First trip we lost a car, this trip we lose a lady >)
Jun 26th, 2014, 05:12 AM
#141
I think at that point B2 would have been walking.... Can't imagine why you are traveling with these losers, unless they are quite different at home, which is quite possible.
"I have been to the UK a few times now and I have never tried a Pimms."
I grew up in England, lived there until I was 28, and never tried a Pimms. Gin and tonic, definitely. Cider - the real stuff, not apple juice - yes. Wine, sherry, port - sure. But not Pimms. But I like my fruit and my drink separate.
"I have been to the UK a few times now and I have never tried a Pimms."
I grew up in England, lived there until I was 28, and never tried a Pimms. Gin and tonic, definitely. Cider - the real stuff, not apple juice - yes. Wine, sherry, port - sure. But not Pimms. But I like my fruit and my drink separate.
Jun 26th, 2014, 09:24 AM
#143
Original Poster
That would have been lovely Morgana - maybe next time (sans the two B's)
julia_t did treat us to a wonderful lunch a few days later when we were staying in the Cotswolds.
<B>Castle Howard, but not the coast, not Whitby and struggling to use the clutch w/ a sprained ankle . . .</B>
The plan for today (thursday) was Castle Howard in the AM and then after lunch heading to the coast to Robinhood's Bay and/or Whitby or some such and then driving through the moors and 'home'. As you can tell from the title, plans changed
Nicho served the breakfast buffet style but it was full cooked and pretty good.(eggs/bacon/sausages/beans/potatoes plus fruit, cold cereal, juices, etc)
We headed out towards Castle Howard - the girls were amused by the 'race horse crossing' signs (a lot of stables in this neck of the woods). We arrived at CH pretty early and there were several many large coaches already tin the car park. Come to find out it was a 'flower day' and gardening clubs and OAP groups from all over were invading the place to see all the amazing floral displays throughout the Castle. We bought out tix and entered the hall and the grand staircase in front of us was actually totally jammed w/ humanity and we were inching up towards the State rooms. I've never seen anything like it - even at places like the Tower of London -- just a huge crowd. I knew the tour would be slooooooow and we really wouldn't be able to see much. I told the girls to stay where they were and I'd go check w/ staff to see if this crowd was expected to last all day. One of the guides said that most of the coach tours were booked for the AM so he thought it might thin out around lunch time.
I fought my way back up the staircase (they still hadn't made it to the top of the stairs) and told the girls we would have an easier time/see more if we explored the grounds first and tad came back later.
We struggled downstream and went outside. I wanted to walk up to the azalea gardens - up a lightly wet/not too muddy hillside but again B2 was wearing heels. I should explain - the 'heels' weren't 5 inch platforms. They were sort of booties w/ about 3 inch stacked heels. But definitely not walking shoes. She wore these about half the time and the rest she wore sketchers Shape Ups (the ones w/ the really thick/curved soles). So I went up the hill and the girls wandered through other parts of the grounds on paved walkways. We were to meet up back at the entry at 11:30.
I wandered up the hill and then through a bluebell woods and started back down the hill - when disaster struck. I slipped on a tuft of wet grass and my foot flew up to almost shoulder level and I started to fall. If I had just landed on my bum all would have been fine - bruised ego but nothing worse. But I got twisted and my left foot caught a hole and while I went down my left foot went back. I got up and my ankle was sore but I could put weight on it so 'no big deal'. A family coming down the hill behind me checked if I was Ok and I said I was pretty sure nothing was broken. I made it back down the hill and it didn't feel too bad. I walked (very slowly) across the back terrace and around front . . . and it was getting sorer and sorer and bigger and bigger. My ankle was swollen to almost twice its size. I made it to a bench by the entry door and one of the staff member saw my distress. They didn't have an med staff but brought out some sort of gauze strips she tried to wrap my ankle w/ (totally useless - looked like a gift wrapped package and wasn't even tight) but they also gave me a couple of instant ice packs which did help.
The girls arrived and after commiserating - I told them to go ahead and tour the castle. I'd been there before but the last time was years ago and I really wanted to see it again but there was no way I could have managed. They said the crowds were almost totally gone and they did enjoy the state rooms. I worried about being able to use the clutch but really didn't have much choice.
Driving was OK -- it hurt but not excruciating. Hurt most when I raised my foot off the floor but didn't hurt 'more' when I depressed the clutch. Flexing hurt more than using the clutch.
