A few years ago, while I was at work, I climbed up one of those rolling step ladders to get a piece of equipment. I turned around to descend the steps when my shoe slipped on the edge of the top step and I went all the way down! Unfortunately, my left leg went down but my right leg stayed where it was and twisted up behind me. The pain in my knee was so bad that it took my breath away and I had to sit on the steps for about 10 minutes because I couldn’t move. I finished my workday and rested that night stuffing myself with Advil. The next morning, it didn’t feel too bad so I went for a 2 mile run. By the time I got home it was definitely aching but not seriously. That night, I went dancing with some friends and, by the end of the night, I knew something was terribly wrong. The rest of the weekend I iced my knee because it was in so much pain. I nursed it along for the next few months but, after six months, I finally realized that it was not going to get better on its own. I finally went to a specialist and, sure enough, I had torn the meniscus. It was decided that surgery was necessary to repair it.
I made the appointment, took the time off work, and got prepared for what was supposed a one week ordeal. Unfortunately, once the surgeon went in, he found that it wasn’t just torn, but completely separated and he had to remove it. I got home on full drugs and was taken upstairs to my room. I slept for a few hours and then woke up feeling extremely thirsty. Now, I am a very independent person and do not ask for help often which is not a good thing! I got out of bed, grabbed my crutches, which I had never used before and left my room. I got to the top of the stairs and for some reason, most likely the fact that I was on very heavy pain meds, I thought I could simply crutch my way down. Well, I got as far as the first step and before I knew was what happening, I was thumping my way down 15 stairs!!!
My poor, sweet roommate, was in the front room with her one-year-old baby and her dog. The baby started screaming because the noise of my thumping scared the crud out of him; and the dog, well, the dog did a nervous butt excretion and filled the room with a god-awful tuna-like smell! My roommate rushed to put her screaming baby in the playpen and then ran over to me in utter shock at what she had just witnessed!
Now, my family members all know that if I ever get injured, which is often as you have been reading about, to just let me be. The most annoying question anyone can ask me is, “Are you ok?” No! I’m not ok! I am in utter pain and don’t have the capacity to talk about it! Oh, and I feel stupid and embarrassed too! Lol!!!
Thankfully, my roommate did not ask me if I was ok because she could clearly see that I wasn’t as I lay in a heap at the bottom of the stairs! She caringly asked, “What can I do for you?” Such wisdom from a beautiful soul! I simply responded, “I don’t know, just take care of the baby and I’ll figure it out.” I forgot how got back up the stairs but I did, took more pain killers for the additional pain I had just brought upon myself, and crashed for several hours.
When I woke up, everything hurt. I looked in the mirror and was literally shocked at how awful I looked! My eyes are both swollen and the right side now exhibiting a shiner; the whole left side of my face was bruised and there were massive bruises all over my legs and left thigh. I would explain why I didn’t immediately call the doctor or go to the urgent care, however, you can read all about that in the story of the Four Holes! (YCMTSU: The Tale of Four Holes). When the weekend passed, because my friends and family were concerned about the severity of the fall, I sent a message to my doctor. After speaking with a nurse, they insisted that I get to the emergency room right away! Reluctantly, I did so and went through the CT scans and multiple x-rays all to find out that nothing was wrong. Well, I did have a concussion, but those are old hat to me at this point in my life (also Four Holes)!!! I ended up having to take three weeks off of work just to recover from that ridiculous fall! So, what did I learn? If you have surgery… Don’t try walking down any stairs, especially with crutches 🙂 !!!
Until next time, be careful and stay safe!
Beautifully Unbroken 
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