those who spurred me into swift recovery with some challenges and negative thoughts. I’ll never ever want to experience the things the pas year brought my way again, but I also know I’ve learned from it. And let’s be honest it was time I grew up a bit!

Saying Thank you to Devon Air Ambulance

This week we got chance to visit the operational HQ of Devon Air Ambulance – Helipad at Middlemoor, Exeter and it was a great opportunity to hear more about the service and offer a personal thank you to people who were involved in my rescue last August.

Sam and Amy came along and enjoyed hearing about the helicopters, how much the service is used across Devon and into neighbouring counties and lots of details about the training which paramedics get and the injuries that they are able to treat on site with the range of equipment purchased from funding. During this part Amy had a feint moment or two dwelling too much on the memories of my accident! .. but she soon recovered and enjoyed a cuppa. 

I’ve been so proud to have support the Devon Air Ambulance Trust since my accident and will continue to do so for many years to come. They really did make all the difference in the immediate treatment and speed by which I got to hospital for further treatment and urgent surgery. My right leg is here because of them!

And finally I found out the names of the three crew who were my own heros last August – Damian, Glenn and Mark.  Thank you! X

 

 

10

I’m Free!! (update 3 weeks after frame removal)

Since the frame was removed 3 weeks ago I’ve been gradually gaining more strength and confidence in walking both without the metal supports and also more recently without crutches. I’m getting used to how wonderful it feels to lie down and rest, and curl up comfortably without having to worry about my leg and the mecanno set. I feel so free. 

The leg doesn’t look as horrible as I thought it would either – obviously its got some nasty scars and dents – but the pin-sites have healed really well and I’m putting lots of E45 cream on to get things improving from now. I shaved it too!

And last week at my 2 week check-up the consultant said I could drive again – yippee! I’ve barely been home since then, its so wonderful to have my independence back and to just get on with things without worrying about how to get to-and-from places. The kids are happy to have ‘mums taxi service’ back – and I’m sure Neil is happy to get some time off from all his hard-work and taxi-ing us all around. 

And then last night the moment I’ve been waiting for – my first bath in over 7 months. It was so divine! I love my baths and I stayed in there for over an hour topping it up with warm water. 

This past week I’ve started to build up more physical activity and walk without crutches. I’ve been able to get back on the cross-trainer these past 3 days, and also started some low resistance work on the exercise bike. Just 5 minutes on each to start with – but its feels good to be moving again. And on Wednesday next week I’m starting some hydrotherapy up at the pool and I can’t wait. And then I’ll start swimming again as soon as I’m fit enough. 

 

10

Frame-off Friday!

Having been told only the week before that I’d have to wait several more weeks yet, it was quite a shock to get a date so quickly.  But on Friday 1st March I had a further day in hospital and returned home without the frame. At last …. it does feel very strange and sore right now, but it also feels like its my leg again!

 

The frame was removed in a short operation, under general anaesthetic. It took around an hour and the consultant explained that as well as removing the metalwork they did some ‘stress tests’ with the x-ray on my bones to check things have fixed well enough. I wasn’t certain if I’d wake up with a cast on my leg or not – but no, the bones are looking good and its wrapped up in dressings and bandages only. It will take around 10 days for the pin sites to heal well enough for clean-down, and by then I should be OK for further physio and get strength building again.

And so after 28 weeks, that’s 196 days! … I am frame-free and my leg really does feel like it belongs to me again. The sensations are a bit strange at the moment as everything is still coming back from surgery and swelling.  But already its very comfortable, much lighter, and I can rest my leg with calf muscle against a pillow. Lovely!

Just a bit more patience now then and I’ll be able to take a bath (for a whole day I think!) – then on to swimming, walking out and look forward to a summer of activities and full recovery. Roll on.

10

5 Months and counting!

Last Wednesday marked the 5 month point since the x-fix frame was fitted, and obviously that made me reflect on how progress has gone and on how well (or not) I’ve handled the length recovery process.

But first news of yesterday’s trip to hospital with more x-rays and meeting with the consultant.  A summary of the latest situation is that I have to wait another month and then go back for further assessment end of February. It could be that at that assessment they give a date for frame removal and at the best that’s going to be early March. Maybe in time for my birthday!

The X-rays show that the bones continue to mend well and new bone growth at the top of my tibia explains the lump under my skin! The consultant felt things were progressing well and we spent some time discussing next steps and in particular timing for removal of the x-fix frame. According to Mr Doyle, the very nice irish consultant, this is an art and not a science. No two complex fractures mend in the same way and so the main worry remains that they could take off the frame too early and my leg won’t be strong enough. If it fractures again then we are not back to zero, we are back to -zero and serious complications.

I was really interested in some of the other information which he explained to me, and grateful that he took time to over lots of questions from me – including –

– because my injuries involved ‘segmented fractures’ (i.e. both bones broken badly in two places, top and bottom), the body has a tendency to put lots of energy and dedication into mending one of the breaks really well and then slows down or even stops because it thinks the mending is done!