We decided to forego the coast and head back to Thirsk where we'd get a bite to eat and I'd hit Boots for an ace bandage and pain meds. Instead of eating I decided to get some fruit and a prepared sandwich after stopping at Boots. I LOVE Boots - Ibuprofen + Codeine and a couple of different bandages/cuffs and I was good to go. They told me where the doctor's surgery was - I try to go there tomorrow morning.
The girls went window shopping and had afternoon tea while I limped back to the car (cobbles are a bitch!) and listened to the radio til they returned.
WE got back to Woundales and I had a hard time getting up the stairs. They spent the evening wandering around the farm and looking at some of the animals while I doped up w/ my meds, had the sandwich and dozed off and on til morning.
Friday's plan was to take the train from Thirsk to York for the day. After discussing my options w/ Nicho and Jill we decided that me going to the GPs surgery wouldn't be a great idea since he'd likely send me off to get X-rays. That I should just go straightway to A&E at the hospital in Northallerton. So after breakfast I drove the girls to the train station in Thirsk. I had shown them where things are in York from my iPad (The Minster first just inside the city walls, then the Shambles, the museum, and Betty's). They would take a cab from Thirsk back to Woundales.
Then I headed north to Nortallerton and to A&E (emergency room). They were absolute brilliant. 90 minutes start to finish. From intake -- they took my details and immediately a young attendant came out w/ a wheel chair and she stuck w/ me the whole time. W/i 5 minutes I was called into and exam room - the doctor sent me to get X-rays and the attendant wheeled me to radiology. they took 3 views and back we go to the exam room. A few mins later the Dr. came in w/ the X-rays and said it wasn't broken but it appears to be a severe strain/sprain. A tech came in w/ a long sort of compression sock that you but on double (toe to over knee and then fold it back down so it is sort of like a knee sock). Hurt like HELL when she put it on - it was very tight so I had to totally flex my ankle for her to put it on. Then another tech came in w/ crutches - but they were too long and they decided I needed youth size which meant I'd need to go to Physio to get fitted. Then I was wheeled up to the Pharmacy to drop my prescription. The I was wheeled back down to the ground floor and across the car park to Physical therapy to get my crutches/crutch walking lessons
Then back to the main bldg and up to the Pharmacy where my meds were ready. I said I know I need to at <u>Least</u> pay for the prescription - but no. They said that 'yes, technically I would have to pay, but their computer really isn't geared to paid accounts and they don't actually have a way to account for the ££.
Was wheeled back downstairs and out to my car . . and I'm on my way.
Took a 'shortcut' back to Borrowby that ended up being a gated road across a farm (the other end of the road had a cattle grid -- WHY didn't both ends ????. I had to get out of the car (did I say it hurt like Hell) open the gate, drive through, stop the car get back out and limp back to the gate to close it and just as I got to the gate -- a police car and a land rover arrived from opposite directions . . . and my car is smack dab in the way. I limp back to the car assuming the other cars will deal w/ closing the gate and head off, back to the village and then up the farm track to Woundales - and another farm gate to open/close
I assumed I'd be able to get something to eat at the B&B but it turned out the owners had been called away for the day and no one was home but me til early evening when the girls returned.
They come bopping in around 7:00 and are slightly interested in my day. I asked them all about York - didn't they LOVE the Minster? Uh - they saw the exterior -- didn't go inside. (Didn't go inside <i>Yorkminster</i>??) How about the Shambles - they were cute. Walk on the Wall? - no. Apparently they went to starbucks, did some shopping, and went to Betty's. I said I know we didn't plan anything but by <i>any</i> chance did they happen to bring back any FOOD? "Uh - no, it didn't cross our minds. We had some pizza left over but didn't want to carry it so gave it to a street person." (they could have left out that last bit . . .
. . . Dinner was plain chocolate digestives and tea . . .
<B>Next: Heading south to the Cotswolds - A terrific gastro pub/B&B and Sunday Lunch at Julia_t's </B> - and 4 days of them sightseeing and me sitting in various car parks listening to Radio 4 . . .
julia_t did treat us to a wonderful lunch a few days later when we were staying in the Cotswolds.
