THE QUEEN OF RIDICULOUS INJURIES - RECAP

For the first time in a little over a year, I am relatively injury free! I figured I’d better write this quickly before something else happens. The old saying “getting old ain’t for sissies” is most definitely true. I seem to have recently become "the queen of ridiculous injuries".

Let me recap for you. In June of 2022, Lou and I went on a Caribbean cruise with Darrin (my son) and Charley (my granddaughter). On the way we sat down at a restaurant in the airport and I pushed a really heavy chair back to put my bag on it. Something in my right upper arm ripped, tore or popped and there was a searing pain for a few minutes.

Once the initial pain had lessened, it didn’t hurt but a 3-4” bright purple bruise formed just above my elbow over the next few days. I saw my doctor upon on my return but with ultrasounds and MRIs and referrals it was August when I finally had surgery to repair three tendons in my shoulder. Two were partially torn and the other completely ripped away from my rotator cuff. When I do things, I do them right!

I had a great orthopedic surgeon who specializes in shoulders and he did it arthroscopically with six small incisions. The rehab was a bitch. I slept in a recliner for over four weeks and had to do everything left-handed or with Lou’s help. I was in a sling for four months which included our move to Roseville. My sister and brother-in-law were a big help and somehow, we managed. After months of physical therapy, I was using my arm and shoulder pretty well.

Just about that time, I woke up one morning and my right foot hurt like hell. I have severe neuropathy but this was different and far worse. I could barely walk, and no way could I drive. Lou drove me to urgent care the next day. An x-ray showed that I had a fractured second metatarsal bone and I came home with a rigid boot up to my knee. The only explanation I could come up with was that I must have broken it getting out of my bathtub since I was still favoring my right arm and couldn’t push up with it??? I told you – the queen of ridiculous injuries.

My foot took its sweet time healing and suddenly the pain got way worse again. An x-ray showed the third metatarsal was now broken, also. I had just transitioned to the post op shoe but it was back to the boot. I am still at a complete loss as to how that bone broke. FYI: I had a bone scan that showed only minimal bone density loss.

After another three months in the boot or post op shoe, I finally saw the latest x-ray showing that both bones are healed! After almost eight months, I am now able to start walking in regular shoes but must “be careful”. I’m still digging through my closet looking for all my right shoes since I only wore the left ones since last December.

About a month and a half ago my right thumb started hurting – a lot. It was hard to do anything. I bought a thumb brace which helped some but it was really hampering me. I called my doctor (when the hell did my life start revolving around doctors?). She was pretty sure it was arthritis and recommended a cortisone shot. Oh, fun!

Cortisone wasn’t effective at all before my hip replacement five years ago so I wasn’t optimistic but decided I had to try something. The shot hurt like hell. She said it could take up to a week to see improvement which I thought was a little odd. After five days nothing was different and I was getting discouraged. On day six it felt a little better. Day seven and eight showed more improvement. It isn’t great but it is better for sure and I can do most daily activities with minimal pain. I’m calling that a victory for now.

So that is how, I am writing this the end of July with no pain in my close to 100% shoulder, two healed broken bones in my foot and a useable, basically pain-free right hand. Maybe, just maybe, I can make it through a few more years without any more torn or broken body parts. Here’s hoping the reign of the queen of ridiculous injuries is over!