Break a Leg

by Duncan

On the 10 January I was walking in the park with Forest, my dog. It was muddy and I slipped. I heard a bone snap in the bottom half of my leg. I got home and ran cold water over it and raised my leg to ease the swelling. I did first aid training in 1993!

My brother and a friend came to help me. My brother brought his scooter to help with movement. I went to my brother’s house and kept my leg raised. In the morning I went to the Urgent Care Centre in Erith and had an x ray.

Candy, the nurse said I had fractured the fibia in my right foot. I was put in a plaster for a week. Then I went to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, to the orthopaedics to have a doctor check the fracture.

My brother said thank you for the quick response; we were not there very long. The NHS did it with flair!

I was in my plaster cast for 6 to 8 weeks. I drank tea and ate salads and kept moving so that my blood didn’t clot. I was given an injection to keep my blood circulating.

After 5 weeks my plaster came off and I went to Queen Elizabeth Hospital to see if I needed to stay in plaster or not.

The doctor said it didn’t have to so the plaster came off.

CASTAWAY!

The doctor said I needed physio; I need to be able to go up and down stairs before I can go home. I have about 4 or 5 exercises to relieve the pain. I now have my freedom back.

My next physio appointment will be at Queen Mary’s Hospital in June and I will find out if I am discharged or not.

My brother made a video for YouTube and I sang the lyrics. Use this link to watch it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aj4OZI4cg8

I felt silly that I fell over as I was doing power walk on mud.

Having my brother with me helped. it’s quicker and smoother when he’s with me; I can’t always retain the information.

I felt time went quickly and I have no regrets. What’s done is done. I’ll put it down to experience.

Thank you to my brother.

My advice is don’t hesitate. Seek advice it could get worse.