<B>Castle Howard, but not the coast, not Whitby and struggling to use the clutch w/ a sprained ankle . . .</B>
The plan for today (thursday) was Castle Howard in the AM and then after lunch heading to the coast to Robinhood's Bay and/or Whitby or some such and then driving through the moors and 'home'. As you can tell from the title, plans changed
Nicho served the breakfast buffet style but it was full cooked and pretty good.(eggs/bacon/sausages/beans/potatoes plus fruit, cold cereal, juices, etc)
We headed out towards Castle Howard - the girls were amused by the 'race horse crossing' signs (a lot of stables in this neck of the woods). We arrived at CH pretty early and there were several many large coaches already tin the car park. Come to find out it was a 'flower day' and gardening clubs and OAP groups from all over were invading the place to see all the amazing floral displays throughout the Castle. We bought out tix and entered the hall and the grand staircase in front of us was actually totally jammed w/ humanity and we were inching up towards the State rooms. I've never seen anything like it - even at places like the Tower of London -- just a huge crowd. I knew the tour would be slooooooow and we really wouldn't be able to see much. I told the girls to stay where they were and I'd go check w/ staff to see if this crowd was expected to last all day. One of the guides said that most of the coach tours were booked for the AM so he thought it might thin out around lunch time.
I fought my way back up the staircase (they still hadn't made it to the top of the stairs) and told the girls we would have an easier time/see more if we explored the grounds first and tad came back later.
We struggled downstream and went outside. I wanted to walk up to the azalea gardens - up a lightly wet/not too muddy hillside but again B2 was wearing heels. I should explain - the 'heels' weren't 5 inch platforms. They were sort of booties w/ about 3 inch stacked heels. But definitely not walking shoes. She wore these about half the time and the rest she wore sketchers Shape Ups (the ones w/ the really thick/curved soles). So I went up the hill and the girls wandered through other parts of the grounds on paved walkways. We were to meet up back at the entry at 11:30.
I wandered up the hill and then through a bluebell woods and started back down the hill - when disaster struck. I slipped on a tuft of wet grass and my foot flew up to almost shoulder level and I started to fall. If I had just landed on my bum all would have been fine - bruised ego but nothing worse. But I got twisted and my left foot caught a hole and while I went down my left foot went back. I got up and my ankle was sore but I could put weight on it so 'no big deal'. A family coming down the hill behind me checked if I was Ok and I said I was pretty sure nothing was broken. I made it back down the hill and it didn't feel too bad. I walked (very slowly) across the back terrace and around front . . . and it was getting sorer and sorer and bigger and bigger. My ankle was swollen to almost twice its size. I made it to a bench by the entry door and one of the staff member saw my distress. They didn't have an med staff but brought out some sort of gauze strips she tried to wrap my ankle w/ (totally useless - looked like a gift wrapped package and wasn't even tight) but they also gave me a couple of instant ice packs which did help.
The girls arrived and after commiserating - I told them to go ahead and tour the castle. I'd been there before but the last time was years ago and I really wanted to see it again but there was no way I could have managed. They said the crowds were almost totally gone and they did enjoy the state rooms. I worried about being able to use the clutch but really didn't have much choice.
Driving was OK -- it hurt but not excruciating. Hurt most when I raised my foot off the floor but didn't hurt 'more' when I depressed the clutch. Flexing hurt more than using the clutch.
We decided to forego the coast and head back to Thirsk where we'd get a bite to eat and I'd hit Boots for an ace bandage and pain meds. Instead of eating I decided to get some fruit and a prepared sandwich after stopping at Boots. I LOVE Boots - Ibuprofen + Codeine and a couple of different bandages/cuffs and I was good to go. They told me where the doctor's surgery was - I try to go there tomorrow morning.
The girls went window shopping and had afternoon tea while I limped back to the car (cobbles are a bitch!) and listened to the radio til they returned.
WE got back to Woundales and I had a hard time getting up the stairs. They spent the evening wandering around the farm and looking at some of the animals while I doped up w/ my meds, had the sandwich and dozed off and on til morning.
Friday's plan was to take the train from Thirsk to York for the day. After discussing my options w/ Nicho and Jill we decided that me going to the GPs surgery wouldn't be a great idea since he'd likely send me off to get X-rays. That I should just go straightway to A&E at the hospital in Northallerton. So after breakfast I drove the girls to the train station in Thirsk. I had shown them where things are in York from my iPad (The Minster first just inside the city walls, then the Shambles, the museum, and Betty's). They would take a cab from Thirsk back to Woundales.
