I have alluded to, and in some instances addressed directly, how crappy the month of June was. I felt good that we had a diagnosis and I figured the month of July would start with some healing.
That's what I get for getting my hopes up, I guess.
I figured that today I'd be writing a post about how I'm nervous about Lex's surgery tomorrow (which I definitely am) but how I'd feel better once it's over (I still think this will be at least partially true), but let me tell you about some parts of my day. I'm going to omit the entire saga of my dog issues except to say that my little guy, Eddie, kept me up all night with a horrendous case of diarrhea. I mean, his gut sounds were so loud I couldn't even sleep through them, so that wasn't a good start to things, and he's still sick, poor baby.
In other news, the weather has been apocalyptic lately. The rain has ruined the footing in all the rings in the state and the horses' hooves are not holding up well. The paddocks are mucky messes. I taught a lesson early this morning and had a 90 minute break til my next lesson, so I decided to ride Zephyr.
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| Public Enemy #1. |
After my second lesson, I got in a fight with my small animal vet's office (a story for another day) and went out to visit Lex. She'd stayed in last night because of the storms, and the farrier thinks her feet are getting too soft, so I wanted to put Keratex on her feet and love on her a little. The terrific girl who works on Tuesdays had turned her out for awhile for me. I brought her in and started to groom her and... her right hock is HUGE. Like a basketball. I called the vet immediately and told her I thought I saw a puncture wound, so it was probably cellulitis, and I started cold hosing. I cold hosed her hock for 40 minutes waiting for the vet, who arrived about 15 minutes before I had to leave for my last lesson of the day. I fervently hoped the lesson would be rained out, but it wasn't. I had to leave ten minutes before the vet was finished. She agreed that it looked like a puncture wound had caused the issue, but we couldn't figure out how the hell she did that in the first place, as the girl who worked today said that she looked like that when she went out (she'd heard Lex was having surgery and assumed it was on that hock so thought nothing of it). It gets more fun, though: Lex at one point whipped her head around and managed to scratch her eye on the cheekpiece of her halter.
SHE GAVE HERSELF ANOTHER CORNEAL ABRASION.
I couldn't make this shit up if I tried.
Anyway, now she's in a huge wrap from her stifle to her pastern over a Furazone sweat, so it'll be fun for me to get my horse out of her stall before dark and load her onto a step-up trailer while she can't move her right leg and my right foot is probably broken.
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| Sorry for the horrible picture. It was dark and storming and I was crying. |
Ugh. The depression's getting legit, I have to say. I need something actually good to happen right now, because the hope that things will get better soon isn't enough anymore. There are no guarantees that she'll be okay after the surgery, or ever.
Anyway, do you think I'll be able to talk the vet into doing some x-rays of my foot?
Per your foot, my dad is an ER doc and I have the good fortune to be surrounded by medical friends. I busted my ankle climbing...3? years ago this week (whoa). I was super worried it was broken and freaked out, blah, blah, blah. I called my dad the evening after it happened (was RICE-ing rest-ice-compression-elevation) and explained how swollen and painful it was and how I couldn't walk and I was convinced it was broken and ohmygawd how will I live life now?! He told me to calm down, continue what I was doing, go easy on it, and see where I was in three days. He said if it was still swollen to hell in three days then yes, it was probably broken and I'd need to go in for further analysis. If not swollen, but just tender, then go easy on it as much as I could until it felt better. It hurt BAD for about a week. But that swelling disappeared after about 36 hours. I used a friend's crutches as much as I could and went easy. I was walking by the end of the week, running somewhere during the second week. Just had to be cautious with certain movements/certain shoes/etc.
ReplyDeleteI know a foot is different from an ankle, but I've told this story and given the advice to other friends with foot issues and it hasn't been wrong yet (knockonwood). So just go as easy as you can, wear shoes that won't exacerbate the issue, RICE it as much as you can, pop some anti-inflammatories, and wait. I hope hope hope it'll start to feel better, not be swollen, and you'll be mobile without having to visit the ER!
Good luck!!!
I had a 17h monster gelding spook and land HARD on my foot as I got him off the trailer at a show. I thought he'd broken it, but I hobbled around for a few very painful days and eventually it hurt less. My PT friend told me that the fact I could walk on it meant it most likely wasn't broken.
ReplyDeleteIf that helps.
We should start a support group for people having shitty 2013s. Cookies for all.
Well... shit. Sounds like time to bust out the big guns, which for me means a pitcher of margaritas from Casa Patron and chimichangas... with that awesome queso, which is probably really just crack-infused Kraft Cheese Slices, but still tastes absolutely amazing.
ReplyDeleteGosh, I am so sorry, you need a drink. *big hugs*
ReplyDeleteIf it were my vet he'd totally zap the foot to see if its broken for you.
I tried to comment on this last night but my phone morally objects to captcha fields so I failed.
ReplyDeleteGood LORD I am sorry to read this post. I don't know why it has to pour *so hard* when it's raining but wow. Fingers crossed for Lex and Huge hugs (and margs) to you.
ugh.
Tequila. Or Vodka. Or maybe rum.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I'm so sorry. It'll get better, just keep pressing on!
God Dammit. I wish I were there to help you!!!!!!! What you're going through is so unfair. But I think statistics will support this hypothesis: It cannot keep on like this. Just like you can't roll double sixes every time you throw the dice, it's equally impossible to get continual snake eyes. To continue the gambling metaphor, stack the deck in your favor and if possible stay away from young stupid horses until luck starts to flow your way again. Wishing the best for you, much love,
ReplyDeleteshelly