Medical care in France is fast, inexpensive, accessible.
Prescription medication is not...
It's broken
At the clinic they gave me a cast
4-6 weeks
I may go nuts 🥜
I may go nuts 🥜
If you've had a broken leg, please leave a comment.
(Update, I actually had a fractured tibia, NOT a broken leg 🦵 🤸♂️)
It's a whole new ball 🏀 of wax.
Any tips or hints are most welcome 🙏
Please NO "get well soons".
Yes, I'm grumpy 😾
Right now I want to cut it off (the cast not the leg).
Carry on...and make sure you get really good physical therapy after it heals. Heal fast.
ReplyDeleteIt DOES NOT HEAL FAST!
DeletePls stop saying that folks
4-6 weeks and then PT
Whole story is here:
http://michelleglauser.blogspot.fr/2012/07/how-to-survive-broken-foot.html
20 observations and tips for dealing with a broken foot/ankle and a cast on your foot/leg:
1. Don't listen to anyone who tells you that the time will go by fast. 6 weeks in a cast will feel like 7 years
I broke my femur On Feb 25......I finally can walk with "1" cane. No cast but titanium pine from my hip area to lower thigh !! My next time in Paris will be different!! In December walked to most art museums ,climbed Notre Dame...walked ..walked. Different for a few more months..Good Luck PB and take care. kathyh339@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteOh boy. I suspected as much since you were still hobbling around. Often a sprain hurts much more than a break. When I had a cast on my foot that went up to my knee I couldn't sleep because I kept getting hung up in the linens. Finally solved it by putting my leg into a small wastebasket under the covers or a cardboard box horizontally at the bottom of the bed to keep the sheets elevated. Voila! Showering? Garbage bags and fat rubber bands. There are now commercial cast covers at drug stores here.
ReplyDeleteI haven't actually broken my leg - find that I need to comment on the lovely shade of purple peeking out from beyond your cast - paint mixing to match the shade may be the order of the day. Smile while you are healing. xx Debbie
ReplyDeleteVery perceptive Debbie.
DeleteThe black and blue of the ankle gradually moves to your toes.
And then where?
I don't know....
and then they are gone .. its their exit ...
DeleteAh, lime green goes well with purple:)
Deletethe first two weeks are BORING. Then it starts to get better.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you live in a public transportation city, not in a city that depends on cars, like Minneapolis does. You will be able to get around albeit more slowly, and you'll be using bus, probably, not the Metro, but you are not stuck at home.
Consider this an opportunity to improve your upper body and general core strength. Play this right and you'll be in fantastic bikini shape in 6 weeks.
By the way, the extra strength my good foot developed while it was doing the work of more than one foot, has never stopped paying off. I do not lie.
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear! I have had small breaks in my feet from arthritis, but no major break. So glad you have friends that can pamper you. Pamper yourself and my thoughts will be with you as you heal. Sending hugs!
ReplyDeleteI had a friend whose foot was broken for a week before she got the proper diagnosis.
ReplyDeleteShe assumed a sprain after crashing into a floor lamp base during the night! A co-worker fractured her foot in January and is still undergoing PT but seems much better. Apparently the fracture was in a location that complicated the healing process that is why it's taking so long. 6 weeks seems to be the norm. I myself am learning a whole new way of moving since receiving a titanium hip last week! I look forward to walking all over Paris , pain free, next time and you will too, Carole Just do your PT faithfully and be careful. Definitely the overhead bus not the Metro ! Bon chance.
Oh my...well I am not alone..
DeleteNo buses for a whilie.
Nuttin' honey
Chere amie, I've broken my ankle here (trimalleolaire fracture; the worst you can get), had surgery with hardware, cast and many hours of physical therapy all on the French system. If you have any questions or need advice (or a good name for a Kine...physio...which you are going to need once the cast comes off) please email me. I'd be happy to share my experience.
ReplyDeleteThis is most kind TPC !
DeleteI will, I will
www.Watergym.com will be my PT I hope...
Hi Carol,
ReplyDeleteI was grumpy as well when l broke mine TWICE.. To get a bath or shower put a plastic bag over cast with a elastic band or ponytail band. If it gets grubby paint it with emulsion paint.
