Ladders

[Caliban]

I've always been afraid of heights, but because of hundreds of hours up laddersI suppose I've become accustomed to ladders.
I've even started using them instead of balancing a chair precariously on a desk.
Last Friday night I went into the shed to do something but decided to set up my stereo becausethat would be quieter than using the tools. All went well, I found all the bits, sorted them out and hooked up the speakers. I even ran the speaker wires through the roor purlins so there'd be no trip hazards. Beautiful! Went to turn the amplifier around the correct way and found that there wasn't enough cable. So up the ladder one last time, grab some more cable, beauteeful! down the ladderone step two, bang bloody crash. Where's the ladder gone/ this will hurt......bang.
Snap goes the ankle.
Fair dinkum. Foot is turned ninety degrees to normal, bone is trying to poke out through my skin. Pins needles pain.
Scream out for wife.
And again.
she nearly dies, calls the ambulance. They come and say we'll have to cut those boots off. Favourite blundstones.bullsheet!
Kempsey hospital get a radiographer in, does the xrays.
"you've done a good job old son" says he.
So back into the ambulance and off to Port Macquarie hospital, more xrays stabilise it and organise surgery for Saturday morning.
Home now. Several pins, screws, plates later. No work for 6 to 8 weeks crutches for 3 months. Pain frustration anger.
Just thought you'd like to know.
Will have to change the signature from "answers to lucky" though.

[Wongo]

Sorry to hear that Jim. I know exactly what its like.

[silentC]

Welcome to the Iron Foot club, Jim. Did my right heel about 10 years ago. The good news is that it will never come back 100% and you'll probably get arthritis in it! Ankles are the worst joint to break because there are three main bones all coming together in the one spot and alignment is critical for it to all work properly. Mine is not too bad considering. Hope your ortho was good!!

When I was in getting the new hardware installed, there was a guy in the bed across from me with exactly the same injury as me. He got his falling off a ladder!! Apparently it's a very common injury.

Enjoy the rest. It's a fecking pain in the butt being on crutches. Plastic bag over the foot in the shower, itchy spots you can't reach. You have my sympathy....

[jmk89]

Ouch!!
That sounds almost as bat as the time I put an axe into my foot (don't ask.... but driving a manual car tot he hospital to have it looked at was exquisite pain...)

All the best for a speedy recovery.
Jeremy

[Rocker]

Jim,

So sorry to hear of your injury. I broke mine about 35 years ago jumping down a low cliff in Iran. I was fortunate that mine was not nearly as badly broken as yours; but (just to encourage you) I was finally able to walk without a limp 18 months later

Rocker

[scooter]

Gday Jim, feel for you mate, sounds painful

Guess you'll be haunting the forum a lot then, mate!

What do you do for a crust, how are you going to go financially being off work for a while?


Stay positive, mate, cheers................Sean

[TommyC]

Chin up, chance to catch up on a bit of reading.....

I broke both my legs and ankles in a fall down a cliff about 20 years ago. The ankles are what give me curry from time to time nowadays, but i work around it. Break up time on the feet, have a rubber mat down in front of your bench when you are spending long days in the shed, get into the cushion sole blunnies if you havent already.

Do the physio that they give you, too. All helps. Best of luck recovering.

[bitingmidge]

Sorry to hear Jim, but I have some good news!

I found your Yo-yo! The one you that was supposed to be the prize for the furthest travelled to the arvo at our place last year, but I somehow couldn't find on the day.

Send me your address by PM and I'll shoot it down to you, I reckon you'll have heaps of time to play with it!

Cheers,

P

[Ashore]

Damm thats gotta hurt
Good though that they got the operation done so quickly.
Don't forget to get a bit of paper from the doctor for the metal detectors at airports , otherwise you may have to have a strip search
Rgds

[Wongo]

I found your Yo-yo!

It will be just “yo” if he does it sitting down.

Wongo (who runs with 1 less ligament in his right knee )

[ozwinner]

Ouch!!
Know the pain.
I broke my foot many years ago, went to the local Hostipul, Hmmm we'll put 4" sticky Elastoplaster on that, didnt shave the leg first did they.....:eek:

4 weeks later I was in tears pulling the freekin stuff off in the shower, I was wimpering like a mongrel dog.

Woof.

Al

[Sturdee]

Sorry to read about your misfortune Jim.

Must say that you went to a lot of trouble to get away from those kids that you teach.


Peter.

[Auld Bassoon]

Tough luck Jim; you have my sympathies.

I hope it heals up properly and to full function.

I can understand the pain and frustration as about ten years ago I broke my left acetabulum (the socket into which the femur locates) after having glissaded across some wet quarry tiles in the kitchen and went base over apex. Buggered up some nerves too, which resulted in complete paralysis of my left leg for a few days. Lots of fretting there, let me say...

All ok now I'm glad to say.

[jmk89]

Reading this thread and seeing how many of the "stalwarts" (as well as some newbies) have busticated their lower limbs makes me wonder - do you have to be a klutz to be a woodworker (or does it just help)?

[Auld Bassoon]

Pre-condition mate!