Then I headed north to Nortallerton and to A&E (emergency room). They were absolute brilliant. 90 minutes start to finish. From intake -- they took my details and immediately a young attendant came out w/ a wheel chair and she stuck w/ me the whole time. W/i 5 minutes I was called into and exam room - the doctor sent me to get X-rays and the attendant wheeled me to radiology. they took 3 views and back we go to the exam room. A few mins later the Dr. came in w/ the X-rays and said it wasn't broken but it appears to be a severe strain/sprain. A tech came in w/ a long sort of compression sock that you but on double (toe to over knee and then fold it back down so it is sort of like a knee sock). Hurt like HELL when she put it on - it was very tight so I had to totally flex my ankle for her to put it on. Then another tech came in w/ crutches - but they were too long and they decided I needed youth size which meant I'd need to go to Physio to get fitted. Then I was wheeled up to the Pharmacy to drop my prescription. The I was wheeled back down to the ground floor and across the car park to Physical therapy to get my crutches/crutch walking lessons
Then back to the main bldg and up to the Pharmacy where my meds were ready. I said I know I need to at <u>Least</u> pay for the prescription - but no. They said that 'yes, technically I would have to pay, but their computer really isn't geared to paid accounts and they don't actually have a way to account for the ££.Was wheeled back downstairs and out to my car . . and I'm on my way.
Took a 'shortcut' back to Borrowby that ended up being a gated road across a farm (the other end of the road had a cattle grid -- WHY didn't both ends ????. I had to get out of the car (did I say it hurt like Hell) open the gate, drive through, stop the car get back out and limp back to the gate to close it and just as I got to the gate -- a police car and a land rover arrived from opposite directions . . . and my car is smack dab in the way. I limp back to the car assuming the other cars will deal w/ closing the gate and head off, back to the village and then up the farm track to Woundales - and another farm gate to open/close
I assumed I'd be able to get something to eat at the B&B but it turned out the owners had been called away for the day and no one was home but me til early evening when the girls returned.
They come bopping in around 7:00 and are slightly interested in my day. I asked them all about York - didn't they LOVE the Minster? Uh - they saw the exterior -- didn't go inside. (Didn't go inside <i>Yorkminster</i>??) How about the Shambles - they were cute. Walk on the Wall? - no. Apparently they went to starbucks, did some shopping, and went to Betty's. I said I know we didn't plan anything but by <i>any</i> chance did they happen to bring back any FOOD? "Uh - no, it didn't cross our minds. We had some pizza left over but didn't want to carry it so gave it to a street person." (they could have left out that last bit . . .
. . . Dinner was plain chocolate digestives and tea . . .
<B>Next: Heading south to the Cotswolds - A terrific gastro pub/B&B and Sunday Lunch at Julia_t's </B> - and 4 days of them sightseeing and me sitting in various car parks listening to Radio 4 . . .
Jun 26th, 2014, 09:49 AM
#145
Original Poster
sorry about the double post -- the site went down for maintenance while I was writing this and froze when I clicked Submit. So I opened another window and when I came back clicked "submit" again - apparently the original 'submit' was activated when the site came back up.
Jun 26th, 2014, 10:12 AM
#147
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Glad it was only sprained and not broken. Your friends only had a slight interest in your condition? Some "great" friends they appear to be. Neither one of them offered to stay behind to accompany you to the emergency room to make sure you were okay?
The emergency room that we went to in the UK for my son a few years ago was also marvelous. He was processed and seen right away. Not like back home where you can sit in the emergency room for hours before they even look at you.
Your friends sure did see a lot of Starbucks. They could have stayed home for that. There is so much to see in York and they didn't see much of anything. The York Castle Museum, the walk on the walls, a guided tour by the volunteer guides, the National Railway Museum, Clifford Tower, and of course the inside of York Minster! They missed it all and didn't seem to care much how you got along.
The emergency room that we went to in the UK for my son a few years ago was also marvelous. He was processed and seen right away. Not like back home where you can sit in the emergency room for hours before they even look at you.
Your friends sure did see a lot of Starbucks. They could have stayed home for that. There is so much to see in York and they didn't see much of anything. The York Castle Museum, the walk on the walls, a guided tour by the volunteer guides, the National Railway Museum, Clifford Tower, and of course the inside of York Minster! They missed it all and didn't seem to care much how you got along.
Jun 26th, 2014, 10:32 AM
#148
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I am flabbergasted on so many levels.
I am also enjoying this to the hilt. It's almost like reality tv - B1 and B2 sound like they would be perfectly cast in a Real Housewives of _______.
