Monday, October 30, 2006

Medical Update

Thank you all for your concerns over my broken big toe. Now for an update. Hint: This is why I am NOT a doctor.

After taking some nudging from my wife, I went to an urgent care clinic to have an x-ray done on my left foot. So, on Saturday morning, I stumbled out of bed at 6 a.m. to be the first in line. All went very well.

As I signed in, the front desk nurse asked me what I did. I told her about tae kwon do class, a week ago Thursday, and kicking the bag wrong. There was just a little pain. She then asked why I waited so long. I simply told her that I'm a male. We're very stubborn. She laughed as I waited for the doctor to call me back.

The preliminary nurse called me back to check my weight, vital signs, and ask me why I waited so long with a broken toe and possibly a broken foot. I gave her the same answer, "It really isn't that bad. My wife told me to have it checked, since I'm a diabetic, and blah, blah, blah." Something was said pertaining to stubborness and being a male, but I forget. Anyway, she, too, laughed as I waited for the doctor.

The doctor comes in, and after mild chit-chat about male stubborness and not listening to my wife when I should have, she grabbed my foot and proceeded to play the little piggy game with it. "This little piggy...". Okay, that really didn't happen, but it sure felt like it. After a few minutes of examining my foot, she believes it isn't broken. But, to be on the safe side, she orders an x-ray.

After about ten minutes, and several foot x-rays later, the doctor gave me the news: I don't have a broken toe or foot. I have a severe contusion. In layman's terms, I jammed the heck out of it. She (the doctor) was amazed that I didn't break it with all the bruising and swelling. I was discharged with instructions to elevate and ice-down my foot, along with taking ibuprofen every 8 hours as needed, and listen to my wife.

Lessons learned:
1. Listen to wife to avoid "nasty stares" and snap-kicks to the butt.
2. Pull toes back when kicking a bag of any type. As John Vesia mentioned, pads are preferable, but I need to learn technique first.
3. Go back and study number 1 again.

5 comments:

Angie said...

I am so glad it isn't broken. Really I am. Hope you get to feeling better. Have a great week!

Mark said...

Angie - Thank you! You, too. I failed to mention that I have a contusion on my right hand as well. But I knew it wasn't broke and there's no pain.

God is good!

Anonymous said...

Seems as if your selective hearing wife filter is still properly attuned. That's good, right?

Mark said...

After a few pokes, the filter is finely tuned.

I understand yours is working just as good. Correct?

Rachel said...

Hi, I accidentally banged into this blog just because of searching jagged edge(medical) online. (a first year medical student here) just drop by for some greeting from Malaysia. :)

-Rachel Kho

p.s I like Donald Miller n Max Lucado too.