Does it sometimes seem like tough things just keep happening? I am truly feeling that way today. First my Dad passing in Oct, then Shelby last week and now, on Thursday evening I was stepping out onto our deck and apparently just hit my foot totally wrong, fell and broke my ankle!!! It was really bad too, apparently broke in three places, so have spent the last two nights in the hospital, having surgery last night to put in a plate and pins. I had sprained it a few weeks back and the Dr said it was probably very weak still and all it took was one wrong step.

So now here I sit for the next eight weeks foot in a splint for two, then a boot for 6 more and not able to put any weight whatsoeven on it, using crutches which I am a total klutz at, and/or a walker which I feel more comfortable with, but still not very coordinated. I am so mad at myself, and so frustrated and scared I'll forget and put weight on the right foot, or fall or something. And as my daughter said, my personality doesn't sit still nor am I use to letting someone else do things like cook, shop, etc.

Guess the fact that we cancelled our cruise on Oceania that was supposed to start the 14th was fortuitous as we certainly would not be going now.

I feel like a little black cloud has settled itself over us or something. Sighhhhh....oh well, I guess it could have been something much worse. :mad: :mad: :mad: GRRRRRRR!

Oh JoAnn,

I am so sorry to hear about your fall, surgery and your present situation. Hopefully that black cloud will go away and a beautiful sunshine will take its place. Get someone to supply you plenty of good books and movies and catch up on some fun literature.

You have lots of good friends here to send you get-well wishes. Hoping life starts treating you better soon.

So sorry to hear, but agree with Beth - take advantage of your "down" time and try to enjoy! Do you do needlework?

Wishing you a very speedy recovery!

Joann, I'm familiar with those black clouds, hang in there cupcake, we'll try and entertain you here on LCT, I'll even send you a few jokes :D

Joann, so sorry to hear about your fall and surgery. Hang in there!

Nancy

Thanks Beth, Kathy and Nancy - appreciate your good wishes.

Suzie - you brought a smile to my face with the anticipation of a few jokes. I do know you are familiar with black clouds from our recent emails about TUT. Thanks

I think I should have titled this "Life just comes at you fast sometimes" I feel lately like I'm in one of those Mario cars my Grandkids play on Wii!

Poor JoAnn! At least you got through the "bad things come in threes" stage! I hope it isn't hurting you too much.

Thanks Karen -pain is not an issue, at least since the surgery. On Friday when the ankle had just been re-aligned on Thursday night, I was in pain and pretty wigged out on drugs - which I hate and I do have a high pain tolerance, but not then, anyway, once they did the surgery last night the pain was pretty non existent. Now frustration is a whole other issue, and I am definitely that! Oh well, I can't change it, and will just have to adjust as time goes on.

JoAnn, the same thing happened to Mark several years ago! He healed SO fast, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you will too! He did best with a walker, and he refused to NOT put weight on that foot, and he still healed fast.

I had a broken ankle a few years ago but never had to have any plates put in! I do know the pain you were in before your surgery, JoAnn, it is awful!

JoAnn: Identical thing happened to gal here - it was a royal PITA, BUT, "this too shall pass" - so very sorry you are dealing with it - hard to be patient when you have GO GO personality! :hug: :hug: :hug:

Oh JoAnn...so sorry to hear this!! Glad you're home and the surgery is behind you. Like Karen said, things come in three's. I think after what you've gone through...you're home free for life (at least I sure hope so).

Order food in or get take out. Now it seems like most restaurants (like Outback etc.) all have curb side pick up. Are you listening Frank....Let's try and make the best of this unfortunate accident!! :hug:

Good idea Marcie - we aren't take out people, but we may have to do so in the next few weeks.

Pam - I will be encouraged by Mark's quick progress and hope for that too.

Joanna - thanks for those hugs.

Another thought JoAnn...popular in So.Cal for working people is these meal services where you pick up once a week (or maybe they deliver?) and you just pop them in the oven. You have a week's worth of meals in your freezer...I've never tried them but the concept seems to have caught on, entres, salads, desserts...whatever.

AHHH the bad things come in three's - I grew up with that saying - my mother and her sisters always said it! Drives Tony nuts - he'll say "car battery dead, heat pump not working right, lost a contact lens" I'll say "you're home free all problems over for awhile you met the "3" quota"....

OMG, JoAnne!!! I'm so sorry to hear this. Hoping that you will recover in record time!

Sorry to hear, JoAnn. You're right, things do seem to be under a black cloud right now - hope that it starts clearing up for you soon!

So sorry, Joann! I had a recent similar experience, and learned to watch TV again, not so old reruns, especially! Hope you love reading, and like gf said, needlework of some sort might be nice to learn for another distraction! Know you are Type A, and it won't be easy for you to chill on the sofa or in a chair! Good luck!

JoAnn, what a bummer! :( Glad the surgery is over and you can concentrate on healing. Here is hoping you are a quick healer.

Jennifer had some foot surgery recently, and once she reached the boot stage, she was able to drive and get around.

Good Luck!
...............................
Susan

Joann, i am sitting in my recliner right now with a L foot injury. The only thing broken is my toe.It happened a week ago when I was draging some exercise euiptment. It folds up when you put it away. Well, mine (a gazzelle) opened up and knocked me over and landed square in the middle of the L foot. My foot is still swollen and all my toes are completely black. I have alot of soft tissue injury on the top of my foot. I tried to work one night but the pain and swelling was so bad; I had to come home. Told to stay off my foot. I am terrible on crutches too.I can teach pt's to use them but can't myself. Be very careful driving when you get the boot. You can't feel to pressure you are putting on the gas peddle. Also, also ask your doctor about a bone stimulator. It does heal the bone faster. John had foot surgery last year that didn't go well. 2 months later they ordered him a bone stimulator. It did seem to help. Better days ahead. Judy

JoAnn, the GOOD news is that breaks are easier to heal from than sprains I have found. I have done both in the past few years. I know it seems so cumbersome and awful now and you feel so confined, but it will get better.

