Well.... maybe a more than a little, but a lot of that time was actually driving. I can gurantee you that if you put me on a long hallway with a straight run, I'll be huffing and pausing for a sit-down rest within 200 feet. I can feel my shoulders, triceps, and my right hip gaining some strength and endurance, but it's stilll quite demanding that they do both their normal jobs and the job of my injured leg.

All-in-all, though, as long as I can sit down fairly frequently and not have to stay completely upright on the crutches for more than about 10-15 minutes at a time, I can keep going for a while. It does feel nice, though, to feel some strength development in my upper arms again.

 

Good advice. Sad to say this happened to me on a jeep, changing out rear t-case seal. I jumped ship from the creeper and let the jeep roll into my truck, $200 in headlight and bumper later...

What was really dumb was I used a pry bar to pop the u-joint out of the flange thinking "wow, why is there so much tension on this joint...". Here's your sign..!

 

Ed... I had to do the exact same thing!! I noticed the joint in a bind... couldn't knock it loose with my ratchet, crawled out from under the truck, got my small pry bar (all the while trying to fingure out WHY the thing was in a bind)... got back under, popped it loose, and the rest is history (or, MY story that is).

 

Exactly Pete, always good to share and hope it doesn't happen to anyone else. We always chock up and use jackstands, disconnect batt terminal, etc, when it is a big job.... but it is the little ones that I have found are the most dangerous.

 

Crutches will build up your triceps, forearms, and shoulders. My sister worked with a young gal that had to go for a year on crutches. She lost one leg, (cancer) from the hip. Any how, after a year she had an artificial leg made, (I can't spell what it's really called) and my sister said this young gal had arms that would intimidate you!

 

So Pete, what your saying is, by RRE 2010 we'll have to get you one of these shirts:

 

Well, Lisa... it would be nice to think so, but two things would probably have to happen for me to wear that shirt...

1. A longer stint on the crutches than I plan to make of it, and
2. Some additional "chiseling" off my investment below the "GUN SHOW" line of text!

Who knows... I may get inspired and do some extra stuff to get there. I can certainly feel the stomach muscles pulling while I hop around on the crutches. I just have to make sure I stay active enough to curb my habit of boredom snacking, and the dwindling IRA funds may very well help that inspiration, too!

 

All BS aside Pete, I hope next year is better for you. I know this one has been rough.

 

Mike... I appreciate that very much. It has actually been a pretty rough 3 years for our entire family. We know, though, that God has been faithful to take care of our needs at every turn, none of the troubles have ever taken Him by surprise at all, and we will not waiver in our faith that He is still in control to work everything out for good!

 

I'm sorry Pete. It was my feeble attempt to make you smile.

I hope things get better and that your recovery doesn't prove to be too much of a challenge. Again, let us know if we can do anything to help.

 

Lisa... puhleeeease! You have absolutely NOTHING to apologize for... I have a lot tied up in my "investment" and I'm darned proud of it... took YEARS to develop!! Haha!

Besides... Your comment DID make me smile, and there was othing feeble about it... Thank you!!

 

Brief update.

Got the staples out this morning. Everything is healing up very nicley. Pics below (not for anyone who gets nauseous seeing medical pics).

Next week they will do an MRI on my knee to make sure there is no major soft tissue damage around the kneecap. I'll see the doc again in three weeks and hopefully then be able to start therapy and putting some weight on the ankle again.

Thus far, just because I can't as easily get up for snacks as often and carry them back to the sofa, I've lost about 15 lbs.

 

Wow Pete it really looks good, you will be running a marathon soon!!!

 

I'm going to try to get digital copies of the xrays, too, if I can.

I've always wanted my own weather station, too, but never planned on paying this much for it or going through this much trouble to get it! LOL

 

You got me beat by four staples Pete.

Looks like your incision is healing up nicely.

My Doc took out half of my staples last Wednesday, I get the rest removed this Wednesday. Can't wait, because they itch.