Friday, January 29, 2010
A Streak Of Bad Luck
Have I mentioned before that I have bad luck? I mean really bad luck? And not just bad luck, but bad luck that always comes in streaks? Someday I wish I would get a streak of good luck, like really, really good luck. I mean, it's bound to happen someday, right?
This is how my week has been going so far. After my farrier appointment on Monday, you know the one where my silly Mustang filly decided to embarrass me in front of him, I had a Doctor's appointment. I finally broke down and decided to get a Tetnus shot. I haven't had one since I was a little kid, well, maybe, my mom doesn't remember us ever having one, and I know that working around horses, I should really have one. I have put this off for years, I mean really, who wants to go get a shot? But I finally cowgirled up and just went to have it done. Get it over with. I have also had this lump in my finger that I wanted the DR to look at. I have had this lump for a couple years, and it started out small, hurt for awhile, then the pain went away and the lump got bigger. It hasn't bothered me at all until a couple months ago when a crazy 2 year old at work decided to pull the lead rope out of my hands. Then I started having some serious pain. I figured I better get this lump looked at.
I'll start with the lump first. As soon as my DR saw it, she knew right away what it was. It is a Ganglion Synovial Cyst. Wow, what a name. It is at the base of my finger where the finger meets the palm of my hand. My right hand. I am right handed so it interferes quite often with day to day activities. My DR says that the only way to get rid of it is to have it surgically removed. Great. Just what I need is another surgery. She told me I should wait until after show season, because my hand will have to be in a brace. Well, show season starts in February and doesn't end until October. Lovely. Looks like I will be dealing with this uncomfortable lump for another year, unless it gets bigger. She showed me a couple exercises I can do at home that might help with the discomfort.
Next it was time to get that dreaded Tetnus shot. Needle in the arm. Lots of pain. My arm actually tingles and I feel numbness. My DR says that my arm will probably be sore for a couple days. That should really feel good when I have to lift up to 20 saddles a day.
Later that evening, I started to feel the pain. Lots of it. I also started to get body aches, a headache and I got really tired. I was actually starting to feel like I did a year ago when I got pneumonia, so I just went to bed. When I woke up I had the chills, even worse body aches, severely fatigued and that darn headache was still there. I didn't make it to work. I hate doing that. But there was no way I was going to be able to handle 20+ horses in this condition. I stayed in bed all day.
The next morning I wasn't any better. I missed another day of work. By mid-afternoon I started to feel a little better. Still very tired and I had a headache, but the body aches and chills were way better. I did a little research on the Tetnus shot to see if there could be any side effects to this shot. The tetnus shot is not a live vaccine and most people experience pain in the arm they receive it in. But about 1 out of 100 people do get other side effects. Side effects of the flu kind. So this explains it. I basically felt like I had the flu, but didn't have the flu. Thank you Mr. Tetnus shot! I am not allergic to anything, I don't get reactions to things, and just my luck, I am one of those that has the side effects of that darn shot!
I go back to work still a little fatigued, but I can't miss another day. Around 9:00 a.m. I was leading a horse back to the mare barn, when the horses in the pasture next to the driveway started getting all frisky, running and bucking. The horse I was leading is typically a very calm horse and doesn't overreact to things. Well, she was obviously feeling her oats that morning, because she reared up, tried spinning away from me and her back hoof came out and got me on my ankle, you know that very sharp ankle bone on the outside? Yep. The immediate pain was intense. I walked it off and thought I'd be fine. As the day went on, the pain intensified. But I was busy and running all over the place, so I didn't think too much of it. I went to go sit in my car for lunch, just to get away for a bit. I noticed the longer I sat, the worse my ankle felt. When I got up to go back into the barn, I could barely walk. I went upstairs to the bathroom and one of the other grooms came up behind me. I told her how much pain I was in. She was actually right in front of me when this horse acted up and got my ankle, so she knew the pain I was in when it happened. She asked if I had taken my boot off and looked at it yet. I hadn't. I could barely get my boot off. I very carefully pulled my sock down, and oh my! It was very swollen and starting to turn purple. I couldn't get my boot back on, so I went downstairs to the tack room and put ice on my ankle. I had another pair of shorter boots there, so I tried putting those on. I could barely walk. Extreme pain. Someone went to get an ace bandage for me, I tried that to see if it would help support my ankle. Nope. They finally told me to leave. Someone pulled my car around to the side of the barn, while another groom helped me out to my car. I don't know how I drove home. Thank goodness I don't live far from the farm. I get home and struggled to get in the house. I called my OH to tell him what happened and that I should probably go to the DR to get x-rays to make sure nothing was broken.
