This has nothing to do with my riding.I am not moving up to a new dressage level. This refers to the fact that about 18 years ago I had a ‘sub’ trochanteric hip fracture and now, as of this past week, I have a Greater trochanteric hip fracture . Yup! You never know what fate has in store for you. This past week my husband was away looking after our Grandson as our daughter and son in law were away. So one seven year old, two dogs, two cats and two hamsters were in his charge. This had me doing some of his tasks here at home. One of these was to take the recycling out to the road for collection on Thursday morning. I put the bins into a cart and wheeled them down the driveway.Then I reached over and picked up the two bins and swung them to my right and put them down at the edge of the road. As I did this I got a sharp twinge in my right hip. I hoped it would be nothing but as the day wore on he pain got worse and worse. That night I could not sleep at all. I decided I had better go to the ER at the hospital and get it checked out. I arrived at the hospital at 6am. My history and reason for my visit was recorded and then I was seen by a doctor. Then X Rays. I was in a wheelchair as the hip was too painful to walk. After the x rays it was not long before a nurse came and moved me into a curtained cubicle and small bed. Then a different nurse came in and said:”You have broken your hip. So nothing to eat or drink as they may do surgery. You will be admitted to the hospital.” I was shocked . “Broken?” I squawked. “That’s what they told me ,” She said . “You are not to move so I will be putting in a catheter as you cannot get up or go to the bathroom.” I was stunned!
Some time passed, and I was sent for a CT Scan. Then my husband arrived. Our son in law and daughter were back and so he had come home. I was very happy to see him I can tell you.
The next thing was the surgeon came in to see me. He was the same surgeon who had repaired my “sub” hip fracture all those years ago. He told me that this time there would not be a need for surgery. The fracture would heal in about 6 weeks. And he had arranged to have the physio therapist come and make sure I could get around with a walker and go up and down stairs. If I managed this then I could go home!
By now they had given me some pain medication by IV and I felt little pain. I got up and with the physio walked along the hallway. But pain meds always make me nauseous. So I asked for a bowl which she quickly handed me and I threw up into it. So it was suggested that I get some anti- nausea medication before we tried to go up and down the stairs . Once it took effect we did the stairs up and down and I got ready to go home.
So how did I get this “great ” fracture? Well that swing round with the weight of the two recycling bins and all my weight on my right leg did it. Oddly enough I have done some research and some young male athletes get the same injury when they do this kind of move. Older people, like me, usually get it from a fall. It was suggested that I had osteoporosis . But I have had bone density checks done six months ago and my spine was good, forearms good, and only my left wrist was slightly weaker. They cannot check my hips because I have had both hips replaced.
My GP said to me once :”We know diddly squat about bone density.People who have good results from the tests have breaks and people whose density looks very poor on the tests break nothing. You’re at risk because you’re a skinny woman.”
Ah! I remembered that and just as I did my GP walked in. He does two days in the week at the ER. He asked me how I had done it and I told him. Then I reminded him about what he had said about bone density and “skinny women.” He laughed and said that he wished I had remembered something really intelligent that he had said. I told him it was really intelligent and I was now the living proof of that.
So there you have it. I will have my friend Willie Walker with me for a week or two until the physio , who will be coming to our house to get me stronger, lets me know that I don’t need Willie Walker anymore.
The other thing I have from the hospital is a marvellous pair of yellow socks. They have sticky circles on them just like the socks for small children . So no slipping with these socks,
So no riding for me for the next six weeks. Luckily my coach Belinda and assistant Lynsey will be able to ride Biasini. So he will be fine and be fit for me when I get back. I will see the surgeon again in two weeks, and get xrays to see how the healing is going. Please send me positive thoughts, or prayers, to help with the healing,
That was my week. I could have done without this but, let’s face it, it could have been a lot worse.
Leave a Reply