One Year

Hello Everyone, 

It's been a while since my last post, it seems I am always busy now that my leg is practically back to normal. As you have probably guessed from the post title its a whole year to this day since I had my accident, fractured my tibia and fibula and ended up with an Ilzarov external-fixator frame. Its not been an easy past year for myself, my family and friends but it has definitely been an experience I wont ever forget. Although it was a very upsetting, painful and difficult time in my life there were some positives that come out of it. 

I have now graduated from university with a 2:1 degree in nursing which I am very proud of. Looks like those grueling hours of dissertation work whilst being laid up with my ex-fix paid off! It was a difficult challenge to complete university work while enduring the joys of an ex-fix and I'm sure anyone going through the same thing would agree. The simplest daily tasks become the biggest challenges, that's something I will never forget and now that I have my independence back will never take for granted again! 

Social life most certainly went on hold in the past year. I remember going to the supermarket for the first time with my ex-fix, that was a HUGE accomplishment. So to be able to go out with my friends to the shops, bars and restaurants is like winning the lottery! My social life has improved by far however I am much more conscious about the risks of having another accident which does make going out to places a bit nerve racking at times. Not to mention I always wear flat 'sensible' shoes these days, NO high heels for Rachel! Never again may I add! 

Thinking back to my time spent in hospital and when I first returned home with the ex-fix to how I am now really makes me realise just how dependent I was on my family. I mean right now I am able to sit here and type this post while enjoying a cuppa without feeling nauseous, severe pain in my leg and being completely out of it because of strong pain killers. Just that in itself is a massive difference!  

Looking to the future I am very hopeful my leg will pretty much return to its normal self, bar the scars. Which in actual fact I don't mind to much, they tell the story of my 'sexy leg' & as you can see from the picture below they have healed quite well. 

At my last appointment in December 2013 I was told my fractures had healed at the top of my leg however some of the fractures around the ankle area were still visible on x-ray. 
The professor informed me that I would need to take extra care as my bones are at risk of re-fracturing in the next 18 to 24 months. So although I am getting my life back on track and enjoying myself as my leg returns to normal I am still unable to do certain things. I was told not to do any running or gym exercise within this time period as this may cause re-fracturing of the bones. I am therefore taking it easy with exercise and focusing on walking correctly at present. This has improved since the ex-fix was removed however the muscles, especially around the ankle and foot areas need re-strengthening, I was told at my appointment the best way to improve this is by walking.    

The last year has been full of challenges I never imagined I would be facing. Just goes to show you never do know what life is going to throw at you! 

Ricky

Hello Everyone!

Just a quick update really. I am now currently back at placement at university on a phased return basis and start back properly next week. Everything seems to be coming together again however thats not to say there hasnt been any challenges. 

I am now only useing one crutch instead of two, and I do not need to use any crutches around the house or at work. My friend has named my crutch 'Ricky' so we now reffer to him as 'Ricky the Sticky'. Clearly I am back at university! 

You can see Ricky in the picture below. He has been on many outings recently! 

All in all everything is going great & what a difference it makes being busy everyday! 

I hope you are all well! I will post again soon!

Back to normal?

Sorry it's been a while since my last post, I have been really busy with university work, getting back to normal & raising money for the Diabetes UK Big Collection Weekend next month. This has all been a challenge with my leg situation! Even though it is now eight weeks since I had my ex-fix removed it is still a long haul until I am fully back to normal.

The professor told me at my last appointment that the tibia usually carries 60% of the body weight however as I have recently had fractures and the ex-fix removed mine is currently only 15% and is at risk of re-fracturing if I was to fall over. I was also informed not to carry any weight or to continue with the use of the treadmill at the gym. This was because of the risk of re-fracturing or damaging the bones. I have been told my leg should be back to normal by December this year, so fingers crossed!

I moved back to Stoke on Friday and have started back at university today! I can honestly say I do not know where the time has gone since breaking my leg! Although it has been a long and painful process it has still flown over! So if you have an ex-fix, I can say there is light at the end of the tunnel!

I am still using crutches now and then, mostly when I am out and about for balance. I am no longer using them around the house or shall I say flat now that I am moved into my new home! I am really looking forward to getting my life back on track now that I am getting my confidence back. I have my occupational health appointment tomorrow and after that I should hopefully be able to get back to my university hospital ward placement! 

Another little treat is being able to wear my jeans again! It is definitely the small things we take for granted! 

Is that the finish line I see?

Tomorrow marks 4 weeks since the removal of my ex-fix and I have my appointment (hopefully my final appointment!) for x-ray and review. I am now pottering about the house without my crutches and getting about much more freely. I hope with the news from tomorrows appointment I will be able to start going to the gym again. 

So is that the finish line I can see ahead!?

I bloody well hope so! It is about time isn't it? In total its been a grueling 23 weeks since my accident & boy has it felt long. I should be starting back at university late September so fingers crossed I will be walking like my normal self by then :')

Its been a long journey but all the hard work will be worth it in the end!

What are your thoughts?

A mountain climbed

So today I conquered another challenge...The stairs. I have finally walked to the top of the stairs, without falling down, without bashing into the banister rail and without hitting myself off the wall. It wasn't the most normal stair climb but I did do it and I did make it to the top in one piece! 

Okay so I haven't fully mastered the stairs as I still have to sit on my bum like a child to come down them, but I'm sure I will be walking up and down the stairs normally again soon. 

