To say I had difficulty walking would be an understatement. The majority of the bruising and swelling on my foot was near my two smallest toes, and I also had severe pain in my heel. After sitting and waiting for a while, I was finally taken to a room, where I sat and waited some more. 
After being evaluated by the ER doctor, who by the way didn’t look much older than I, the x-ray lady brought the machine bedside and took five x-rays*. I sat and waited for a while more, before a police officer arrived to take an incident report. Shortly after that I was pleased to hear that my foot was not broken BUT there was a possibility of tendon damage. Unfortunately I don’t think tendons repair themselves the way bones do, so let’s hope there is no permanent damage. The doctor wrote me an orthopedic referral and I continued to sit and wait for the release paperwork. After spending four hours in the ER I was finally released. In those four short hours, I would like to say that I found the problem with emergency care in the US, (drum roll please) the majority of the time in the ER is spent sitting and waiting. I'm aware this is not a new observation.
After being evaluated by the ER doctor, who by the way didn’t look much older than I, the x-ray lady brought the machine bedside and took five x-rays*. I sat and waited for a while more, before a police officer arrived to take an incident report. Shortly after that I was pleased to hear that my foot was not broken BUT there was a possibility of tendon damage. Unfortunately I don’t think tendons repair themselves the way bones do, so let’s hope there is no permanent damage. The doctor wrote me an orthopedic referral and I continued to sit and wait for the release paperwork. After spending four hours in the ER I was finally released. In those four short hours, I would like to say that I found the problem with emergency care in the US, (drum roll please) the majority of the time in the ER is spent sitting and waiting. I'm aware this is not a new observation.
Overall I’m fine, and the extent of my injury was nothing more than soreness, a swollen foot and bruises. I am unable to take a picture of my foot that does my injury justice, but let me assure you it looks a lot worse in person. Also, those "shadows" in the picture are not shadows at all, I have a huge bruise on the entire left side of my foot. I feel fortunate, I know my injuries could have been so much worse. On a side note I’d like to point out that I don’t remember x-rays involving peeing in a cup, which was a horrible experience, but I’ll spare you all the details. Oh my bike! My beautiful Paul Frank beach cruiser, which cost my dad more than anyone should ever pay for a bike, was slightly damaged in the crash (my bike looks very similar to the picture, 
only that my handle bars are chrome not black). When I got up off the street, I picked up my bike and the handle bars and front wheel were no longer facing the same direction. Luckily, Sam was able to fix the handle bars, but the wheel was bent beyond repair. It looked like the bicycle wheels in cartoons after a crash. I didn’t look at the likely new scratches and dents on the bike but I doubt it will be long before I spot them. I’d be lying if I said that I was not a little frightened about the idea of riding my bike to class tomorrow.
only that my handle bars are chrome not black). When I got up off the street, I picked up my bike and the handle bars and front wheel were no longer facing the same direction. Luckily, Sam was able to fix the handle bars, but the wheel was bent beyond repair. It looked like the bicycle wheels in cartoons after a crash. I didn’t look at the likely new scratches and dents on the bike but I doubt it will be long before I spot them. I’d be lying if I said that I was not a little frightened about the idea of riding my bike to class tomorrow.*I befriended the x-ray technichian, and she was nice enough to burn me a copy of the x-rays onto a cd. This apparently is unheard of. Anyways, those images are my actual x-rays.
No comments:
Post a Comment