Fractured Ankle

Last week, my kids and I were sledding down our driveway and I made a bad move. I was skating down the driveway, picking up speed, planted my foot in a patch where the ice was thin on top, and toppled over with my foot stuck in the position in which it was planted. I was pretty sure I had sprained it ... until Sunday afternoon. It had swollen and bruised pretty much like I expected it would with a sprain, but Sunday I noticed a bruise creeping up the side of my leg. That didn't seem like a sprain. So I went to the doctor yesterday, pretty confident I had fractured it. Turns out, I REALLY fractured it. There were three cracks, all connected, but in different directions. To me, the X-ray looks like the crack had the shape of a 'U' and I think the doctor said the fracture was in the talus, but I'm a stranger to anatomy, so ... whatever. I know I fractured a bone.

I was surprised to find out the fracture was serious enough that he thought it was likely I would need surgery. Oh well. He said we could try to cast it and see if it healed properly, but if it didn't work, surgery would be inevitable. So, he cast it for me yesterday, caused me quite a bit of pain, for which I thanked him ... did another X-ray and said it looks good so far, and then sent me home with instructions to elevate it, prescription for an anti-inflammatory, etc. I should know in about two weeks whether the bone is healing properly. If it's not, I'll be getting a plate in my ankle, which might make those airport scans more fun. I'll have to ask him if he thinks it'll be enough to trigger those stupid metal detectors.

So my life has slowed down a little bit, which could be a good thing. I'm enjoying a little more rest than I'm used to, but I still have to keep up with work and I'm going to attempt to get in to work tomorrow to teach my first class of the semester. I'm excited for that! I just hope I can make this work with my newfound disability.