I hope your ankle gets better in the next installment.
I am also enjoying this to the hilt. It's almost like reality tv - B1 and B2 sound like they would be perfectly cast in a Real Housewives of _______.
I hope your ankle gets better in the next installment.
Jun 26th, 2014, 10:43 AM
#149
So sorry about the sprained ankle!!! Been there, done that - I limped round Japan and Korea - but I wouldn't have wanted to try and drive a manual.
I once wound up in an emergency room in Switzerland (broken wrist) where I was the one and only patient. So different from the US.
The UK is clearly wasted on the Bs. Leave them home next time.
I once wound up in an emergency room in Switzerland (broken wrist) where I was the one and only patient. So different from the US.
The UK is clearly wasted on the Bs. Leave them home next time.
Jun 26th, 2014, 10:45 AM
#150
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"He was processed and seen right away. Not like back home where you can sit in the emergency room for hours before they even look at you. "
Well.....the official target time is four hours from start to finish, but it can be a bit variable: weekday mornings in small-ish towns are probably fairly quiet, road traffic and work accidents permitting, but weekends after the pubs shut in big cities a potential, umm, adventure.
Well.....the official target time is four hours from start to finish, but it can be a bit variable: weekday mornings in small-ish towns are probably fairly quiet, road traffic and work accidents permitting, but weekends after the pubs shut in big cities a potential, umm, adventure.
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Jun 26th, 2014, 11:08 AM
#151
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Glad you had a good experience with emergency medical care. I continue to wonder what your travel companions thought this trip was going to be like. They seem disinterested in the things the rest of us would have wanted to see and spent their time shopping and in Starbucks instead. Remind me to buy Starbucks stock next time they are taking a foreign trip.
Jun 26th, 2014, 11:08 AM
#152
As Patrick says, A&E isn't always a walk in the park but I'm glad you had such a good experience. The government is always on at the NHS to charge you free-loading foreigners but no-one has yet come up with a way for them to pay, not even the ones who want to!
as for your travel companions, as thursdaysd says, Britain was clearly wasted on them. I'm keen to find out what they said at the end of the trip though.
as for your travel companions, as thursdaysd says, Britain was clearly wasted on them. I'm keen to find out what they said at the end of the trip though.
Jun 26th, 2014, 11:44 AM
#153
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I've posted before that NHS Wales had charging figured out 7 years ago. More than happy to pay for the excellent service. If I remember the doctor's appointment fee was around £15.
I was referred (by my request) to a private hospital in Shrewsbury for x-rays as we were leaving next day for France and I couldn't have the x-rays done at the NHS hospital until the following day (not an emergency but potentialy serious). The charge for the x-rays and having them read by a consultant, and an appointment with the consultant, was around £100.
Janis, glad you got the sprain seen to, they can be as nasty as breaks.
I was referred (by my request) to a private hospital in Shrewsbury for x-rays as we were leaving next day for France and I couldn't have the x-rays done at the NHS hospital until the following day (not an emergency but potentialy serious). The charge for the x-rays and having them read by a consultant, and an appointment with the consultant, was around £100.
Janis, glad you got the sprain seen to, they can be as nasty as breaks.
Jun 26th, 2014, 11:51 AM
#154
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I'm so sorry to read about your ankle and I hope you recovered quickly.
The two Bs really wasted a good opportunity in getting to travel with you. I think they have no idea about how much experience you have and what an excellent resource you are. Your report is full of great places and I'm keeping it for future reference.
I can't imagine the attitude of traveling with someone and always insisting I get the best room... I'd like to see you stand up for yourself sometimes. It's not as if they paid your way. Some people don't respect you if you don't stand up to them. Sounds like B2 is one of these.
I'm loving your report... it's like a novel with the bumps in the road... uncertain about a happy ending, though.
The two Bs really wasted a good opportunity in getting to travel with you. I think they have no idea about how much experience you have and what an excellent resource you are. Your report is full of great places and I'm keeping it for future reference.
I can't imagine the attitude of traveling with someone and always insisting I get the best room... I'd like to see you stand up for yourself sometimes. It's not as if they paid your way. Some people don't respect you if you don't stand up to them. Sounds like B2 is one of these.
I'm loving your report... it's like a novel with the bumps in the road... uncertain about a happy ending, though.
Jun 26th, 2014, 12:07 PM
#155
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Assume you were at the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton. Glad you had a good experience there - it's constantly on the local news due to possible cuts to some of its services.
