A Hiker's Journey - From Fracture to Recovery

The X-ray results were devastating — a broken tibia, right at the point where it connects to the ankle. I had suspected that it was something more serious than just an injured foot, as there was sharp pain in my leg, especially at night. But I had been denying the truth, which was now staring me in the face.

Accepting the Truth

Normally, recovery from a sprained ankle takes six to eight weeks, but a fracture takes almost twice as long — up to four months. Oh, damn it!

The medical boot on my leg means I won't be walking or driving until I get permission from the doctor — which places a heavy restriction on me for a long time. I feel like someone who has been sentenced to a prison term. "Four months!" says the judge, hammering his gavel on the table.

The sight of the boot reminds me of my school days in Kieran’s College, where hurling players were occasionally injured, wearing plaster of Paris covered with graffiti. Injury was a natural part of that sporting life. But I never played hurling on a team, and so I was never injured — until now.

Modern medicine has come a long way. Instead of plaster of Paris, I have a medical boot that is much easier to wear. Unlike plaster, I can remove the boot in bed.

I have lightweight aluminum crutches and a small knee scooter too — essential tools to keep weight off the leg until the bone has healed back together.

Unfamiliar Territory

I've never broken a bone before, so this whole process is completely new territory for me. Beyond the worry about the condition of the injury itself, I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to do any exercise for a while.

The irony isn't lost on me either. I had planned to take a rest day on the day of the accident. But when I was near a small mountain, I couldn't resist going up it immediately. It was meant to be an easy walk — nothing like many other hikes I've done: across the Grand Canyon and in the Pyrenees, the Alps and the Himalayas, for example. It's embarrassing that this accident happened on a small local path — but, in another way, perhaps it's a good thing too, as I managed to get down to my car, albeit walking with a limp.

The Medical Verdict

The orthopedist gave me news that was both good and bad. Fortunately, the bone fragment hadn't moved and was still in contact with the tibia. So, surgery wasn't necessary. But I wouldn't be able to put any weight on the injured leg for at least a month. If I follow his instructions carefully, however, I'll be back to my old self eventually — able to do everything as well as I could before the accident. I will achieve that goal, so that I can be back in the mountains again before long.

Different Opinions

People have different opinions regarding what happened to me. For example, my wife and I recently met a friend for lunch, with me wearing a boot and walking with crutches.

She told me that an accident like this would "humble" a person. She also said that she had told her friends about me, and they said: "Mick fell? Mick? How could Mick fall?" Those are the thoughts that stayed with me, stuck in the back of my mind.

I wasn't humbled by the accident at all. But I did regret what happened, as I had acted impulsively, and so wasn't properly prepared for the walk.

It's clear from the question "How could Mick fall" that the people who said this had unreasonable opinions. Where did they get such an idea? – not from me! In any case, anyone can be injured, no matter how much experience they have. The athlete who is never injured is a rare individual. By the way, I've fallen often on paths over the years; the difference this time is that the consequences are more severe and more visible to other people.

Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining

For the first time, I'll be living with a disability. Although I'm very fortunate that I'll make a complete recovery, this disability will give me a valuable perspective.

I'll have a flexible approach, being disabled for a period after the accident. I'm determined to do my utmost not to waste any time. I'll be busy with more reading and writing in Irish and English. I'll be able to spend more time learning how to play the guitar. I'll have more time to take breaks and reflect. But also, I'll have a new life — a different life — as a person with a disability. I'll have a lot to learn about that life, and I'll share those lessons with you over time.

And when I finally return to the path again with renewed energy, I hope that it won't just be my bones that are stronger — but my spirit too.

Mistreatment of a Long-Term US resident by immigration officials!