sdelmonte: (Default)
Alex W ([personal profile] sdelmonte) wrote2018-12-30 11:42 am

So where were we?

Greetings.  If you haven't left Dreamwidth and are among my regular readers, glad to see you.  If you left DW and are returning as the Tumblexodus begins, welcome back.  As you may have noticed, I have been posting a lot less.  Some of that is because DW has been quiet overall.  But of late, it's because I broke my scapula.  Here's my story.

Out for a walk on November 11, as I often do on Sunday mornings.  Dunkin iced tea in one hand, the drug store two blocks away and ready for me to make a pickup.  I trip.  I fall.  I lose the iced tea.  I land on my hands, as one does.  I am in a lot of pain.  A lot more than from a routine trip.  I slowly stumble to a small park a block a way, land on a bench, and make phone calls to the volunteer ambulance service and to Batya.  Soon enough we are both at the nearest hospital, and I am in the devil's own pain.  It is incredibly hard just getting my shirt off for the x-ray.  It is not fun.

One x-ray later, and it's determined I broke my scapula (shoulder blade).  This is not an easy thing to do, as scapulas are well padded by surrounding muscles, tissue, etc.  I have no idea how I did it, but I did.  Go me.  I come home, make an appointment the next day with an orthopedist, and begin the long process of recovery.  Which meant two weeks out of work, three weeks of typing one handed, and six weeks of wearing a sling when I slept and a lot of time when I am awake.  Lots of Advil and icepacks.  Physical therapy twice a week.  And slowly starting to do all the things I suddenly couldn't do. 

Seven weeks later, I am at about 75 percent of "what I used to be able to do."  I can't reach out or up.  I can't lift anything beyond a certain weight.  I am still in pain a lot, albeit manageable pain.  I have only just begun to wash dishes again and use a knife.  And I am appreciating every little thing that I am once more able to do again.  I honestly missed doing the dishes.

There is a long road ahead yet.  But the doctor says I am where I should be at this point. And it's kind of amazing that bones can grow back, isn't it?

So that is one reason I have not been posting much. Longer stretches of typing are still a bit uncomfortable, and I need to save that for work.  But I am getting there.  And I totally recommend that you should avoid breaking your scapula.

PS: This is also why I didn't say anything about Stan Lee's death.  But by now, I doubt I have much to add.

 
gingicat: deep purple lilacs, some buds, some open (Default)

[personal profile] gingicat 2018-12-30 05:49 pm (UTC)(link)
I am so, so, sorry to hear this. May healing continue swiftly!
madfilkentist: My cat Florestan (gray shorthair) (Default)

[personal profile] madfilkentist 2018-12-30 09:45 pm (UTC)(link)
I hope your recovery continues smoothly, and that you're able to post more.
gorgeousgary: (Default)

[personal profile] gorgeousgary 2018-12-31 01:14 am (UTC)(link)
Ouch! Glad to hear you're on the mend.
skygiants: Princess Tutu, facing darkness with a green light in the distance (Default)

[personal profile] skygiants 2019-01-01 04:47 pm (UTC)(link)
I am very glad that recovery continues apace!