Sometimes it’s Okay to say You’re Not Okay

I was at work the other night and, because our coffee machine wasn’t working, had to take a trip out of our restricted area to get one. I bumped into a nice cleaning lady who I know by sight and she said hello and asked, traditionally, if I was ‘alright’. Now, normally, I’d end the whole conversation, as most of us do, by saying automatically; “Yes thanks” and continuing on my way. However, this time, I decided to be truthful and said “No, not really”…

You may perhaps be wondering why I said I wasn’t okay – or maybe you’ll just think my knackered hip is being extra ‘playful’ recently. Well, that would be part-true – it is having a bad patch and often does. But, in addition to that, my good leg is now, unfortunately, my very bad leg!

I was working outside with Richard in my ‘new’ back garden the other day doing hedge-trimming and suchlike. It was quite windy and suddenly, without warning, my metal step ladder blew over in the wind and smashed me soundly around my ankle bone on my good leg.

It was a very hefty blow indeed and I rolled around on the uncomfortable gravel in total agony and unable to speak. Richard thought I’d done something stupid and came over with the “What have you done NOW” attitude he sometimes reserves for me. I was in too much pain to say anything so just continued to roll around gasping and holding my ankle.

Luckily, at this point, he decided cold water was in order – not to throw at me to make me coherent – but to hold on my ankle to stop any swelling. The pain went off quite quickly with the cold therapy and I was soon able to tell him it wasn’t my damned fault but that the step ladder had gone for me in a big way!

The upshot of this was that the ankle was completely fine for a week and I thought all was well. I had a little easy 6 mile cycle ride (I can only do the easy ride now as, contrary to medical opinion, worn hips do NOT like cycling at all). This went very well and I was fine that evening.

Now, I’m not sure whether it was due to the cycling or not but, the next day I went to stay in Eskdale with Richard and we went for a short and gentle walk along the river bank to Doctor’s Bridge and then up to Eel Tarn and back to Boot. By the time I was halfway around (on the admittedly concrete-like, uneven ground we’re having due to this year’s drought), I couldn’t really walk on my ‘good’ leg as my ankle was paining me badly.

I rested the leg at the hotel but found it wouldn’t really take me to the dining room and back without a lot of use of handrails and suchlike – it certainly wouldn’t do stairs (along with my bad hip).

I spent the night lying in bed wondering what on earth had gone wrong with the ankle. In the end, I started to suspect that such a heavy blow from a metal object had probably cracked the bone and it had started to deteriorate – it had to be a bone injury, I figured, as that was the bit which had been bashed.

The next day I made it on the nice, soft walking to Burnmoor Tarn and back by wearing full hiking boots instead of my usual summer approach shoes. This meant my ankle was effectively strapped up as it would be if it was in pot for a break. Hiking boots solve a lot of ills – I’ve protected broken big toes like that in the past.

The day after I hobbled around Muncaster Castle grounds with my hiking boots on (despite the very hot sun and everyone else sensibly being in sandals). I must have great boots though as, despite them being non-leather (Veggie Trekkers), my feet were perfectly cool all day!

Returning home I went for a scheduled x-ray organised by the doctor. I’d quizzed her as to whether I should have one of those or go to A&E but she couldn’t advise me about that – not sure why. It’s the medics who are trying to wean us away from A&E and I figured that, as my ankle hadn’t just been damaged, I couldn’t really fit the A&E criteria. Richard constantly disagreed and said I did as it was an accident, recent or not.

My decision was a very foolish one as, having the x-ray requested by the doctor, meant it didn’t get looked at for a while. I rang up every day but, after waiting a week and still no result, drove myself off one a quiet nightshift to A&E and got them to look at the x-rays for me. It was a two-and-a-half hour wait but better than a week!

Anyway, the good news (we think) is that it doesn’t appear to have any bone injury. No idea why I can’t walk on it though – although it does move up and down okay. Looks like I’ll be in hiking boots with my dress on dayshift next week!

But, the point of the tale (at last I hear you say) is that I’m glad I said I wasn’t okay to the nice cleaner as a long and satisfying conversation ensued which we both enjoyed and felt better after – a kind of setting the medical world to rights – as you do! 🙂 Far better than just muttering the usual, dismissive response and walking off…

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