Friday, September 21, 2012

I Fell Today, But Luckily I Could Get Up!

A few years ago, I hurt my ankle.  I was walking down the front steps of the house we used to live in, and when I got to the last step, I twisted my ankle. I promise you, it felt like I laid my foot completely sideways.  I have kids, so I know what labor pains feel like, and I can honestly say, labor was nothing compared to the pain in my ankle.  My husband took one look at it (it was instantly swollen) and off we went to the emergency room.  I almost passed out from the pain trying to get into our van.  When we got to the hospital, I remember asking for tylenol because it hurt so bad.  The doctor looked at me, smiled, and said he would give me something a lot stronger then tylenol.

After xrays were taken and the drugs had kicked in, the doctor came back in and told me I had stretched out all the ligaments and stuff in my ankle, and that it can take a while for them to get back to the way they should be, if they ever do.  He explained that once they ate stretched as far as I had stretched them, they lose their elasticity, and my ankle would always be weak.  He also told me I would have been better off had I broken it, because bones heal a whole lot faster than ligaments.

There is a point to me telling you all this, I promise.  You see, today while delivering mail, I fell.  I had gotten out of my van and was walking across the parking lot when I twisted my ankle again, and down I went.  I didn't trip or anything, I just twisted it walking.  I was so embarrassed! Right now, my ankle is throbbing and it hurts so bad! It is a little swollen, but not too bad. It is hard to walk on it without limping, but I have done this several times since the initial accident, so I am kind of used to it.  I have taken something for the inflammation, and I am waiting for it to kick in.

There are so many anti-inflammatory drugs available, so sometimes it's hard to know what is the best to take.  I usually opt for tylenol, because it's what I have in the house.  I know that taking too much of any drug can be harmful to your insides, so I try not to take anything unless I absolutely have to.  I have heard of products like nopalea that can help reduce inflammation naturally.  This specific product is made from the fruit of the Nopal cactus. I really want to try this, and I can for free, and so can you.  Just visit their website and they will send you a 32 ounce bottle. (you are responsible for the $9.95 shipping and handling, so I guess technically it's not free, but you get the idea) You can also call their 1-800 number to request your bottle.

Right this moment, though, I just want my ankle to feel better.

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