Paint a funny picture on it for you to see when you wake up in the morning.
Wear anything like sweat pants for comfort and let your friends know and give them a job that you can't do just now.
I also shouted at mine which got a lot of stress out the way.
Jill from UK
I tried shouting at someone and she didn't like it.
DeleteTo-Do list: Must get new friends!!!
Thank you :)
if you are about to pull your hair out, do isometric exercises from a chair or your bed. Anything to make your muscles move so that you are tired. Arm lifts, neck rolls, work your arms out with small weights. If possible, do leg lifts with your other leg. Anything to keep blood circulating. And as hard as it is to move around on that broken leg, do it as much as you can. It helps the pain and frustration because it makes you so tired and releases some kind of endorphins or something, which is important because I also got depressed. Best of luck.
ReplyDeleteApril 24th I broke my wrist. Now, after 4 casts just yesterday I got a foam/velcro strapped brace. I love it. Much lighter. As the others have advised: do everything the Dr. says (I kept my right arm raised above my heart probably 90% of the time) and kept moving my fingers as soon as the 2nd cast and succeeding ones allowed.
ReplyDeleteToday I will be meeting someone to do the string-trimming that I usually do myself. I have only started driving again just a few days ago (thank goodness!) I had gotten a bus pass and I have had friends taxi me around to french classes, bridge clubs, and the grocery!
That's what friends are for! Do NOT walk on your foot (I overheard the cast tech specialist reprimand another lady who was in the same room as me when she had replied, "well...I sometimes do walk on it..." They told me 6 weeks, too, but I have been told I won't be able to do my normal outside heavy work until probably August. Painting shouldn't be a problem - just a guess!
Smile and think about how you are going to sail through this! Wish I could be there to assist!
Mary in OR
We attached a small red LED light to a crutch so in the middle of the night we were not blinded when getting up for a pill.Also husband made ice bags using water and rubbing alcohol so they were maleable around leg.keeping several in the freezer at once( Paris freezer might be too small for this)& hang a plastic bag from a crutch to carry things around so your hands can properly be on the handles.keep it elevated. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteOh no! I'm so behind on blog reads and I'm sorry to hear about your cast. I've had several falls in recent years but I tend to fall on my FACE! Yes, it is terrible! Two of the worst of them involved face x-rays and I now have permanent eye damage from the most recent fall!! It is ridiculous and now I've developed a fear of falling so I walk around most of the time with my arms out - prepared to catch myself and walking slowly like a little old lady!! With your amazing talent, hopefully you can decorate that device and end up with a work of art. Frida Kahlo did it and it ended up in a museum!!!
ReplyDeleteWho wouldn't be grumpy??? I pray you are not living in a 6 story walk-up. Even 3 stories would be miserable! Having no cast experience, I can't offer advice. No, wait! When I broke my toe, my whole foot looked just like yours and the best thing was to put it up on a chair with a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel on top.
ReplyDeleteBy all means, follow the doctor's and therapist's orders. After having a sprained wrist many years ago, which turned into a full break after I made the mistake of going bowling (yes, that wrist), I learned that if what you think is a simple sprain hurts for more than 24 hours, it's probably much more than just a simple injury and needs to be checked out. The pool therapy sounds like a good idea; just don't overdo it, even there. For sure, decorate the plaster cast. It will be a good way to get a lot of smiles, laughs, and much attention when you are out and about. Advertising also?
ReplyDeleteAlso, thanks for recommendations for emergency medical care, which will be noted in case needed when in Paris.
Hi Carol, I broke two ankle bones about 7 years ago. It truly is a bummer. I recommend knitting. Learn and master it.. a great thing to pass the time. I really feel for you. Sincerely, Michelle
ReplyDeleteCarol, get a large, stretchy sock over the bottom and up a bit to protect (and warm) your toes and to keep the cast clean. Once dirty it's impossible to clean and you'll be putting all that yuck into your bed.
ReplyDeleteGet a kitty to sit on your cast and purr. The frequency of purring is supposed to help heal bones. I broke my pelvis last spring and 6 weeks seems to be the magic number.
ReplyDeleteAll well unless you've really broken it creatively.
