Adapting to Change: Saga of a Broken Foot

by Karen S. Roberts

A Broken Foot = Unanticipated Changes

Since breaking my foot a month ago, I’ve had to adapt to a lot of changes, none of which I was ready for.  Since I can’t put any weight on my foot, I’ve had to innovate in order to function.  It’s amazing how new ideas come for accomplishing tasks that in normal life are simple.

For instance, since I’m not allowed to walk on the broken foot, I now have a walker with a seat.  I’ve learned to put a cushion on the seat and then rest my knee on it.  Then I push myself around with my good foot.  However, getting that knee up onto that seat is not easy, especially if where I’m sitting is lower than the walker seat.

Right now I’m sitting in a recliner, which helps me keep my foot up.  Getting out of the recliner on one leg and getting the knee up is probably comical to watch –  especially if you could observe the grimaces on my face while I do this.

At first I couldn’t figure out how to do this.  Using the armrests on the recliner doesn’t work for me, for they are soft, wide, and squish down when pressed upon.  But I discovered that by sliding the recliner near the love seat, I can use the firm arm rest on the love seat to help me push upward, with assistance from my other hand pushing down on the seat of the chair.   This usually works without putting weight on my foot, although with a heavy boot on now, it’s not unusual for the toe tip of the boot to briefly touch down and then lift off toward that walker seat.  So I have adapted.

Keeping my knee on the seat of the walker gives me the ability to rinse dishes and put them into the dishwasher.  It also enables me to stand on the good leg while cooking.  However, my knee gets sore as I lean on it, and the effort of holding myself upright on the other leg is very tiring.  So the seat comes in handy for sitting between periods of standing.

The other day I was able to sauté some veggies in one frying pan, while cooking chicken in another frying pan, all while sitting on the walker seat.  It was hot sitting by that stove though.

Another thing I’ve learned is to remind myself to put on the walker brakes frequently.  Transferring from a sitting to standing position, balancing while leaning over to try to pick up something on the floor, staying close to the table without rolling backwards, and a multitude of other situations requires me to put on the brakes.  Then there is the need to remember to take off the brakes when I do need to move.  Moving around on a walker with the brakes on takes a lot of work!  I can tell you this from experience.

When my knee or body feels weary, I have found that I can use the walker as a mini wheelchair. I sit, pushing myself along with one leg, with hands grabbing onto various pieces of furniture to steer.  There is one complication though –  It works well rolling backward, but not forward.  Backwards driving sometimes results in bumping into something.  But it takes less energy than standing and pumping that one leg behind me.

Mobility with only one useful leg is only one way that I’ve had to adapt to change.  I won’t bore you with my techniques for getting dressed, transporting a cup of hot tea to my recliner,  or getting in and out of the shower by using the walker, a shower bench, and a shower rail.  I have made these temporary adaptations in order to be as independent as possible.

Learning to Ask for Help

I like to be independent.  But there are some things I have not been able to do for myself.  It’s been humbling to have to ask for help from my husband, my daughters, my granddaughter, and my church family.

I think that this has been a big part of adapting to my broken foot.  I’ve always been the one who takes care of the needs of other people.  I have looked on that as a means of showing people that God loves them.  Now the shoe is on the other foot. (Very punny, right?)  I’m slowly learning that it’s OK to ask people to help in various ways.  They have come through with meals, transportation, grocery shopping, picking up prescriptions, phone calls, and giving encouragement.  And best of all, lots of people are praying for me.

I’ve been praying also – praying for patience, a good attitude, and finding ways to encourage others as I go through this.  I want to look for the best things of each day, asking God to help me not to dwell on the hard things.  I don’t always succeed in focusing on the positives rather than the negatives.  This is a growing experience in which I sometimes flounder.  It’s only through Jesus that I can thrive rather than survive through this trial.

Adapting to Serious Changes

My foot injury is only temporary. Within a couple weeks I’ll be able to start walking in my heavy orthopedic boot.  My new walker manipulation skills will no longer be needed.  But I’ve been thinking of people who are facing difficult changes that are permanent.  Adapting to their changes is harder than what I’ve had to deal with.  I have an end in sight.   They may not.

Have you ever dealt with any of these circumstances?

• The death of a loved one
• A long term illness
• The loss of a job or a business
• Divorce
• The loss of a friendship
• Moving away from friends, family, and your church
• Financial losses
• Property destroyed through fire, flood, storms, or vandalism
• The loss of a pet
• Becoming a care giver for someone else
• Downsizing for health reasons
• An empty nest when your last child moves out
• Failing at a major goal or assignment

 

These types of changes can feel devastating.  But they are changes that you will learn to adapt to.  You might have to ask for help as you deal with life altering changes.  Don’t hesitate to go to a pastor, a good friend, a prayer group, or a professional counselor as you work through your feelings of loss and through the decisions that must follow in situations like these.

As you learn to cope, take time out for your daily devotions.  A quiet time of prayer and Bible reading, calling on the Lord for comfort, wisdom, guidance, and help will be a key to recovering and moving on.

Changes can end up being good, even when they spring up from losses in our lives.  I can look back and see how making changes due to grievous situations resulted in good things happening later.  Part of our Christian growth comes from allowing God to take over our struggles and work in our lives through the trials.

If you’ve experienced God at work in your life through having to adapt to changes, please leave a comment below to share your experience.  Your words may offer hope and encouragement to someone who is going through something similar.

A Bible Verse to Ponder

James 1: 2-5   My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. NKJV