When he got home, he took me to the clinic. They x-rayed my ankle. Nothing broken. Thank goodness! I didn't think anything was, but I have only broken a rib, so I don't know what a broken bone really feels like. Breaking a rib is extremely painful, and I am assuming breaking an ankle, arm or leg is too. What the DR says is that I have a deep bone bruise. She told me they are very painful, and the bruising will get worse on my foot. She said that basically the next few days will be the worst of it, and it probably won't heal up completely for a couple weeks. Lovely. I will be in Scottsdale with a bruised ankle, gimping around! She told me to rest, ice and elevate. It was up to me if I wanted to work or not. Uh, yeah, need to work! I only have 6 hours in this week, when I am used to having 30 by now. She said walking will not make it worse then it is. So whatever I decide to do, I can't make it any worse then it already is. Good news there. The only problem is, I can't walk! Believe it or not, the ice has really helped, or maybe it is the pain pill I took. I might be drugged up the next couple days, just so I can function. I sure hope I can drive next week, because I have to drive part of the way to Scottsdale.
The day after~ So I thought I could buck up and make it to work today. The pain was even more intense this morning. Of course my pain pill had worn off, and the sharp, shooting, stabbing pains are a 15+ on a scale of 1-10. It didn't help that my fattest cat in the house jumped on my ankle while I was still in bed. I tried to get up and put my foot down. I couldn't put any pressure on it at all! I called a couple of the girls at work and explained to them that I couldn't drive, and if I found a way to work, I don't know what I would be able to do. They said to stay home, rest, ice and heal up. I have a hockey game tonight, so I called my OH to find a replacement for me. There is no way I can walk up and down stairs. Maybe I should have gotten some crutches! I know my DR said that the next couple days were going to be really bad. But this bad? My dad asked me if I have a low tolerance for pain. I don't think I do. I have had a couple surgeries, and have had injury after injury, and I have been able to put up with ongoing pain for years. But this kind of pain, the intense kind, the kind where I can't even put pressure on my foot, I can't bend my ankle to either side, or forward and back. I can't decide if it is more comfortable to walk on my heel or toes, it doesn't seem to matter which way, the pain is there, and it's not going away anytime soon. I hope I can make it to work tomorrow. There are so many things that need to get done before we leave for Scottsdale. Have I said how much this sucks? I just want to be at work, and here I feel like a total flake for having all this happen a week before we leave for Scottsdale!
Note to my mother~ Yes, I am being very careful! Remember, horses are unpredictable and sometimes I can't prevent everything, no matter how hard I try!
Do you think I am in need of a streak of good luck? I mean, can anything else go wrong this week?
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43 comments:
Don't tempt Fate asking what else girlfriend!!
Breathe deep, take the meds, and know we'll be pulling for GOOD THINGS to head your way PDFQ!!!!
Be careful out there PG!
Here's hoping some compensating good luck comes your way soon!
Go get some Arnica. I have had enough horse related injuries to know this stuff really does work and is worth it's weight in gold. You can get it at wal mart make sure you get gel. Actually most drug stores have it. you can use it on horses too.
Geeez!! You poor thing! What a week, i hope things get better for you fast! And I hope that ankle feels better fast too, I can imagine how you feel not being able to go to work. Saying a prayer for you!