Draw pretty pictures on your cast. Paris Casting.
ReplyDeletei am sorry .. no broken bones here tho i have had many very bad sprains and some very stretched out ligaments/tendons as a result and i did fall down the West 79 St subway steps this past February resulting in two horribly sprained ankles and a gash on my shin that is now an ugly scar .. i do have tons of sympathy which i won't dole out .. i commiserate it sucks to have a broken anything but an ankle oh my its debilitating especially as you are someone who loves being out and about ... do get a sock for your poor toes and see if you can get a chic cane ...
ReplyDeleteDo what you can to promote circulation for that will stimulate healing. - if you have access to an exercise bike, prop your cast on a chair and pump with one leg and 2 arms (the Schwin airdyne is the bike that lends itself to this type of workout). Some people say getting a massage will also promote circulation.
ReplyDeleteI'm wiggling my toes right now
DeleteMake the most of not running around. Invite artist friends over to paint on your cast--since you didn't get a custom color. I customized my crutches--painted a leopard print on the frames and upholstered the pads with faux leopard fur. They were so great that friends ask to borrow them when they need crutches. Stuff happens! Try not to dwell on the bad parts.
ReplyDeleteI have never broken anything but I am a nurse and when I was in school I learned that if you have an itch under your cast and you scratch the same area on the opposite side of your body it will relieve the itch. Let me know if it works!
ReplyDeleteWhile I was at the Orthopedic Institute the other day for my hand, a little girl was getting a waterproof cast for her arm so she wouldn't miss a Summer of swimming. Is yours waterproof? That would solve the shower problem. The importance of physical therapy can't be exaggerated.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry Carol! I broke my leg at the knee in 2008 and had to be non-weight bearing for 3 months! Followed by 2 months of PT. It is difficult no matter what, but a good friend network is an absolute must. I spent lots of time watching travel shows but you live in the city I dreamed of! I am a quilter and tried to do as much quilting as possible along with lots of computer time. Finally, a positive attitude is a must and how could you not have one living in such a wonderful city!
ReplyDeleteWhen the black and blue wears off, it's time for a colorful nail polish makeover from an obliging and skillful friend.
ReplyDeleteTake a dose of the chief homeopathic remedy for trauma to the body - Arnica Montana, in 200c potency, or more doses of 30c. The remedy may be repeated as needed. DO NOT touch the pellets, just twist the top of the blue tube and let two pellets fall into the top, toss them under your tongue, and let dissolve. Don't drink or eat anything 15 minutes before or after taking the remedy. Arnica reduces swelling and bruising, and speeds healing. Homeopathic remedies are near miraculous in their efficacy. Plus, there is no drug interaction with Homeopathic remedies and any medicine you may be taking. I keep Arnica with me at all times, because accidents happen.
ReplyDeleteI am in plaster from my toes to my groin and if misery loves company take a look at my blog. How far up does your cast go? If it is a short one you are lucky. "La Vie en Platre"
ReplyDeleteladyinplaster
Cast goes just to my knee.
Deletesuddenly I feel lucky
I will try to find you LIP
next time use the drop down menu has
Name/URL for yr particulars
I may lose weight with this thing.
Eating/cooking is too much damn trouble.
Did you?
Thank you LIP
I forgot at Wordpress.com
ReplyDeleteCarol, when I had a bad wrist sprain from a fall, the Dr. said it would have been better if I had broken it - a bad sprain is more painful & takes longer to heal.
ReplyDeleteHope you feel better!!!!!
:(
ReplyDeletexx
Oh, you poor baby, I feel so bad for you. Last summer I had two close friends that had accidents. One tore her achillies tendon and was in a wheel chair for 3 months and the other broke her fermur when she tripped going up some steps - 3 months in a wheel chair. I think yours could have been much worse if you weren't in such great shape from swimming/walking. You will find a path, a light, a new friend(s)....ah maybe you should write a book whilst you are a bit grounded:)
ReplyDeleteTake care...we all care about you.
Carol, So sorry to learn of this new development; I worry about your getting up and down those stairs to your apt. Maybe you have an elevator in the building? I can't remember.
