I have been elevating my left foot since the summer of 2007, after jumping a ditch with my dog. I had more confidence in Lola's ability to leap with her canine adeptness, then I did with my own, but did so regrettably-- that miserable day, where my ankle swelled to the size of a softball. I limped into my daughter's high school football locker room, to her embarrassment, looking for their trainer and her advice. Wrap it, get off of it and of course, elevate it! By 2008, and numerous twists and sprains along the way, elevating my foot was an everyday exercise and occurrence; frustration mounting while trying to understand why it would not heal. Acupuncture did not seem to break pain's ability to stop me in my tracks nor did countless chiropractic adjustments. I decided to start over, replenish the nutrients that I must have depleted in my body somewhere along the many falls that I endured: I would follow a vitamin protocol like no other. Thou shall heal from within became my mantra and I began consuming a steady dose of supplements (supervised by a qualified nutritionist), which may be why I have healed ahead of schedule with my first surgery.
"If I could hang your leg from the ceiling, I would," Dr. Bernard tells me in a recent check up. The stitches were removed from my toes and ankle yesterday. My pain is merciless; it's inhuman character thrives in my body. I want to tear off the external fixator that has me trapped like a caged animal. My bouts of crying do not sooth me only make me more weary. This is the nature of my body that my doctor listens to and understands. He tells me, "let's get you back on an antibiotic to reduce the redness and tenderness, double up on the pain medication and get your foot elevated!" I have conveyed my non-coherent mood not with words but through broken breaths and tears. He is a good clinical listener. I'm a dutiful patient and will follow his instruction--just for some relief.
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