ARRGGH! well the good side of all this is you used up all your bad luck at once. good is OBVIOUSLY coming your way, either piece by piece, or snowballs of it. : )
- The Equestrian Vagabond
Sending you GOOD POSITIVE thoughts!!! Things are going to turn for you, I know it! :)
Careful as you are ,stuff can and does still happen. Sorry about thet , my ankle has felt that particular pain as well, and I know it will take your breath away . Ifound soaking it in epsom salts seemed to drw the bruising to the surface more quickly and did ease it sooner (I have done this a couple of times with bad bruising)get better soon!
so sorry about this awful pain you have been experiencing! wish you had my essential oils...when jessie kicked me and when blue stepped on my toes (both had with shoes) i slapped my wintergreen, panaway, and a few others on immediately...pain subsided. no bruise from jess but i did loose a nail from blue. bone bruises are indeed painful! prayers and good thoughts your way paint girl!!!
See what happens as soon as you go and try to be all prepared? LOL
Whacking that ankle bone can be one of the most painful things EVER. Poor Meg had that happen to her and she was actually on crutches for about a week.
I hope you get healed up quick. I think you have met your quota of bad luck for a while...hopefully a LONG while!
Okay girl - I have been in your place I know you need to work to stay in the running for Scottsdale and of course to keep your job. So here is my med knowledge from my accidents....
Combine Ibuprofen doses with your pain pills (if you are already doing this - kudos) you can safely double the daily dose on the bottle. Most doctors tell me with a bone injury that you need to use Tylenol - but you can't combine Tylenol with pain pills as you are already getting some of it in your pain pills -- you'll be in danger of overdosing.
You might also want to give Aleave a try - that worked wonders on me during the first week after I broke my back. (you have to give a Aleave a day or two to build up in your blood stream but once it does it will work better than Ibuprofen - and you don't have to take nearly as much)
Be sure you are taking the maximum allotment of pain pills - if you can take another one in 4-6 hours the do it! If they make you nauseous add in some non-drowsy Dramamine.
Plan your pills out during the day when you are most active. So you can get your work done. This leaves you achy at night - but hopefully you are a good sleeper and will be tired. A beer or two doesn't hurt either.
When your home make use of ice - when you are on a break make use of ice. Epsom salts ROCK - totally use that at home at night, all good cowgirls know that secrete. I would probably work wonders on your finger too!
Do you have regular shoes???? Try working in them. You can loosen the laces.
Have you tried wrapping it? If it makes it hurt worse don't do it. Sometimes a little compression help while you are moving...
I will be thinking good strong positive thoughts for you. Maybe if we all think good thoughts for you out here in blogger land, you will miraculously heal by the time you leave for Scottsdale!!!
Yikes cousin. It sounds like you are having a heck of a time, usually things happen in 3's so hopefully you are done with your trauma. I guess your one saving grace is that you have insurance now!
I twisted my foot a few months ago, stepping on the man cub, and later that night I couldn't even walk. I had to crawl to the bathroom one time-I smartened up and hopped back but it still jarred it. I couldn't put any pressure on it either, I think I pulled every muscle/tendon in it. It was better the next day thankfully, but MAN it hurt. Yours sounds worse though, but I feel your pain. I hope it feels better soon for you, it's gotta be NO fun!
So sorry you are having a string of bad luck. It will get better!
I was kicked in the leg, just above the ankle bone by a horse 42 years ago and I still have the dent in my leg. The DR said that it bruised the bone and would take years to heal. It still hurts sometimes; the kick didn't hurt like you are describing yours though. I don't remember it swelling much but I limped around for a few weeks.
Sounds like ice, the Arnica that Sydney said and the pain meds are going to help you!
Spring is just around the corner, with spring good things come! :-)
What a yucky day. I'm so very sorry!!! Big hugs to you.
OK, let's change your luck.
Umm. Hmmm.
So glad you do not have a cancerous mass on your hand. How lucky! :)
Yea--no swine flu. Yes! How lucky. :)
Your bone wasn't broken?! That is so great. How lucky! :)
There. Are you buying any of that? Yeah, probably not. Thought I'd try. I like the idea that bad luck comes in threes and you have it all out of your system.
Get better, my friend. I'll say some prayers for you.
Never ask what else can go wrong! That may be why they are lol. Try to think positively. That can have a huge impact on how things go in your life. I know this because I have a very negative outlook and I've been working on that.
I'm sorry you're hurting. I have a very low tolerance for pain and the tiniest injury completely incapacitates me! I get picked on because of it all the time. So don't feel bad for not going to work.