There's an excellent Bettys in Northallerton, along the High Street, not that you were up to going this time.
There's an excellent Bettys in Northallerton, along the High Street, not that you were up to going this time.
Jun 26th, 2014, 12:10 PM
#156
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I am loving this, but boy does it bring back memories of my first naïve days owning a house in France, as in "Let's invite everyone to visit!!" One year I invited a friend, and a friend of hers just invited herself along. Clearly, I hadn't developed my "just say no" skillset, so I went along with it. First friend was fine. Second "friend" arrived at Dulles with what honest-to-god was a steamer trunk, wearing a full-length mink coat. I don't want to hijack your wonderful story, but she slept in that coat the entire time we were in the Dordogne (it wasn't cold), she slept in it in the back seat of the car all day long as the other two of us toured, never got out of the car to visit a castle or cave or anything else, drank uncountable cases of wine, wanted to pay for everything in dollars, and embarrassed the heck out of us at every place we went to eat. That was a lesson well learned!
My last trip to France was on crutches, so I can so relate to that as well. Cobbles are indeed a B*tch!! Glad it was only a sprain, but still...you drove??
Anyway, thanks for this, and carry on!!
My last trip to France was on crutches, so I can so relate to that as well. Cobbles are indeed a B*tch!! Glad it was only a sprain, but still...you drove??
Anyway, thanks for this, and carry on!!
Jun 26th, 2014, 12:17 PM
#157
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Janis - I've been reading this with interest and was sorry to hear of your injury (as if you didn't have enough on your plate this trip!). It was decent of you to offer to pay for the NHS services you received, even if they couldn't process this. You might not be aware that most NHS hospitals, although funded by our public taxes, do run charity appeals to pay for special equipment, like MRI scanners, that sort of thing. I notice that the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton is one such hospital. Perhaps you might like to consider making whatever donation you think appropriate to their appeal:- http://www.friaragescannerappeal.org.uk/
Jun 26th, 2014, 12:23 PM
#158
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Well in our case, the emergency room visit was during a weekday morning in London.
I hope your sprained ankle is healing. B1 and B2 missed out on a lot and didn't appreciate Janisj as they should have done.
I hope your sprained ankle is healing. B1 and B2 missed out on a lot and didn't appreciate Janisj as they should have done.
Jun 26th, 2014, 01:41 PM
#159
Original Poster
quick medical update -- I'll try to finish the full TR tomorrow.
Gordon: Yes -- Patrick also mentioned on some other thread (I <i>think</i> in the Lounge) about a donation. I did send some ££ to the hospital appeal.
Cath: I'm not totally clear on the details but I <i>think</i> if I had gone to the doctors surgery I would have been charged but A&E treatment is free.
Those who were wondering about my recovery: Unfortunately it was a pretty severe sprain and I was still on 2 crutches for about 2.5 weeks after getting home, and on one crutch until early last week. It is still sore, especially if I step on any uneven pavement but 1,000,000% better than it was. There is a silver lining - I did not spend one cent on <i>anything</i> (except for groceries which I had delivered) for 3 weeks. Just didn't get out of the house to shop or eat out or anything.
The worst thing after I was back home was getting out of the car since it is my left foot so I had to put my full weight on it - that part was easier in the UK.
My doctor said it would almost have been better if it had been broken - that I might feel the effects for another month or more . . . assuming I don't aggregate it. sheesh.
Gordon: Yes -- Patrick also mentioned on some other thread (I <i>think</i> in the Lounge) about a donation. I did send some ££ to the hospital appeal.
Cath: I'm not totally clear on the details but I <i>think</i> if I had gone to the doctors surgery I would have been charged but A&E treatment is free.
Those who were wondering about my recovery: Unfortunately it was a pretty severe sprain and I was still on 2 crutches for about 2.5 weeks after getting home, and on one crutch until early last week. It is still sore, especially if I step on any uneven pavement but 1,000,000% better than it was. There is a silver lining - I did not spend one cent on <i>anything</i> (except for groceries which I had delivered) for 3 weeks. Just didn't get out of the house to shop or eat out or anything.
The worst thing after I was back home was getting out of the car since it is my left foot so I had to put my full weight on it - that part was easier in the UK.
My doctor said it would almost have been better if it had been broken - that I might feel the effects for another month or more . . . assuming I don't aggregate it. sheesh.
