Nomad_vet up the Amazon

'Not to hurt our humble brethren is our first duty to them, but to stop there is not enough. We have a higher mission: to be of service to them whenever they require it.' - St Francis of Assisi

India on crutches

INDIA | Saturday, 22 March 2008 | Views [489] | Comments [2]

My leg post surg....bride of Frankenstein!!

Popped my achilles tendon while playing a game of cricket in Gangtok. Oz vs India - very competitive & controversial. I whacked the ball, snap went my achilles like a rubber band. It felt like I had broken a heel off my shoe & my foot was flopping about. The great thing is that I still managed to score a run…by hopping on my good leg to the other wicket…then the pain overrode the adrenalin.

I can’t recommend crutches in India, & especially not Gangtok. Do you know how many stairs, hills & holes there are. And try going to a squat toilet with a plaster cast on one leg….just try it!! All I can comment is…. wet trousers. And don’t slip & break the other leg.

Have managed to clamber in & out of bicycle rickshaws, & be carried up multiple flights of stairs. I actually hopped on one leg (is that a pleonasm?) up the steps onto my Jet Airways flight to Delhi. Quite disturbingly during the flight I thought my leg was going to explode due to a tight plaster cast.

Folks in India appear to be immune to disability…after all everywhere you look there’s someone with a disability. Not too much sympathy given out here. Unlike home where everyone opens the door & carries the bag of the crutches cripple….in India people seem to prefer to stare in wonder!

Next stop, Delhi for surgery. Five star hospital & specialist surgeon. There’s worse things in life than 5 days in a comfy bed, 7 meals a day & internet on tap. Despite the leg looking like it belongs to the bride of Frankenstein I’m in high spirits & looking forward to rehab back in Gangtok & getting back to the task of helping the street dogs.

Tags: achilles

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Comments

1

Hi,

I've really enjoyed reading your blog/journals for quite a while. I just wanted to comment on your most recent post concerning your unfortunate injury and send you a little bit of love and affection all the way from the Lonestar state of Texas.

I totally feel your pain having torn my left achilles backin '02. The recovery was a real drag.

At any rate, how's the a/t recovering? How long are you off your feet?

Love your page. Hope to see more pics of your recovery.

1Luv,

MarcAnthony

MarcAnthony Mar 23, 2008 4:29 AM

2

What an injury! I hope you're taking it easy and staying off the foot as much as possible. I was on crutches over Christmas and absolutely hated them! We had a wonderful month in Peru - celebrated Patty's birthday dinner at Antica with a cake at Ari's after. Molly was still in the States and I didn't see her. Wish we could help you with your recovery!

Dottie Bonnett Apr 1, 2008 1:35 PM