ReplyDeleteThat cast looks pretty blank right now....possibly a new surface to play on? I hope the sun comes out and you are able to sit by the river and just be. may that leg heal very quickly! Goo, strong energy coming your way, Carol! Leslie G.
Oh my! Could only wish that I were your neighbor and could take care of you. Anyone as active you will be stewing for a while. Maybe time to step back and reflect. Also, maybe a check of bone density. Once will last you a life time. No need to repeat this.
ReplyDeleteSwap patisserie for ice cream and lots of green leafy stuff. Love and prayers.
GiGi.
Carol, The bone is broken, you are not! When I did a number on my wrist and had to be in a cast, I kept thinking about how much worse it could have been...and that I would heal...there are others not so fortunate. And you are in PARIS! Enjoy your view, paint your cast, do your PT religiously, call on friends for help and remember all of us who care and are cheering you on. Bon courage...Sue W.
ReplyDeleteThe bone is broken, you are not!
DeleteMust remember this when feeling broken etc..
THANKS
even if you can't walk around so much, take some 500 gram soup cans, play some music and exercise your upper body with these approx. 1 lb weights. this should help get you moving a little to counteract all the beautiful pastries your friends are likely to ply you with.
ReplyDeleteWhen recovering from my knee replacement I discovered zentangle which is easy to research on the net and is meditative and calming and all you need is a pen and paper......
ReplyDeleteNo other word for this situation except it stinks!
ReplyDeleteYou deserve to be grumpy(!) and just hope you are managing the pain.
I broke three ribs after slipping on a bath mat;it hurt like the dickens and I was not grumpy,I was nothing short of bitchy.
HANG IN!!! Your readers(and fans!) are all rooting for you!
Oh, boy, can I relate to this so well!! I broke my leg in Venice, yes in Italy, in March 2010 (you can look up my posts from March 2010 on my blog Bichonluvrscloset@blogspot.com). I had to travel back to the United States a few days later. They gave me the VERY LAST SEAT ROW on the plane. I thought I was going to die. They would NOT try to accommodate for me at all. I learned that in Europe there really is no such thing as all of the handicap access we have in the U.S. Those casts (mine looked just like yours) are HEAVY and since my fractures were in 2 places, I had to use crutches and keep that thing lifted! Ugh. You will find that pretty soon you will probably be able to put some weight on it. I eventually moved into a 'boot' so at least I could remove it to bathe. We were in France last summer, and I was extremely careful where I walked. There really are no even surfaces. We are returning to France again this summer (our daughter is also returning, this time for 10 weeks!!). She has a medical condition that requires infusions, and last year she had it in the American Hospital in Paris (not sure of exact name). It has just been set up for her to do it there again. I gave her the link to your APP b/c even though she is quite fluent in Francais, she did have some trouble translating medical terms. You have my complete sympathy and understanding. I spent plenty of hours on blogs and the internet while healing! It will be over soon!
ReplyDeleteWell that sucks. So sorry. I have sprained ankles and pulled ligaments and as of now am waiting on a ligament in the knee area to heal.. takes up to 18 months to properly heal ligaments and I cant go walking with my dog till its healed as it keeps irritating it and prolonging the healing.. :(. . so maybe breaking something is better, but to tell the truth not doing any of it is much much better. You might have to borrow a wheel chair to get out and about for picture taking. :)
ReplyDeleteCarol, so sorry to hear this. Please follow doctor's orders. You have a "Room with a View". Good time to plan a book. Take care and know we all wish we were there to help. Marilyn
ReplyDeleteDear Carol,
ReplyDeleteIt is so difficult being an Internet friend...we all wish we were there to help with whatever you need.
Broke my ankle 20 yrs ago this April. On just two steps from kitchen down to family room. Dog left her toy on the step! Required surgery; have a rod up my leg one side, pins on the other.
I did not do PT. I have always been very active; bicycling at that time, now I walk 4 miles per day. I am determined to not get arthritis in that joint.
Recovery will pass quicker than you think! Keep it elevated to reduce swelling. AND, find something long & thin that you can slide down inside the cast to scratch the ITCH from your skin drying out inside the cast!!
Know we are thinking of you...this WILL pass!
No broken leg, but an arm. Ice packs help with the itching under the cast. I know how crazy this can make you. Best wishes.
