Two steps forward, eight steps back

For years, something like 17 years maybe, I've had an ulcer on the bottom of my right foot. The result of cutting edge surgery is sometimes unknown since it's cutting edge and all. My lucky result was a persistent and pesky ulcer that comes and goes when it wants to. I've had multiple surgeries and now wear Ankle-Foot Orthotics (ie, gimpish braces as I like to call them). I've also had a bone infection - not something I would recommend.

There have been times when the ulcer has been really bad, so much so that I took a month of medical leave from my job just to try to get a handle on things and heal. When I quit my job in student activities, the ulcer healed within a month. How's that for a sign? So, for the past year and a half, it's been relatively smooth sailing with the foot. I still have to be careful and not walk in a 5k but overall, I've been doing pretty well.

The day after Thanksgiving, I noticed some blood under the skin where the ulcer is. And it wasn't a really small amount of blood. So, when I got back from South Carolina, I put myself in the lovely boot/walking cast, and called the doctor on Monday morning. Tuesday morning I went to see my doctor. She and I were both surprised to find that my foot is worse than it's been in a long time. The ulcer has gotten fairly deep (not like burrowing through the depth of my foot, but deep for a hole in your foot) and without any visible warning. Fantastic. And, now I'm on crutches.

Anyone want to know how difficult it is to be on crutches and live by yourself? It's fairly impossible if you want to do things like, oh, I don't know, cook, wash clothes, take a glass of water to bed, etc. I've been on crutches before and lived by myself, but it was always in a one bedroom apartment - much easier to navigate. A two story house? Not so much. And yes, I know, I could move into the bedroom downstairs, but that's such a PAIN. I'd have to move my clothes. There's no TV in that bedroom. Yes, I am whining.

So, at any rate, I'm "cheating" at home and not using the crutches much. Before you people reading get mad at me for cheating, I've stayed home from work for 2 days so I can stay off of the foot and hopefully jump start the healing process. And I know it will heal, it's just frustrating to be at this point again.