It seems as if the fall just came upon us September 1st. We had been having very warm temps, high humidity, and lots of rain in the weeks and months prior. Then just as it was time for school to start the cool breeze came in. It's so wonderful outside. Usually this is the time of year I take advantage of the nice breeze and go out rollerblading more often.
Well, that would be before my accident. August 14th we celebrated our 11th Anniversary and the following day I was invited to go rollerblading with a friend. I jumped at the chance because I had been wanting to go out all that day and there was a wonderful cool breeze all day that was calling my name.
I strapped on my skates and skated up and down the driveway, up and down the road, and back up and down my driveway until my friend dropped by with her skates. We hit the road and went down the bike trail by the library. We decided to check out a new trail by the dam and it started out nice, but a little tricky. There were a lot of sticks and seeds or tree debris laying around. We had a few storms in the past week and so that was probably why.
As we came down a small incline I noticed there was a small family with stroller and dog and didn't want to collide with them or be rude and force them out of the way. I hadn't realized that two different trails were about to merge and it looked as if there was a lot of dirt on the path. I decided to move myself towards the grass where there was a picnic table. I glanced back to make sure I wasn't going to cut off my friend and ended up hitting the grass differently than planned. I was hoping to use it to slow down and sit at the picnic table while we decided whether or not to continue down this trail.
Unfortunately that wouldn't become an option because as soon as I hit the grass I realized it was somewhat damp and squishy there and my left skate proceeded to leave the ground without me. Then, my body decided to follow as I was somehow launched up into the air and then landed on the back of my arm/wrist with my body. I knew immediately something was wrong, but otherwise I was ok. I was worried that I had dislocated my wrist.
My friend came to my side as I held my wrist to my chest and said, "Just pray for me". I wasn't sure what to do and if I let go of my hand I was in a lot of pain. I decided to take off my skates quickly and walk back up the hill to the main road. My wonderful friend skated all the way back to my home and got her vehicle. While I was waiting at the corner, a nice family stopped to see if I needed help and called my house for me. My friend showed up shortly and we were on our way to the ER.
I talked a lot to keep myself from thinking of the pain. When we got there they wanted me to sign some papers, but I couldn't let go of my hand. One of the workers there gave me an ice pack, but the ER was fairly busy that night. My friend sat with me while we waited a little over an hour and then I was finally called in. They wanted to put something on my arm to help me, but that hurt too much. Then they brought me into a room and talked about what they would need to do. I had to have an IV, get X-rays, and then wait a while longer for a different doctor to be called in. They ended up having to sedate me so they could try to put my wrist back in the correct position.
After my hubby got the kids in bed his dad stayed upstairs in case any of the kids got up and he drove over to relieve my friend and sit with me until I was done in the ER. It was a long night and they ended up taking lots of X-rays and wrapping my arm from the elbow to the hand. I was given some pain meds and left there around midnight. I was told that I would have to see a specialist in Eau Claire for surgery because it was an unstable fracture that could not be casted or fixed in any other way.
It was rough the next couple days, but I managed to get through it until I saw the Surgeon in Eau Claire. I had one appointment as a consultation and then the following Friday I had surgery. (Nearly a week after the incident.) I was quite nervous about surgery, but the nurses there did an amazing job. They were really good at getting the blood work and IV in. Never had it go that smoothly anywhere.
They had to put a needle in my underarm to block that arm from pain. That was very sore for about a week. They ended up using a laser to cut open my wrist and then screwed a titanium plate into my radius. I saw a lot of X-rays of it and it was a little weird to realize that I have screws in my arm. The best part...I was able to mostly sleep through the whole morning surgery.
The next couple days after the pain wore off were bad...really bad. Thankfully though it did not last forever and after a week or so I had to stop taking the pain meds because they were making everything worse. I started to get better a day or two after that. When it comes down to it I would rather have some pain/discomfort than feel nauseated all day, unable to eat, and unable to do much other than lay down.
My friends and church family were so great bringing meals and some groceries to us for about a week and a half. Yes, we ate too well and gained a little weight, but it was SUCH a blessing. My hubby was able to get a few weeks off work (FMLA) to help with my needs and take care of our kids.
I just had my second Occupational Therapy visit Thursday at 3 weeks past surgery and I'm starting to do well. I was finally able to drive for a little bit and catch up on some meetings for church events and pick up Julian from preschool on Wednesday.
Had I known my summer would be turned upside down, just like that, perhaps I would have stayed home that day and not gone rollerblading. I am telling parents now to make sure their kids use wrist guards if they skate board or rollerblade. I didn't have a horrible crash or accident, I mostly just slipped and landed wrong...but that's all it takes.
I am so thankful for all those that prayed for me in my healing and helped my family. I am hopeful that by the end of October I will be able to use my hand/arm well again. I will probably be a little nervous to skate again next year, but maybe as long as I get myself some wrist guards it will be ok.
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