I'll send healing thoughts your way and keep my fingers crossed for that streak of good luck. :) Keep us updated.
Bummer it still hurts! :( It should start to swell less and hopefully feel better after the first 48 hours. I like the idea of soaking it in Epsom salts. Maybe rotating that with icing. Try that and the painkillers. What about a rub-on, is that the arnica? Dad had some natural pain gel that worked well on his knee.
Also, you could have a "low pain threshold", so these things could be worse for you. It's not like it's a choice, either pain is worse for some people or it isn't, we can't help it!! :)
Stay out of trouble!!
Healing thoughts headed your way.
Poor you! I guess the only thing you can do now is get better quick! Following the other bloggers' advice, you should soak your leg in epsom salts, rub on some arnica gel, oh yeah, take an aleve, your pain pill, and a beer, and go to bed. In the morning, soak it, rub on some arnica gel, and wrap it if you can stand to, then put on any shoes that'll fit and get to work, trying to stay off that foot as much as possible. And don't forget to load up on drugs as much as is safe. Good luck and best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Oh yeah, think about those movies where the hero gets beat up and keeps on going. You are a star too!
Yup, you are on a streak! You need your hands and ankles. I had a ganglion cyst right smack in the middle of the back of my hand that was about half an inch around once. Couldn't use the hand. Doctor said they don't go away without surgery, but mine dissolved on its own. That bone on the ankle is very sensitive. I once accidentally hit a friend in that bone with a golf ball while we were playing miniature golf. She was in so much pain that she decked me. Knocked me flat on my back because she was so out of her mind with pain and anger. I'm hoping this is just a pre-cursor to all the good luck that is in store for you.
Ooh, hurting that ankle bone smarts! Hope it's feeling better real soon & that your luck turns around! :)
Wow. That sucks. I know my arm hurt for a week after my tetanus shot. Hope your ankle is better soon. I've had a few bone bruises and they take forever to heal.
I feel bad for you! I sometimes think that things with the feet hurt bad, like a stubbed toe!! I've been fighting something with my foot for at least a month. When it first started hurting I had to walk on it sideways, and some shoes I couldn't even wear and even certain socks! It is slowly getting better, but uncle Phil said he thinks that I bruised it somehow, So if thats the case I kinda know what you are going three only yours is probably 100times worse!! I limped for about three weeks. Hang in there it will get better honey, I love you auntie
Tetnus shots are awful! My arm ached for a week, but getting the flu? That's terrible!
I certainly hope you're getting your bad luck out of the way. Sometimes one thing just feed on another. I'll be sending you some good luck vibes.
My friend Kimfer had one of those cysts but hers was on the back of her hand. Still hurt off and on but at least it wasn't in the way like your's is. She said the surgery wasn't too bad (but then again hers was in a different spot).
I got a tetanus shot two years ago when I sliced my arm open (not unlucky just accident prone! lol) It didn't hurt too bad but then again I had close to a dozen stitches in my arm as well, and those hurt like a SOB (why don't they let the freezing take full effect before they start the stitches?)
OUCH! That ankle bone is a tender place, bumping it hurts worse than a stubbed toe. I was sure you were going to tell us it was broken, thank goodness it wasn't!
Keep on doing the RICE (rest ice elevate) and arnica does wonders for helping draw a bruise.
Probably part of the pain is due to stress. You're worried about getting better, prepping for Scottsdale, going to Scottsdale and missing work. Try to take a moment to breathe. Your employers understand accidents happen and hold you in high regard.
Dang it girl, you just may need to shove some horseshoes up your butt! lol
Just read through the comments, glad someone else mentioned arnica. I've never seen it at Walmart though, I usually have to get it at a health store.
Also Steph's recommendations on the pain meds are good as is the Epsom salts.
I am so sorry sweetie girl you are going through this. Hang in there. Just rest if you can for a few days. You will make it to Scottsdale! Sending good thoughts your way. Hugs and Mommy Kisses!
I Don't want to say this but...if you did not have bad luck...you would not have any luck!!! So...just take care of you now...then when you better you will deal with everythign else! I got a big owie on my unscheduled overnight mountian stay...all up my shin bone...it's a wonder that tree did not break my leg...ya it hurt...but at least I could ride and walk! Hugs!!!
