I stepped out of my Hiace and broke both bones in my ankle and before that stepped in a rabbit hole and broken my foot. I guess stuff happens, but so easily. Crutches are the pits if you can't weightbare, I had 5 mths with my broken foot and then 10 weeks with my broken ankle and most non weightbaring.

Unless you're really fit, or are able to weightbare, a wheel chair will come in handy when you've had enough of using the crutches. I managed to drive from Brisbane to Sydney with crutches and wheelchair by myself with the dog. I just eased in and out of the van on my backside, easy.

HW I can't imagine worse than breaking both arms, I would have to get a bidet.

Kantiki and Marj...
I usually loathe people to say "I know how you feel"...but...in this case, I really do know.
Just before Easter, I tripped over and did myself a lot of damage.
To make matters worse, it was entirely through my own carelessness...and I am usually careful to the max!!

I had spent the day doing all of the odd jobs that need doing before you go away and I was just coming in from watering the garden when I heard the phone ringing.
Instead of leaving my wet rubber thongs outside (as I have always done before) I wore them into the house while I ran for the phone.
It was a wrong number anyway...but since I was already in the study, I decided to crawl under the desk and disconnect the laptop etc; ready to pack into the van.
As I went to get up, my skirt caught on my wet footwear and tripped me. I threw out my left arm to save myself but ended up in a heap on the floor with my left leg curled underneath me.

Thankfully, no bones were broken but I damaged a ligament in my knee and also ended up with bicep tendonitis in my upper arm.
The upper arm was made worse by the fact that it was a re injury as I had hurt it 30 years ago in the exact same place.
I have had lots of x-rays, scans, physio etc; etc; and I'm fine now...except that I can no longer drive my van.  
Any repetitive action such as changing gear aggravates both arm and knee. Medical advice is: Buy an auto!

I have resisted that so far...but I am giving it a couple more weeks and then I will probably (with much regret) have take their advice and sell my van.

Kantiki, I hope that you heal quickly and are soon back on the road.

I'll bet that we will all be more careful next time.

Cheers. Pam.  

-- Edited by Travel Bug on Wednesday 12th of September 2012 12:52:50 PM

-- Edited by Travel Bug on Wednesday 12th of September 2012 06:55:11 PM

Perhaps i should have titled this drawbar foolishness. Coming back from a few days on the coast, I tried to step over the drawbar as the van was bit close to the bushes and the door opened the other way. I dont remember how but I ended up on the ground with skin off my knee, elbow and hands. Ok, get up hope noones watching and go the the van, problems was the leg doesnt want to work. Visit the hospital and be told I have snapped the achillies tendon. so now I am in plaster for 3 Months, off work for who knows how long.

Upside of this is I can spend more time on the forum, but our next few trips are on hold until I master the crutches and I can climb in the van.  So please take the few extra steps and go AROUND.

Have a great day

Ouch I can feel the pain just reading your story hope you recover quickly and are able to get back on the road soon 

So sorry to hear of your misfortune ..

I just can't bring myself to step over the A frame. 

Many years ago I was a member of a Field Artillery Battery & it was strictly forbidden to step over the gun 'trail'  (very like the A frame).  I suppose it is part of me now & as I said I just can't bring myself to step over an A frame whatever the circumstances.

cheers  ..

Oh I feel for you Kantiki.

I've had many falls but luckily haven't done any major damage. Greenstick fracture of my wrist from a fall after stepping in a hole at Jondaryan in 2010. Many sprained ankles, one small fracture after losing my balance on the garden steps and falling head first over the rock wall, luckily saved from a head injury by my girlfriend grabbing my arm.

One time I was due to go into hospital the next morning for an op, and I slipped both feet off the step from the laundry. So I had to hobble in to the hospital.

Another time I tripped up my porch step and landed face first on a chair. Blood everywhere. Again, I was lucky a different girlfriend was with me.

I hope the downtime goes fast for you Kantiki.

And Pam, if I win lotto I'll buy your van.

I've done the " step over the A-frame " trick too . All I got was some skin off the shins though .

I always walk around now .

Hope you are out and about soon Kantiki .

Kantiki wrote:

---

Thankyou all for the well wishes. Was feeling pretty sorry for myself until I found out my friend has been diagnosed with malignant tumor on her foot. Surgery planned for very near future and a good chance she will lose her foot. Maybe even worse if it has spread . Makes my temporary problem seem insignificant.

---

 That's often the way Kantiki.  I hope your friend has good results.

Kantiki, my fingers are crossed that your friend has a good outcome.

Mine too Kantiki, I hope they save the foot but more importantly stop the spread.