(Another) Broken Wrist

I had been meaning to clean out the cat basket all day yesterday; Flora had done a poo in it during the journey the evening before, but it was in the garage so I kept forgetting. Just before bedtime I decided to get it over with so I got cleaning materials and dealt with it. I noticed that there were a couple of Amazon parcels in the garage so I gathered them up, closed the garage door, and headed to the back door of the cottage. The outside night light was on so I could see quite well, but I completely forgot the step down on the short path along the side of the house and I came crashing down onto the slabs. There was that horrible moment of falling when you know that you are going to be hurt, and then I landed on my left hand and my face. Oh boy it was sore. My face was just a bit scraped on the chin but I knew that my wrist was badly damaged, the pain was just so intense. I shouted for James (and, bizarrely, for my long dead Mum!) but he was already in bed and couldn’t hear me. I had to wait for the pain to recede a bit before I was able to get up and make my way back inside. James kindly retrieved the scattered Amazon parcels and, when he saw that I couldn’t even open a blister pack of paracetamol, he made me a rather efficient splint using two rulers which he bound in place with a long bandage from his first aid kit. Without this I don’t think I would have been able to sleep at all. With it, I managed a good few hours of sleep punctuated with wakefulness and vivid nightmares.  

In the morning we set off to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness. I was very impressed. There was a notice in the A&E waiting room warning us that waiting times after triage could be up to four hours, but in fact I was in and out in two hours. The receptionists and nurses were very friendly. James spent much of that time on a walk along the riverside, at my insistence; there was no point in both of us waiting around the hospital. As a result he had quite a good morning in the sunshine and even shopped for some treats for me - bath bombs and a shower cover for a plaster cast. Thank goodness he got one, my wrist is broken in two places; the radius and the ulna, and I will have to wear a plaster cast for about six weeks. The break in the ulna is straightforward but the radius isn’t sitting quite right and may need further attention. I’m so annoyed with myself for my clumsiness and inattention. 

Since we were quite near Nairn I messaged Alison and Hugh on the off chance that they were available for coffee and they were able to meet us at the pleasant Househill Café. Although my wrist was sore I was very glad that we met up because our get together “fair cheered me up” as my Dad would say! When we got back to the cottage I collapsed into bed for a couple of hours for a nap, although I got up for a while later for some tea and toast. I hope that I sleep better tonight.