Oh no!!!!!!
I'm so sorry this has happened to you. With your hand, your arm and now your ankle in pain. This is just awful!
In my opinion it sounds like you have a compound fracture, sweetie. I hope not, but do you remember the second time that Baby Doll injured me...after my torn ACL surgery?
I got slammed to the ground, on the same side as my healing knee.
I went in to the dr. to have it x-rayed and they told me the same thing your dr said, "Not Broken".
But he scheduled an MRI just to be sure my ACL was till intact because I was in so much pain and couldn't put weight on my leg at all.
I had to use crutches to walk for a couple weeks and then went in for my MRI.
I was shocked with the results. My doctor said the tibial plateau in my knee was fractured like the glass in an car window. I had a serious compound fracture and was told DO NOT PUT WEIGHT on that leg AT ALL. So I had to wait another 6 weeks for my knee to heal.
Please get an MRI just to be sure. Compound Fractures are notorious for not showing up in regular x-rays!
And not to scare you anymore than I probably already have (sorry!) if you do have a compound fracture and put weight on it, you can cause it to crumble and become displaced which could cause you to have to go through surgery for pins and plates to repair it!
Oh goodness! Now I'm just so worried about you, my friend!
Please, please have it checked out with an MRI.
I'll be saying extra prayers for you this week. Please take care,
~Lisa
OH my goodness girl!!! I am SO sorry to hear all of these horrible things that have happened to you!!! I am definitely going to be praying for you!!! I am so glad though that the horse only got your ankle...I know it hurts but it could have been so much worse! It stinks that your ankle is so bad, but I'm glad your OK!!
I hope you get all better before you leave for your trip!! And don't you be feeling guilty!! I am sure they totally understand and you bust your butt working so don't worry!!
Cheer up girl, it can always get worse (trust me on this, I have lots of experience :o) As tough as it is sometimes, I've learned to force myself to focus on the positives; a cyst is better than a tumor (which could cost you your entire hand and/or forearm), and the bone bruise (which I know from experience is terribly painful) could have been a break and required surgery and/or one of those big old clodhopping (um, that's a technical term) boots for weeks on end. Hopefully you are done with disaster duty for a bit, I certainly wish you a speedy recovery!
I hope that run of good luck catches up wityh you real soon. For the time being, ice is your best friend.
Yep, you're headed for some good luck, but it probably won't come until you stop wondering when it WILL come--seems to arrive about the time you've given up hope. ;) I've had one of those bruises when my friggin' pony, who I was trying to block in the stall, ran through me and used the top of my foot to catapult herself out of there!!! My husband, who thinks he has x-ray vision, told me it wasn't broken, but it was so deeply bruised and hard--did I say hard--impossible to wear a boot for two weeks, it may as well have been. :(
I'm so sorry to hear all this is happening. Arnica is really good for bringing bruising out quickly. I can't stand horse related injuries. I stepped on a rusty nail once as I was filling haynets, and lay there in agony until someone came and pulled it out. I had to have a tetanus too, as if the pain in my foot wasn't bad enough! I don't do luck myself, because as you can see, you can have bad luck. I'd rather have blessing any day. Hope you get better soon. And what's Scotsdale?
Yes! I believe that you are due for a streak of VERY good luck. My mom said that her doc recommends lots of vitimin D for bone healing (she recently broke her arm up near the shoulder). Even though the doc said your bone isn't broken, maybe the D would help heal faster? Heal soon and good luck in Scottsdale.
Like they all said, OUCH! and heal fast! Lots of good advice there, especially the arnica- it should be a staple in the first aid kit of everyone who owns horses.
Sending prayers for a speedy recovery.
Yikes. Take it easy for a couple more days. Your ankle may not get worse, but the rest of your body can from the stress you put on it while trying to compensate.
Love the new look here, btw. Especially that cute little kid in the middle!
I think we are BOTH in need of a streak of good luck, LOL. I feel so bad for you, this really, really sucks, first the flu-like symptoms and now this! Someone or something is conspiring against you to miss work when you don't want to and can't afford to. Winging some hugs your way... hope you're feeling much less pain SOON!