ReplyDeleteyou will learn to become efficient, a back pack (small) is essential when you are on crutches. Everything will take 2-5 times longer than you thought it should. Make sure you plan out resting stops in advance, and figure that any trip longer than a block or two is going to be a major challenge. If there are shops that deliver, use them, especially early on. Use your medication carefully, certain over the counter meds like US Advil are not good for bone growth so hopefully they gave you something else to use.
ReplyDeleteVery, very useful info Tim
DeleteThank you !!!
Oh boy, that really sucks. Sorry to hear but I know you, you'll figure out a way to create some type of beautiful artwork while you're incapacitated. I've never broken a leg, but from my surgical stuff, I know that it takes about 6 weeks before your body gets back to "normal" and that physical therapy is very useful. xo
ReplyDeleteWell, crap. That totally tucks big time -- especially living way up there in the stratosphere. No broken legs here -- right now I have a broken toe, which hurts a bit but not "pain" in the really badly broken way. I can't imagine not being able to get around easily for the next six weeks. If only I lived closer, I'd tromp up your many flights, probably spilling soup on the trip up. We'd have soup and salad, lovely fruit and I'd bring you dozens of your favorite pastries. I suspect you have a good support system at hand -- I hope you do. Let them pamper you -- you deserve it.
ReplyDeleteI, too, wish I were there to visit you. Seems like a really crappy thing to have happened. It was only two steps! No experience here with broken bones. Is there a service like "Meals on Wheels" that would deliver food to you? Can you get out at all?
ReplyDeleteBonjour, Get a long stick or back scratcher as the cast will make leg itch. and some powder will help too. Can doctor visit you to save you going there? Heal well.
ReplyDeleteBroke a leg 25 years ago while traveling in Spain, and rebroke the ankle two years ago. A carpenter-type apron is useful for transporting small items across the room while on crutches. For larger things, a wheeled cart is good. I read mostly -- everything else seemed like too much trouble! Being disabled is depressing -- engage as much support as you can! Best of luck for a speedy recovery. Jeanne
ReplyDeleteVery helpful idea Jeanne
DeleteI do have an apron like that..
Thank you
Yes; Two yrs ago, a bad break. I was relentless about getting around on crutches , every time you do your arms will get stronger, the more you can do for yourself the happier you will be. Ice on the foot when you can. I just tossed it on the edge of the bed in a bag and let my foot rest on it , and the coldness goes up your leg. The RX made me foggy and bitchy so I took over the counter things. Its just going to be rotten for a week at least.
ReplyDeleteBathing/ Stood in a big aluminum kettle and washed like they do in a French 19th century painting, did this every day and felt immensely better after. Hair same way.
Eat healthy and light. If you like green teas, herb teas; yes. I have stairs here and with my crutches somehow let my brain figure out the stairs without any pressure on my leg. I never once put pressure on it, I had a secret fear the break wouldn't heal so I was sure not to interfere with the knitting. Things that are good for your bones would be good to add to your diet. Are you having trouble getting over the counter advil, etc? I will be happy to mail you some. All your swimming and walking will pay off here, you are healthy and fit. You will come through.xxx
THANKS Julie!!!
DeleteI have not figured out how to do the no pressure on the broken leg...
I'm using the toes as an anchor,.but it is just day 3.
I found a blog offering an exercise routine for people in a cast.
Wonderful!
http://michelleglauser.blogspot.fr/2012/07/how-to-survive-broken-foot.html
the forearm crutches are Hard!!!
thanks again!!
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3Gwf7nrtXVo
Deleteexercises With a cast on!!
Wow with all this advice you prob don't want to read any more. i think that getting the best medical attention in the VERY early stages is vital.You are in a cast. What does the x ray look like? Have they put you together properly? Do not presume that they have Hard to accept I know. If you have any doubts act now. Tomorrow may be too late. When the cast comes off, if the ortho surgeon says you can walk ok tomorrow, add two weeks/ four weeks. THEY DON'T ALWAYS KNOW. Be very kind to your foot/ankle in the first year especially. You need it to work well for decades more.(Dont worry about your blog. repost old stuff/ old photos. They're still sensational.) all the best. Gwendoline in Australia.
