I wasn't able to walk during the Great Aloha Run last month because I wrenched my foot the day before and endured a sleepless night in pain which caused me to make the decision to abort my joining Art in the walk.
I've injured my foot and ankle quite a number of times at home and on trips. Art however, has been incredibly impervious to foot aggravations... until yesterday.
Last month I iced, wrapped, elevated and tried to stay off my foot so that I'd be able to walk the next morning. When it hurt like the dickens during the night, I considered taking an Advil but didn't because I knew you shouldn't take an Ibuprofen without food. It hurt so much I couldn't walk downstairs to get milk to coat my stomach by myself and I didn't want to wake Art who I knew would have to get up at 3:30 to prepare for the Run.
Well... last evening... his foot looked a little swollen, discolored and was starting to ache.
So I elevated his foot, iced and wrapped it with an Ace bandage. After all, I'm an experienced foot patient.
We went to bed.
When he needed to go to the bathroom, he couldn't stand on his foot. He's not one to complain (like me) but he said the pain was excruciating.
I had to have him sit on his rolling office chair and wheel him across to the toilet. (We don't have our wheelchair anymore because we gave it to my aunt.)
He seriously considered going to the Tripler ER, but I told him we should wait until morning.
I gave him an Advil instead and went downstairs to get him a cup of milk to take with it.
The pill worked like magic. He said the pain subsided substantially.
But now it had me wondering.
I've done the whole icing, elevating, Ace bandage thing now several times and it hasn't helped. Did it make it worse? Should we just skip it and go straight to Advil?
So I looked it up.
According to the Harvard Medical School, you have to do the RICE treatment.
* Rest the joint.
* Ice the injured area to reduce swelling.
* Compress the swelling with elastic bandage.
* Elevate the injured area.
OK... OK... We'll continue to do all that. However, I'm going to make sure I've got Ibuprofen and some milk on hand if this happens again.
Last month I iced, wrapped, elevated and tried to stay off my foot so that I'd be able to walk the next morning. When it hurt like the dickens during the night, I considered taking an Advil but didn't because I knew you shouldn't take an Ibuprofen without food. It hurt so much I couldn't walk downstairs to get milk to coat my stomach by myself and I didn't want to wake Art who I knew would have to get up at 3:30 to prepare for the Run.
Well... last evening... his foot looked a little swollen, discolored and was starting to ache.
So I elevated his foot, iced and wrapped it with an Ace bandage. After all, I'm an experienced foot patient.
We went to bed.
When he needed to go to the bathroom, he couldn't stand on his foot. He's not one to complain (like me) but he said the pain was excruciating.
I had to have him sit on his rolling office chair and wheel him across to the toilet. (We don't have our wheelchair anymore because we gave it to my aunt.)
He seriously considered going to the Tripler ER, but I told him we should wait until morning.
I gave him an Advil instead and went downstairs to get him a cup of milk to take with it.
The pill worked like magic. He said the pain subsided substantially.
But now it had me wondering.
I've done the whole icing, elevating, Ace bandage thing now several times and it hasn't helped. Did it make it worse? Should we just skip it and go straight to Advil?
So I looked it up.
According to the Harvard Medical School, you have to do the RICE treatment.
* Rest the joint.
* Ice the injured area to reduce swelling.
* Compress the swelling with elastic bandage.
* Elevate the injured area.
OK... OK... We'll continue to do all that. However, I'm going to make sure I've got Ibuprofen and some milk on hand if this happens again.
You are so wise! Thank goodness your family has you. I always take Aleve when I need a pain killer...which is very seldom.
ReplyDeleteAlmost 35 years ago, I suffered a bad sprain which immobilized me all summer (it happened on the first day of summer hols). These days I hobble about but I had about 25 years of reasonable mobility first.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to hear about all these problems you (and now Art) have been having! I also use Aleve is I am having pain. It lasts longer. If you didn't want to leave milk unrefrigerated all night, you might use a few saltine crackers and water.
ReplyDeleteThickethouse makes a great point. I have to take a fist full of meds right before bed and have found that the soda crackers (I get the salt free ones) and water does the trick.
ReplyDeleteI eat half a slice of bread with my morning Advil. Yes, too, I keep some on every floor just in case. I also might consider going to Tripler since the pain was so bad.
ReplyDeleteGo you! Fantastic nurse! I love Advil and Aleve - they cure everything for me! Annster's Domain
ReplyDeleteI purchased a folding cane for my folks just to have on hand. They laughed at first, but about a year later my dad injured his foot and was glad to have it! As for taking Advil with food, maybe some shelf stable milk stashed in a nightstand might do the trick? Take care, Jan
ReplyDeleteI need to remember that cane for my mother. Thank you for the reminder.
Deletewow always some challenge as we age...hope he feels better soon. it's hard on husbands to slow down.
ReplyDeleteWishing Art a speedy recovery.
ReplyDeleteThe last thing is TIME. People have to be patient with healing and if the pain does not go away there might be bits of bone in the tissue.
ReplyDeleteI believe in Advil. Get better soon, Art.
ReplyDeleteBut . . . what's causing the foot problems? I KNOW it's not because either of you are over-weight. Too much gasa-gasa, perhaps?
ReplyDeleteDefinitely gasa gasa!
DeleteI have to take tylenol as advil's not good for my high blood pressure.
ReplyDeleteI use a lot of naproxen and ibuprofen, fortunately without stomach problems. I never worry about taking it with food.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about Art's foot. Was there an obvious cause?
He’s not sure, but he thinks he twisted it on a curb during one of his walks. But that was a couple of days before. Funny that it would have a delayed reaction.
DeleteThe best idea is to get at it right away . Check with Mayo clinic. I like their website.
ReplyDeleteI sure hope you get Art to the doctor to take a look at it. So glad to know the Advil helped. I only take it if I really need it. :-)
ReplyDeleteOk, finding the cause of the pain is important. Might have been the curb step, but usually doesn't wait 2 days to begin hurting. The Advil is only masking the pain. Sooo, might want to trip to Tripler to have checked. I'm being concerned for you that it could be an inflammed tendon or deep clot. Just thinking, Linda in Kansas. By the way, the middle of the night is usually a great time to go to the ER. It's not as busy. It gets busier in the morning because everyone waited until morning...
ReplyDeleteOh, gosh. There are so many aches and pains in this stage of my life. I understand!
ReplyDelete