Hard Fall 2018

I was midway into my 3 mile walk on a very nice day Friday, November 2nd, when on a level sidewalk I suddenly tripped, catching a toe in a sidewalk crack, and found myself hitting the concrete hard.  I walked the remaining distance back home since I was not bleeding badly.  The last time I tripped while walking was actually several times, a month after my end of September 2016 right shoulder surgery when I bruised some ribs and almost messed up the shoulder healing, and four months later in February 2017 when I broke a rib or two in another fall when I was almost home.  After those two spills I took the shoes that were tripping me and sanded down the soles near the toe and never had a severe problem other than minor stumbles.  But this latest fall where I hit on both hands and my right knee and lower leg was pretty painful in the sense of where the injury to my right hand and wrist was concerned. 

Fracturing a few ribs IS painful because of the movement you need getting up and down.  But, a wrist/hand fracture(s) is incredibly debilitating. It makes doing things very difficult without pain or ability for use with a cast on one's hand, which I opted not to have, since you need to have mobility and use or you can't do anything.  I have worn a wide short rubber band on my right little finger and ring finger to help the little finger heal straighter since it tended to wander outward, and that is working. But my wrist needs support so I have a wrist brace incoming to wear most of the day and help pain and healing.  I have not added any pictures here since they are not pleasant to see but you can tell that my right hand really took an impact if you view them.  I still have some scabs healing since my knee and hands move a lot and impede healing, but I at least have figured out how to type, not without pain, but at least I can. 

I am uncertain what the future holds for walking, but I have obtained new walking shoes since those tripping shoes have scared me and I am hoping new shoes will end this era of tripping.  I may also do more treadmill exercising when my wrist is able to assist the use of the rail (I have always held onto the rails).  I need exercise every other day to keep my diabetes under control, not to mention my weight.  And I enjoy the endorphins for improving my mental outlook when I exercise.  But, being outside is even better so I hope that my walks can continue in that environment. :)