4 Weeks : Cast Removal

Two days ago, the cast/splint placed on my leg during surgery to stabilize things was removed. In the image, you can see the metal plate and screws that the doctor installed to my fractured tibia. He did not put another cast on my leg and I have to admit that it felt kinda weird to leave the clinic without anything to secure my leg. His opinion was that the leg was secure, that no weight should be placed on it for 5 five weeks, and that it was up to me to slowly get the rotation back into my ankle.

The ankle area is extremely stiff and as each day passes, I regain more and more movement. There is little or no pain in the area, which meant that I could finally lower the times I take those pain killers. I really don't like the nausea which accompanies taking those things.

The best thing about all of this is that I can now put my whole body in the shower. Before, with the cast on, my wife had to help me wrap my leg in a plastic bag, and that only half of my body was in the shower. I can now take more showers :-)

So, for the next month, I will still be on crutches. I have to admit that I've grown pretty efficient at using them. I can drive the car, go up and downstairs and I'm looking forward to heading back to teaching in the classroom, although I will miss the time spent here at home even though the circumstances weren't ideal.

Some of things I got to do while recovering from my broken leg:

1. Created a Facebook account
2. Focused more on my MFA homework.
3. Watched a lot of TV - Below is a list of some of the shows that I HAD to watch on a regular basis.

• Supernanny (a lot of the techniques on this show worked).
• Oprah
• The Price is Right
• 12 o'clock Local News
• Dance Wars: Bruno Vs. Carie Ann
• Extreme Home MakeOver
• Heroes: Season 1
• American Idol
  
• PBS Cooking Shows (My favorite: Barbecue University)

And lot of movies :

• 3:10 to Yuma
• Cloverfield
• Rush Hour 3
• Music and Lyrics
• Dreamgirls
• 30 Days of Night
• The Cradle
• Daddy Day Camp
• Ocean's 13
• Mr. Magoreum's Wonder Emporium
• The Contractor
• War
• Sicko
• Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer
• Grudge 2
• Hitman
• I Am Legend (Twice)
• White Chicks
• Pirates of the Caribbean 3
• White Noise 2
• No Country for Old Men
  

Take care of yourselves and be conscious about the decisions you make, as each decision creates an outcome.