I've been thinking about what angle to use for this blog but I can't really think of anything creative. At this moment, I'm stuck somewhere between incredibly annoyed and amused by my situation. Right now, I'm leaning toward incredibly annoyed. As it sits right now, I'm down about 30 hours at work trying to get my leg fixed. I guess that's what I get for working in a sandwich shop where to perform my job I have to be able to move quickly between our stations.
Despite my annoyance of being down like 1/3 of my bi-weekly paycheck, I'm trying to keep my head up. On the bright side, I was able to spend the entire weekend with my older sister and my mother. I hadn't seen my mom since Father's Day so it was nice to spend time with her. I was also able to do some trip planning since I'm going to Yellowstone in 12 days (I booked our campground and finalized flight arrangements... I'm currently in the process of trying to find a cab company to take me to the airport).
So here's my long story fit into just a few sentences: Thursday morning I woke up and put my leg on like I normally do. As I walked around my house, I heard this odd clicking noise. Odd noises from my leg aren't really anything new because my knee squeaks. I didn't really think anything of it until I got to work and it just felt off. So I sat down and did the only thing I could think of wiggle my foot. Generally, feet can wiggle but when mine does, something is seriously wrong. No wiggling allowed. I tried not to move but it's SO difficult working as a manager at a sandwich shop. It got looser as the night when on and I could feel it. Then at about 7:30, I tried to go back to our "office" and I was stuck. Couldn't really move forward without falling, couldn't really move backwards without falling. The foot is still technically attached to my leg but barely. It's like when you were a kid and that pesky loose tooth was hanging out on by that last corner... that's how my foot is attached to my leg. If I wiggle it at all, it will fall off.
So Friday I called the leg people to get it fixed and I needed a prescription. I called the drs office and they told me to I needed an appointment and I couldn't be fit in until Monday at 3:30. So I automatically missed two days of work because I was supposed to close Saturday and Sunday. I called the leg people again this morning since I was pretty sure my doctor wasn't going to deny my plea to get a prescription and they said, "How about Friday?"
UHHHHHHH... no. So I told her I couldn't go back to work until it was fixed and the soonest they had was Wednesday at 3. I partly wish I had a job where I could go to work and not need the leg but oh well. So I get an unexpected week vacation and get to spend more time on my crutches than I have in the last 13 years.
So here are a couple thing they never tell you about crutches:
1. Ladies, don't ever try to wear a shoulder purse on crutches... not only is it inconvenient, it doesn't work. Get an over the shoulder purse that will sit at your hips or better yet, carry a small backpack. Your armpits will thank you later.
2. If your going to be on crutches on an extended period of time, don't be afraid to ask for a handicap parking permit. There's no reason to strain your entire body hobbling across the parking lot (this is ESPECIALLY important in winter). Ice + crutches = back to the doctor very quickly. It will make your life easier and your whole body will thank you.
3. You think you don't enough hands now... once crutches come your way, you have no hands. Enlarge your purse, carry a backpack, and don't be afraid to ask for help. Trust me, when you are on crutches people will be more than willing to help.
4. If you find yourself hungrier than usual, it's normal. Using crutches is great exercise (definitely for the arms) and expect to tire more quickly, and probably eat more. This will happen if you're incredibly active on your crutches or if your more of a couch potato.
5. Crutches aren't toys, don't treat them as such. This comes from first hand experience. Crutches are meant to keep you moving and on your feet. Don't swing on the crutches, don't attempt to run on them and DO NOT let your friends use them as weapons. As a kid, I used my crutches ALL the time. My leg never really fit good (or I was too lazy too use it) and one time in 3rd grade I was running out to the playground on my crutches and face planted. It was bad. We're talking emergency dental surgery, two black eyes, one very messed up lip and I wouldn't be surprised if I broke my nose... although at the time, the two teeth hanging on by threads were of more concern. I still have those two teeth and if you look closely, you can see the line where they cracked. So please take it from me and stay safe. If you're already hurt, don't make it worse.
And random side note: legs are very hard to transport, I didn't really have a bag big enough. This is a conundrum that I haven't solved. And does anyone know how much a foot costs these days? Yea, it worries me too. I couldn't sleep last night because of it.