Bless your heart, what a mess ! Here is hoping for quick healing and that "lucky streak" to start soon !
I've broken way too many bones to mention....but I will tell you that breaking my ankle was the WORST. And I'm comparing that to when I was kicked in the crotch and fractured my pelvis.
I hope you feel better soon!!
Ouch! Definitely bad timing, but my superstitious self cringed to read "what next?" Oooh..... hopefully nothing but good.
Do what you can to feel better before you go - trust me, walking around all day on concrete, plus driving is going to aggravate it. Be as healthy as you can be before you leave. The lack of hours stinks, but I'm sure you'll be making it up and then some at the show.
Hang in there girl! It's bound to get better soon.
Oh no! I hope your ankle heals up a bit so you can drive to Scottsdale ok! I'm hoping for some good luck to go your way...
Paint Girl, this is just an awful time for you but hang on to your hopes and dreams! They are not dashed! I don't believe in good or bad luck at all, in my small opinion I just don't think it exists.... so I'm afraid that I have a different outlook on your situation and hope you don't mind me sharing the way I would choose to look at it? What do you have to lose and this is just food for thought anyway...take or leave it? I agree somewhat with achieve1dream's thinking. If you keep looking/speaking (our words are powerful)the negative, it will continue but it's contrary to the natural belief systems we are tuned into ex: Murphy's Law. Why can't we automatically think of the best case happening instead of the worst? That's not the way this world is wired, it's upside down.... so we HAVE to intentionally reverse our thinking processes (it takes work and over time it will change us).I KNOW NOW when things like this happen, I'm on the "right track to where I need to be" because of SO much opposition.....you're getting ready to walk into your God given destiny/purpose.....this is all preparation. When we're focusing on the problem (bad luck/pain/negativity) we get stuck. We need to focus on the solution....(resting, getting better and healing, use this time to refocus on what you want to happen, see yourself in Scottsdale doing your best). When we stop trying to change things we can do nothing about (your health/ injuries/circumstances) then we can look to the solution. Things happen constantly to all of us and we all tend to want to have a pity party (I'm not saying you're there just saying don't go there)....it's O.K. for a time...just don't stay there for very long....it's not what happens to us that counts it's how we handle what happens and we do have the power to control.....our thinking. No, I'm not into New Age, "positive thinking" methodologies/modern Psychology either there's no hope in those. I have learned this first hand. Example: as a young girl, my first pony was hit by a semi (I was devastated)and I actually heard it happen in the night right outside my window.....more discouragements followed years after....nothing seemed to be happening right for many years. Then as an adult, my first horse (really nice horse) died of colic....more devastation if I chose to look at it that way (at the time I was very negative in a pity party, why me).....then I had my first foal and he was born with an "odd ball" condition no one has ever heard of.....on and on.....more hard work and disappointments. I kept asking why me? Why does everything bad always happen to me? Just my luck....yadda yadda! I could list many more but the point is I'm not going to let bad things change my focus and affect the way I think about my future. Just keep going for gold/goals and you'll get there. I know this is so much easier said than done in the midst of it all and we cannot do it on our own alone. I had other people praying for me/pulling me out of the pit and my faith is what has gotten me through and you do too. I am in NO WAY discounting your pain and suffering, it sucks! It's easy to be discouraged but harder to be someone who will persevere through tough times! My hope is that this has been an encouraging word .....praying for you to have a speedy recovery time. Luanne
Oh good gravy it seems like you are indeed having a very bad spell. I will start sending some good luck energy your way (My husband hates it when I say things like that, but I am going to do it anyway!)Besides, the wheel of fortune is bound to continue along on its rotation which means that good luck is on its way! You are such a trooper for dealing with all that pain; I can tell you that my own pain tolerance is VERY LOW. I will not hesitate to CRY and FUSS. You sound much tougher than me! I am BUMMED for you missing work becxause I know your work ethic is probably excellent, but you must take care of yourself! You will do yourself and your employer no favors by pushing too hard! There! how's that for a motherly lecture! AND I AM NOT EVEN MOTHERLY! Paint Girl, fret not, you will be back on your feet (and your ankle) in no time.
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