A leg fracture reminds me of some valuable lessons
It was my 3rd substantial fracture in only 9 months
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My family, including my parents, recently took a grand vacation. We started in West Yellowstone in Montana, where we watched a juvenile black bear hunt a squirrel, swim across a river, dig for grubs in a downed tree, and relax in the sun.
We also saw waterfalls, canyons, thermal pools, and countless bison, elk, chipmunks, marmots, and more. Then we traveled down to the Grand Teton area in Wyoming, where we explored all that Teton Village and Jackson Hole have to offer. Next was Salt Lake City, where we day-tripped to Utah Olympic Park and Park City for shopping and gorgeous views. We also visited Idaho.
My kids were so excited to come home and scratch five states off their U.S. maps, showing where they’ve visited. We were filled with nature, joy, memories, and new experiences.
The gangway incident
When I travel, I use my personal walker-wheelchair combination. To board a plane, my family wheels me down the gangway, and I stand and hold on to something solid while my husband folds my chair to gate-check it.
As we were boarding the plane to fly back home to Texas, I held on to the service door handle due to a lack of other options. An airport worker pulled the door open from the outside, knocking me off balance and sending me spiraling and falling. I crumpled and immediately knew something was wrong with my lower left leg. We decided to endure the flight back to Texas rather than finding a hospital and hotel in Utah.
The flight crew was very kind and kept me supplied with ice packs and snacks. During the flight, it became obvious that I had two injuries to my leg. My left ankle had been reconstructed following a dislocation with multiple breaks and fractures in 2018. My surgeon told me that I have two plates and 13 screws in that ankle that serve as an “internal cast.”
When we landed in Austin, our priority was getting an X-ray of my ankle to ensure that my hardware and the bones around it were in place. I could tell that my shin was injured a few inches below my knee, but my disfigured ankle seemed like a more urgent priority. Therefore, I shortsightedly only had the emergency room technicians X-ray my ankle.
We were exhausted from vacation, and it was after midnight. I just wanted to understand what was happening with my ankle bones and equipment. After the doctor confirmed that my hardware was intact and I had a severe sprain, I went home and followed the RICE protocol (rest, ice, compression, and elevation). I also did red light therapy and localized cryotherapy to aid my recovery, as we were preparing for another trip to Turks and Caicos.
Two weeks later, my ankle was finally feeling better. It was still tender, but less swollen and more mobile. However, my leg still loudly protested whenever I tried to gingerly bear weight during transitions to and from my wheelchair. I knew something wasn’t right, so I scheduled X-rays at an orthopedic office. It turned out that I had fractured my fibula.
Fortunately, it doesn’t require resetting or surgery. My doctor agreed to fit me for a removable walking boot instead of a cast, given our short timeline, with only one week until our beach vacation. I am following orders to continue RICE therapy and not bear weight until cleared to do so.
What I learned
There are many lessons to be learned from this tale. First, I need to accept help. This could have been avoided if I had transferred to the transport chair the airline had offered instead of insisting on using my own and walking with assistance onto the plane.
Second, I need to listen to my body, even when it’s inconvenient. I knew something was wrong with my leg, but I focused only on what I thought was the more pressing need: my ankle. Hindsight is 20-20, but if I had requested an X-ray of my leg that day, I would’ve had the whole picture and not suffered through the pain of trying to bear weight and the frustration of taking so long to heal.
Third, this too shall pass. My ankle hardware did its job and spared a more severe ankle injury, and my fibula is expected to fully recover without intervention. I didn’t collect any new scars. I will recover from this.
Although this is my third substantial fracture in only nine months, I assured my kids that this will not be the “summer of Mom’s broken leg.” I will continue to adapt and do my best to safely accommodate my Friedreich’s ataxia while leading a “normal” life full of joy, peace, happy memories, productivity, and love.
“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”— James 1:2-4
Note: Friedreich’s Ataxia News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Friedreich’s Ataxia News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Friedreich’s ataxia.
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