I’m a Blithering Idiot

Not a Seat

I have sprained my wrist really badly and it is so sore!

How did I do that you ask? At the airport on Sunday, there were very few seats around the place, and at one point while I was waiting for my daughter I sat on the metal pipes that run along all the walls, probably as a bumper for luggage trolleys. I have always done this at the airport, even though there is very little space to sit. The pipes themselves are a few inches around, and set very close to the wall. You can manage if you stick your legs out as a prop and balance precariously.

I was doing just that when my foot slipped. In regaining my balance my left hand also slipped and the heel of my wrist bashed hard onto the metal pipe. I just rubbed my wrist a bit and forgot about it. I am always bumping and bashing into things; often so hard that I say to myself, “You’ll remember that when you get the bruise!” I never do!

It was four hours later when my hand started seizing up and I just didn’t connect the dots at the time, wondering what on earth could be wrong with it! Well, I must have burst some tiny veins, or torn a ligament or whatever, because it just kept on getting worse. My wrist and hand were slightly swollen, and my fingers numb and tingly. I was unable to straighten out my fingers, or make a tight fist, without great pain.

So, I was downing anti-inflammatory/pain killers three times a day, despite the fact that they don’t work! I waited 90 minutes for any effect to kick in, to get 30 minutes of barely taking the edge off, then waited hours till I could take the next dose.

I am allergic to morphine, and pain killers just don’t work. Doctors never believe you, but six of my close relatives have the same problem. Morphine does not work. One doctor told me, “Rubbish!” Gave it to me anyway after a major op, wondered why I was still writhing in agony. Gave me more. Still no result. I can see him now, hands spread on the metal bars of my hospital recovery bed, head bent down. Now what? Well, then I start throwing up!!

Usually, if I can get through the first 24 hours, my amazingly fast natural healing abilities kick in. That or vodka!

Life is pain – you just get used to it!

So I’ve been trying the RICE thingy.

I rest my hand as much as possible; so fortunate it is my left hand and I am right handed. I ‘ice’ it now and then by holding a can of coke lite from the fridge, and I have looped a silk scarf round my neck so I can hang my hand in there as much as possible, since you’re supposed to keep your hand raised above your heart! Oh, and I am wearing a wrist support from my kids’ roller-blading phase; so useful!

Do you know how difficult it is to turn on a tap and fill a jug, to open a jar of coffee, hang out the washing and a hundred other little things; one-handed? I can still type pretty well one-handed, but typing capitals while holding the shift button is a bit tricky! But I can’t do any of the things I planned to – like use the garden shears to prune stuff in the garden. (Actually I don’t mind not doing that so much!)

And it is all my own fault. Little Monkey, for once, is completely blameless. She only snapped off a finger; I have done in my whole hand!

post script: 100 bonus points if you know which movie has the line, “Life is pain – You just get used to it!” Answers and winners announced in the next post.

post post script: Update – Stopped with the pain killers yesterday lunchtime. Hand still sore and stiff, but much better!