– my fibula bone has never fused back together properly and I was worried about how that’s going to work in the long-term. He explained that fibula bones are not at all important and don’t help with weight-bearing at all. In fact they might even consider removing it altogether if its holding up the mending process in the tibia by acting as a splint and not allowing the bones to fuse well. In bone graft situations surgeons often remove a fibula bone to create a graft in another leg bone. Who knew!

– in most situations where an x-fix frame is fitted and a long recovery process is expected, patients should be offered psychiatric treatment and counselling support – and now they tell me!

Anyway, looking forward then I am going to try and increase my exercise routine over the next four weeks and lose some weight at the same time (and as much as I can!), so that with everything being positive on 22nd February they’ll set a date for frame removal and then (after a week in bed to rest)  I can think about being much more active again, about going out for walk with the dog, about not flinching everytime someone bumps into my metal leg, and about riding, driving, swimming,…. having a bath! mmmmmmmm! yes please!

10

10

Christmas Update

I haven’t found much time to keep blogging recently. I’ve been in the office a lot more in recent weeks and able to do 3 or 4 days a week at my desk now without causing too much swelling and soreness. Its been good to have some routine again, although I am completely knackered in the evenings and tend to get in eat, clean up pin-sites and then head for bed. Still at least I’m back in action and I’ve also managed to get along to the couple of meetings and events in the past couple of weeks with support from friends and colleagues playing taxi. 

I’m still very aware of people’s reactions to the injuries and the frame. Generally people fall into two categories – people who clearly do not want to know the injury details at all let alone look at the frame in all its glory, and people who are completely fascinated by it all and will look really closely at the frame the pins and work out how its all holding together! And I have to say I’m not sure which type of reaction I feel comfortable with at all. I don’t like upsetting people, and I also feel a bit uncomfortable with close inspection of my leg (especially as its proving difficult to shave my hairy limb!)

So generally things have continued to improve. Swelling and soreness is still an issue especially if I spend too much time standing or sitting with my leg down. And I genuinely forget some days when I am absorbed in work! My physio sessions have stepped up a pace and I am now able to do a few minutes each on the treadmill and the cross-trainer. Its painful for sure, but it also feels really good to be moving and using muscles which haven’t been tested for 4 months now. 

My next hospital assessment (x-rays and consultation) is January 23rd and so I won’t know until then how much longer in the frame or what the long-term prognosis looks like. But hopefully the bones will have fused and strengthened enough for frame removal soon after that date and then I can really start to build strength and movement and recovery. I think there will always be a worry about re-fracture in the leg and so I’ll have to learn how to deal with that.

And so now I really am looking forward to Christmas. All my family is coming round for dinner and its going to be lovely to have everyone here celebrating and having fun. And then on to 2013 and some better news and lots of things I have to catch up on – including getting back in the saddle of course 🙂

 

 

10

Up-and-Downs of the Week

Well after the considerable turmoil which followed from the consultants decision at frame clinic last week (see post here) I’ve had a week of very different emotions.

Lets start on the positive side – last night my niece and nephew came to stay overnight and we had such fun and laugher in the house. It was wonderful and they are such a great ‘medicine’ for me right now. I love being with them and just being able to act silly and play, its a great therapy. We all need more playtime in our lives.

And another very positive things is that I’ve managed to spend a whole day in the office and without too much discomfort and pain. I ordered an extra large/long beanbag which I’ve had delivered to the office and this gives me chance to relax and elevate the leg in between time at the desk/screen/phone calls.

Its been great to be back with colleagues and friends and to be feeling ‘normal’ in the working sense. Although I have to say I am not sure I get as much work done in the office as I have been getting done here at home! And of course I am still the main entertainment factor in the office – the use of my condition continues to generate plenty of social media hits/visits/likes .

“Guess who’s in the office today”!

Initially I was accepting of the situation, positive about how I could deal with another few months in the frame and ready to re-plan the weeks ahead with this in mind. My attitude was that there is nothing I can do to change the current situation and if I keep positive then at least the weeks will pass quickly and I’ll get stronger and more able as I go along even with the frame.

But, then I found myself over the course of a few days getting angry over the smallest of things and with just about everyone. And when I say angry, I wasn’t just simmering and cross – on a couple of occasions I was absolutely livid and crying over things which really are not very important at all. I am certain that I’ve upset some people including those closest to me of course, and I only hope that they understand and can be patient with me too.

Being Careful

Sometimes we all forget that there are reasons our brains tell us to be careful, slow down. I’ve had a few ‘dodgy moments’ lately – mainly because I want to be able to do more than I can, but each time I know I’ve had to stop and consider long-term gains more than my short-term frustrations

My Blog for Devon Air Ambulance

My Blog for Devon Air Ambulance

Ever since the accident I’ve been trying to find ways to support the Devon Air Ambulance Trust and will find some very meaningful ways in 2013. But in a small way I hope my blog published this week will bring interest and extra supporters to their cause.