Following several days of literally lying around the house, Fleet Maintenance’s editor, David A. Kolman, figured out how to sit “comfortably” at a desk – actually the dining room table. This was no small feat, as his left leg was in an immobilizer brace, he was instructed by the doctor to not put weight on that leg and he had to maneuver using crutches.
“Even before fracturing his left he was never well-balanced,” Kolman’s wife remarked.
Over the next several weeks, Kolman returned to the orthopedic doctor to see how his fractured left kneecap was mending. Each examination and X-ray revealed slow mending. Consequently, after each exam, the knee immobilizer brace was adjusted to allow for more degrees of bend.
On his most recent check-up, Kolman told the good doctor: “I’ve been taking it really easy. My wife has been a great help in making sure I don’t overdo things and has taken over some of my household duties.”
“You’re not taking advantage of her, are you?, he asked. “Of course not,” Kolman answered, but his wife begged to differ, mumbling something about paybacks.
“Plus,” added Kolman, “I’ve been drinking a lot of whole milk to strengthen my bones.”
“That’s fine,” commented the doctor, “but it’s really not going to help. However, if you enjoy milk, and you think it is doing you good, keep drinking it.”
The doctor instructed Kolman to slowly put some weight on the injured leg and further increased the amount of bend allowed by the immobilizer brace.
“If you’re just going to be sitting around, you can take the brace off,” the doctor said. “You also don’t have to wear it for sleeping.”
A follow-up appointment was scheduled.
