Lucky : Live & Learn...

Recovery

Before I left the hospital, the last thing the doctor tried to stress to me was that getting back up and walking was going to be a long process. Even the smallest fracture can take up to 6 weeks to heal. Even then, it may not necessarily still be healed 100%. I had told him both of my jobs; One was pretty much running up and down stairs all night for 4 hours straight serving food and beverages, and the other involved lifting and manoeuvring heavy bags around a resort, but mainly up and down stairs. Yes; both my jobs were extremely physically demanding and involved stairs… I was screwed with a fractured pelvis! Definitely no lifting of any items and no chance in hell of attacking stairs anytime soon.

My mind reeled though, and the panic took over. 6 weeks?! I couldn’t be out of action for 6 weeks! What would I do? How was I going to earn money to support myself? I only had a few sick hours from my part time job, and the other was casual so that gave me nothing. 6 weeks was unimaginable! How was I going to survive? I knew I couldn’t rush it though; I was just going to have to see how I went.

The pool fitness challenge/ workout I had designed every morning definitely helped me. Not only to encourage movement and push myself within reason, but it also gave me a reason to get out of bed! Without the focus I know some days I probably wouldn’t have.

So I got up every morning and worked through it. After that I’d have some breakfast, then lay outside and read a book. Not much else to do when you can barely get around and you’re not earning any money. Needless to say, being awesome summer days I was probably the brownest person around town. I may have hobbled like an old lady; but damn I looked good!

Some days I’d need to get some groceries, or get some more books from the library. My friends had said if I ever needed a lift anywhere, company or any help of any kind to just call them, but I hated relying on them. I insisted on doing everything for myself! As I said before, I gave up the crutches after 2 days, they were just too painful, so getting out and about was always a long, slow and painful process.

I remember the first time I decided to do my grocery shopping.. I got my bags together and looked up when the next bus was coming. It said a 2 minute walk to the bus stop. I allowed 10 and only just made it on time. When I got to the shops, I found the closest trolley to use as a leaning device and did the slowest shop ever. I got so many strange looks… She’s young, she’s fit, there’s no cast on her leg.. Why is she hobbling so slowly and wincing every 2 seconds? I guess I would have thought the same in their situation. I did the shop though and made my way back and onto the bus.

I’m also going to mention right now, that bus rides would have to be one of THE worst things ever for a fractured pelvis. They’re jerky and rough and I was almost in tears by the end of it. Getting off the step of them is just as bad and before I’d even started the last little walk home I just wanted to die. Considering I’d left home 3.5 hours before, and only had 2 bags of shopping, you can imagine how slow I was travelling by this time. I had to get there though and was so close. I also bribed myself I could have a pain tablet when I got home. 2 in the morning to start the day, and 1 mid-afternoon, was what got me through my injury in the end and I’ll admit I’m very proud of that!

The last 10 minutes of the trip though felt like an eternity. I was tired, the bags were heavy and I was IN PAIN. I got halfway up the slight hill that led to my place and dropped the bags. The tension in my back felt so bad I actually squatted down and started hugging my knees. A mini stretch that made me feel slightly better. Needless to say, the neighbours officially were looking at me like a weirdo for it, but I didn’t care. It got me home and I felt so accomplished!