Had a haircut last weekend - definitely can't Make my hair this pretty on a normal day, let alone with only one hand.
Ten days ago, I was home from work earlier than usual, because the bunny had an appointment. I decided not to go back to work because I only would have been there another 20 minutes before the work day ended. So, because there was still daylight, and I had just gotten a new running outfit, I decided to hit the pavement and log a few miles. Little did I know that I would LITERALLY hit the pavement as I rounded the corner, as my toe caught a crack just right to make me go flying. I honestly don’t know exactly what happened. I was in the air, parallel with the ground, and I caught myself stupidly with my left hand, which was also the hand holding my phone (which is completely fine). I was in a bit of pain, hoping I was fine, but I looked at my hand and immediately knew something was wrong. My knuckles looked out of place, like there was an extra bend (the wrong way) in my fingers. I wish I had taken a picture. I think I was in shock.
Luckily a neighbor saw me, helped me up and walked me home. (I apologized for cussing in front of his kid, but he said he understood based on the fall.) Once inside, I sat on the couch and started yelling for Nathaniel, who thankfully was home, and so was our friend, Grant, who was such a help and hung out with us the whole evening. They both came running up the stairs from the basement, and once I showed Nathaniel my hand, he insisted we go to the hospital. He had to find his wallet, so he sat me at our kitchen island, and I said, “I think I’m going to pass out,” and then I did. Luckily Grant kept me from hitting my head. I woke up after being out about 15 seconds, which Nathaniel has described as the scariest moments of his life because my eyes were open but I wasn’t really there. Coming out of it felt like vividly dreaming so hard that my body just wanted to stay asleep. I do wish I could remember the dreams, though.
Grant chauffered us to the hospital. While we waited in the waiting room, we played “Heads Up”, the Star Wars version, which Nathaniel said I was better at while I was in pain. Finally we got back into the ER, where we had to figure out how to get my engagement and wedding rings off, because my fingers were SUPER swollen. (Note: If your fingers ever start swelling, take your rings off immediately.) Soap did not work, and they kept saying how its easy to cut them, bend them, then have a jeweler fix them, but my ring has meteorite in it, which can’t be bent, so we had them try a different method, where they put thread under the rings, then wrap the thread around your fingers, which helps compress and even out the swelling. This was by far the most painful part of the evening, but it did work.
I then got some X-rays and waited… Finally when the X-rays were done, the doctor confirmed that my middle and ring fingers were both broken, and mentioned something about a prescription for Percocet, where I quickly chimed in, asking, “Can I have some now?”. Yes, you heard me right, I had to ASK, after 1.5 hours in the ER with broken fingers, for painkillers. I hadn’t even been given a numbing shot before they tugged my rings off. They decided to give me one pill, then wrapped my hand in a temporary splint.
The next day I went to see a hand doctor’s assistant, who said I shouldn’t need surgery, that I should be able regain full functionality, but that because the breaks are close to the joint, I might have some pain in life… At least it wasn’t worse. My head and face are fine, my knees are fine, and I can still function, though in a gimpy manner. A follow appointment revealed that in order to get my ring finger properly aligned, I need a pin surgically inserted, so that will be happening on Tuesday... But I will do anything to get my fingers to 100%!
I am frustrated by several things I can’t do:
- I can’t open everything myself.
- I can’t play my stringed instruments.
- I can’t wear most of my clothes, because they either won’t fit over my cast or I can’t do the buttons/zippers.
- I can’t tie my shoes.
- I can’t do my hair.
- I can’t sew/craft (yet? I wanted to make a Valentine's Day outfit...)
Sure makes you appreciate being able to use both hands. But this is just an obstacle. There are still lots of things I CAN do, like:
Broken fingers can't keep me from my fitness routine!
- I can still go to work, and type one handed!
- I can go to yoga, finding modifications that work for me (lots of dolphin and forearm plank)
- I can still run (and I put my phone in a pocket). I’m thinking of investing in a sports belt of some sort so I can have it tucked away no matter what I decide to wear.
- I can drive.
- I can still use my dominant hand. So, so thankful I didn’t break my right hand (or my face)!.
Anyway, there’s a recap of my crazy injury - seriously, who breaks their fingers on a run? Hopefully there won’t be any more curveballs thrown at me during the recovery. And since I can’t just mend my bones with magic (where is Madam Pomfrey when you need her?), I am going to use this as a learning experience, and make sure I do everything possible to get back to 100%.