The pain WILL subside and just keep as active as you can with those crutches and use them to your advantage. Ask the doctor to get you a handicapped sticker for your car. Now, you can get better parking spots when you want to shop; you will find people will be more courteous to you; if you want to to the theater or a game, there are special accesses so you can avoid the lines. You can use this time to take it a bit easy and make the hubby do more for you. See, there are benefits.

However, try to keep exercising and moving to keep the weight off and keep active. Life doesn't stop because of a broken leg. Think of all those handicapped folks there.

Isn't it the worst, when bad things pile up on you at one time? You are too nice a person for this. The summer is coming and this should help. We are thinking of you and wishing you our very best.

WOW Judy so sorry to hear of your foot injury, glad you weren't more seriously injured. I hope you recover quickly. I probably won't be driving, not that I couldn't, but we will just work things when Frank can take me, I don't want to even be doing crutches on my own, I make sure he is right there. Maybe as time goes on I will become more comfortable.

Joanna, Betty, Masaki, Oliva thanks for your encouraging words.

Susan - thanks too, tell Jennifer I'm glad she is on the mend and can drive around. Tell her hello from us as well.

Very sorry to hear this, JoAnn. I hope your recovery is speedy. Take care. Wishing you far better days ahead, my friend. :hug:

Just think how strong you will feel when it's healed

JoAnn,
I am so sorry to hear of your latest catastrophe. I am in a similar situation, 2 broken bones in my ankle, but they are small and the doctor is trying to avoid surgery. My poor Snowy has not had a walk for 3 weeks, although I have learned how to drive with this huge boot on. I also have had 3 weeks of a show to do, and it closed today, so now I can concentrate on doing nothing, and hope it will heal. \
I hope your recovery is quick and painless, and I also agree with everyone who said that bad things come in 3's, so you are home free.
Best of luck
Lynn

JoAnn, JoAnn, What are we going to do with you? Keep cheering you up until you are back on your feet (Foot?) again, I suppose! Please take the time you need to heal. My Mom and Marc's Mom have both been through this in the last 2 years, so Marc and I both understand what you are going through and how important it is to get everything healing properly.

Arlene

JoAnn: Sorry to read about your foot and hope it heals quickly. I can't add more to what's already been said but you now have a perfect excuse for keeping the LCT board busy! Lee

Thanks everyone, all your thoughts are so appreciated, truly.

Lynn - so sorry to hear you are dealing with a similar issue, I hope yours heals without surgery and Snowy and you will get back to walking.

Lee, I don't know if I alone can keep the board busy, but maybe I should try.

Arlene - yea I know, I'm just a pain!!! LOL! Well with any luck by TUT I'll be back to my normal self and wearing my wondeful pearls.

JoAnn, hoping for your speediest and pain free recovery...here is one of the most informative sites I found on advice (from a MD) on recovering from a broken ankle...of course best advice is to follow your doctors recovery & rehab plan...
best, Wes

http://orthopedics.about.com/od/castsfracturetreatments/ht/quickly.htm

JoAnn,
So sorry to hear of all your troubles. I broke my ankle two years ago just prior to a planned vacation. It was no fun but I did (and you will) get through it.

I think we all have times when it seems everything is falling apart and if one more thing happens, well we might just fall apart...then that one more thing does happen! And we don't fall apart. You will get through this, many positive thoughts are coming your way!

Sorry to hear about your poor luck, JoAnn. Ok, so what can you do while recuperating? Well, you could read a book or watch Idol or Lost. How about learning something on your computer? Join the Facebook and twitter generation or something else that would help your business. Ask me, I'm becoming a social media butterfly (notice I didn't say "guru.") I always save "organize the photos" for my "if I break my leg" downtime. Never happens. Oh, I'll probably have an injury some day, that's inevitable in the baby boomer years, but I still won't organize those photos! I'll probably be on my death bed, saying, "Wait, I need to organize the photos."

Thanks Wes, Lauri and Donna.

Wes - that website had a link to "rentakneewalker.com" that I went to, and yesterday my knee walker rollabout arrived and my life improved greatly, as it is so much easier to use than the walker and gives me a lot more stability and balance. My Dr was quite impressed with it when we went for a check yesterday.

Donna - I'm like you keep saying I'm going to organize those photos. Would you believe our pictures from B2B last may are still in the camera? Maybe at least I will download them and get them on the computer. :D

JoAnn, your very welcome..the patient's attitude makes a huge difference in recovery...considering your positive outlook you should be recovered all ready!...best, Wes

JoAnn, hope you get well soon! You've got some travelling to do and you can't do it with a gimpy foot/ankle ;) -- at least not as well. Hi to Gaylord, I'm sure he's taking good care of you.

Thanks Peggy. You are right, I have places to go and things to do and this is a big PITA! We are doing a one week cruise in Sept on Princess to make up for the one we cancelled, which of course was longer and much more expensive, plus we had a huge air credit we needed to apply, so we, Tom and Mona and one other couple are doing a 7night to the Mexican Riv, and I WILL be there!

By the way, congratulations to your son for his achievement, I'm sure you and Jerry are very proud.