ReplyDeleteLUV YOU Gwendoline in Australia !!!
DeleteYou got it.
A fractured fibula doesn't go away fast.
All very good useful advice.
So sorry to hear this. I have spent time on crutches for multiple foot surgeries and very bad sprains. Lots of good ideas thus far for you - here are few more. Always have a lightweight bag or two attached to your crutches to carry things around your home and when you are out (the ones so common at markets in Europe are perfect and loop onto the crutch). Use your crutches even for short walks in your home -- otherwise, you will find yourself using your broken bones too soon. Don't hop around! I learned to bathe sitting in the tub with leg and foot over the side. I could even wash my hair under the tap or with one of those hand held shower heads on a hose - don't know if you have tub or shower though. In my 2-story house, I learned to go up and down stairs on my butt and arms - not graceful but it works in a pinch. Wouldn't want to do it in a very public place.... Dresses and longer flowing skirts were more comfortable (and stylish!) than pants -- and didn't require cutting seams. Find a very comfortable and supportive shoe for your "good" foot - it will be doing a lot of work. Learn to use your crutches correctly and have them adjusted perfectly for you - take the weight on your hands not your armpits standing straight (you probably know that but I see people doing it wrong all the time). Finally, whenever you can find whimsy and make yourself smile, indulge -- I used to wear a bright sock under my shoe, color coordinated with my clothing, even with my business suits. You WILL get through it and lots of people are thinking of you. In my neighborhood, when a friend is sick or has a broken leg, we take turns bringing food and helping out. Your PBers could take turns coming to Paris and bringing you Picard and pastries....!!
ReplyDeleteThanks too Anonymous
DeleteIt's simple stuff like going to the bank, getting stamps, plain ole groceries.
Pastries...who cares.
Just the basics are a big challenge.
I have no plans to go to a café anytime soon.
My leg has to be elevated ALL the time...
Can't do that in a café...they don't like it :)
How strong are your arms? My husband lost his legs and, determined not to let himself give in, he insisted we start traveling more. He pulled himself up the steps on his fanny on Venetian bridges, the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, the Great Wall outside Beijing, and the steps to the top deck of a cruise ship for 21 days to play basketball from his wheelchair.
ReplyDeleteThat said, if I were in your position, I'd find someone to bring me chocolat, croissants, journeaux, and livres every day. I would sit on the balcony and feel sorry for myself. Pout. Pout.
I had an ankle sprain & fracture. Crutches were difficult for me ,they'd adjusted them for the wrong height & they were too high. Our grocery store lent me a samll wheel chair for the house, which I loved. Small tasks WERE challenges, Asking for help w/ groceries, etc, was key, because I had to keep ALL my weight off. It's interesting how now I can't remember a lot of the bad parts, I hear this is common. But, I remember reading. It was my salvation: with my leg propped up on a pillow, I read more good books! I don't know how long it will take, but I used to like it when they would tell me: It WILL heal when it didn't seem like it ever would.The PT part was better than the 1st mending part because I got to see progress & had reassurance.
ReplyDeleteOww carol...i know its relly sucks...but u Can do a ouvre d art on your cast...and please dont forger a plastic bag ...for the rainy days and for the shower . bisous jessica
ReplyDeleteBuy a L-O-N-G knitting needle to slide it down inside the cast. Comes in very handy for any itches.
ReplyDeleteBroken leg is just miserable Carol. And I join all those sending you sympathy. One practical tip: I hot-glued a cute pocket on my cast. Some cute fabric, gathered a little at the top making it cuter. It was handy to carry some small things, but mostly people just gave me compliments. I strongly recommend anything that causes people to give you compliments! ! ! (On my Christmas trip to Paris last year I was told "Jolie valise, Madame." after I got off an elevator with my patent leather carry on. It was one of my best memories of the trip!) But back to the cast pocket. I had a full leg cast for several months, (my break was a mid-shaft tib fib) then the casts got shorter until I had a walking cast which was too short for a pocket to be helpful. With someone as talented as you are, you can come up with a fabulous compliment-getting cast embellishment. Keep making us happy with Paris news and views. Courage!
ReplyDelete