So being able to walk upstairs whenever I want, opens so many doors that were closed! 

One of the most simple and basic human rights, using the toilet in the bathroom! Well I can tell you all now that from now on this is what will be happening! No more commode thank you very much! I have never enjoyed sitting on the toilet in my bathroom ever so much in my life. A simple luxury. 

Another luxury is being able to have a proper bath with both legs in the water, as you will know from my previous posts. With the ability to walk upstairs I can have a bath whenever I want and with the strengthening of my leg getting in and out of the bath is near to normal now. 

Simply having the choice weather or not to go upstairs when I want is such a lovely feeling. 

What do you think?

Shoes

Hello everyone! 

Sorry its been a while since my last post, I am becoming more and more busy since having my ex-fix removed. Today's post is all about shoes, One of my favourite things! During my time with an ex-fix I found it very difficult to get comfortable shoes that would fit both feet. My foot of my broken leg would often swell making wearing shoes very awkward. 

 I bought myself some 'crocs' although I hated them, they were the only shoes I could get to fit comfortably on my poorly foot. They had plenty of room so if my foot became swollen it wouldn't be restricted like in other shoes. As they where slip on shoes they were also very practical for the type of ex-fix I had in place. As you may know my ex-fix came right down to my ankle which made it even more difficult to wear shoes or socks. The first month or so I could only wear my 'crocs' but as my swelling and pain began to reduce I could manage to wear my gym trainers and converse shoes. 

 I bought myself a new pair of 'Vans' my all time favourite shoesies! Unfortunately as my foot still swells as the blood flow has not yet returned to normal, I haven't been able to wear them :'(

Since breaking my leg after slipping over on a wet dance floor on a night out it has made me never want to wear heels ever again! Even though at the time I wasn't wearing heels, I had my comfy medium high wedges on. I had such a big collection of heels and they were one of my favourite things to spend my money on. These have all now gone in the bin or in charity bags. I have started a new collection of flats which I am sure will increase fast, after all I am a girl and it is a good excuse to buy a new shoes!

I got these 1960s style studded black pumps from Select for only £6.00. 

 I got these lovelies from Debenhams in the sale for only £15.00. I wore these to a ball while I had my ex-fix on, I thought they were going to be comfier than what they were though! 

These ones were from Miss Guided and were also in the sale, £13.99. I bought these quite early on when I had my ex-fix so they wouldn't fit on my poorly foot. 

Tah dah they now fit :')  

Almost three weeks since the removal of my ex-fix I can get them on both feet. 

As you can also see my pin site wounds have completely healed, now I just need to work on that tan!

& Finally I got these from Select again in the sale for only £4.00. 

Hope this was useful. 

What do you think?

Out & About

Hello everyone!

Sorry it's been a little while since my last post, I have been really busy! But busy in a good way. :') Which got me thinking back to how restricted to the house I was not too long ago. For those of you with experience of an ex-fix I am sure this will all be familiar to you too.

The first time leaving the house with an ex-fix on is one of the most scary but exciting things I have experienced. To be able to get out of that one room you have been stuck in for so long and to feel the fresh air on your face is one of the best feelings ever. My dad organised a wheelchair with a panel to elevate my leg from the Red Cross, who were extremely helpful & kind. Without this I wouldn't have been able to get out & about as much as I did! That wheelchair has been everywhere!

My favourite place to go while I had to use a wheelchair was the Metro Centre in Gateshead. Probably because I love the place anyway as it is full of shops & nice places to eat out! But it is a really good place for wheelchairs & access is really easy.

Another favourite place of mine is Northumberland's coastal villages & beaches, which isn't ideal when you have an ex-fix! Imagine the sand & those pin sites! Not ideal. However I did still manage to visit these beautiful places while I had my ex-fix, we just had to do things slightly differently.

Here I am at Beadnell Bay harbor, Northumberland. I love the beach here! I would usually be walking my doggy Reggie along the beach but I made the best of the day by enjoying the view from the harbor instead where I wouldn't usually spend as much time.

After a little while we traveled up to the next harbor, Sea Houses. We managed to get a good spot to sit & eat our fish & chips! This was the view in the picture below. 

After a while of having my ex-fix I was able to sit in the front of the car without my foot swelling like it would have done in the beginning when I needed to lie across the back seats so that my leg could be elevated. I started with short journeys then this increased with the progress of my leg.

It's great to get out of the house when you have an ex-fix but things are never as easy as you think. The simple things become the hardest, like needing to use a public toilet. That's sometimes more of a challenge than you may think!

Just over a week ago I had to get a train from Durham to Manchester with changes. I was using a wheelchair for this as I had just had my ex-fix removed and I am currently not allowed to put more than half my body weights worth of weight through my leg. I am therefore using two crutches at all times but I would have been unable to get on and off the trains! 

Here I am in Manchester waiting for the train back home. I found this very amusing! The disabled access service provided by the train companies was exceptional though. 

I traveled to Manchester with my dad as we were attending the Manchester International Tattoo Show, which was brilliant! 

Below is a picture of me in my fancy wheelchair :') with Sallie Axl at the tattoo show, who some of you may know from this years big brother. 

Although days out are great you cant always manage to get out and about so as I become more able whenever the sunshine was out I made sure I enjoyed it by sitting in my back garden. 

Hope this was an interesting read! 

Let me know what you think?

Have you got a favourite place to go to?