Well I had a feeling this would happen. My GF called me today to inform me that the truck would not even turn over when she tried to crank it today for the first time in 3 weeks. She said she had plugged it in for a few hours but still would not crank. We have had weather anywhere from 30-80 over the past few weeks and I see no reason the truck should not be turning over. I will not be able to go over there until saturday to try for myself...the night before going to the hospital my friend came over to unload the truck and did leave the cargo and dome lights on all night (12-15 hours) but they are brand new batteries so I am anxious to go get my truck cranked now, but the docs would probably say to that.

 

Dont worry about the truck. A couple hours on about a 10amp charge and you will be back in business!

What kind of soap are you using? I learned that if you use warm water to wash it with it doesnt hurt as bad if at all and after you start it is actually relaxing. My doctor said it was ok to put a warm towel on it and let it soak for a while before cleaning. That was the best! I used liquid Dial antibacterial. I was lucky to have the burn center at the MED so close to me. They are probably one of if not the top rated trauma and burn centers in the country. It shows on their bills though!

 

They told me to use liquid dove, I soak the bandages with warm water before removing them and over all it is not to bad. It just burns like a mother in a few spots that are still open flesh, that and the leg is very sensitive and has a sharp tingling feeling when even lightly touched from the damaged nerves I guess. I just can't stand the sight of my achillis tendon and the leg in general.

I was very fortunate as well, I was sent to Parkland hospital in Dallas, TX which is the Dallas county hospital. Apparently their burn unit is also one of the best in the country. I was told they had patients from as far as Kansas sent to them. I got very lucky with the bill, as in I did not get one at all!. Since I still had a Dallas address as my permanent address I was able to claim Dallas residence and I basically got an estimated $200,000 free hospital stay. Can you say lucky! I am glad I never changed my address from my parents house when I moved out of Dallas county since I have not been insured for the past 6 months, that would have been a bill I would have been paying off for my whole life. Needless to say getting re-insured is the first thing I will be doing when I am up and about again!

 

Get used to that tingle feeling. My hand still feels like that. Almost like its asleep. If I work it its fine but when I let it sit still it gets that way.

My insurance picked up the bills. I am out about $500 in emergency room co-pays and what not so no big deal. Get you some insurance man! You cant be without it!


Let us know how the truck turns out. I am sure a couple hours on a charger will take care of it for you!

Oh yeah, I couldnt open my mouth any wider than a straw for about two weeks. My lips were the worst part as far as pain on my face. Here is a picture the day after when the swelling kicked in! I promise I am not as fat as I look in this picture!

 

So should I charge both batteries up on the 10 amp or just the drivers side?

The tingling feeling really is only ther when you touch the leg mostly around the shin and ankle area, walking is geting alot easier but the calf muscle is still very tight as well as limited movement of the ankle joint.

Ya I am definately going to get caught up on the insurance, I was very scared when I checked in not having insurance and all. This was definately a wake up call. I compete in pro rodeo for a living and have always had insurace through the PRCA but that only covers injuries traveling to and from and injuries occured at pro rodeos. I am yet to know how this injury will affect my rodeo career. I have been side lined for the past year due to the other leg being shattered at a rodeo, two weeks after being cleared to compete again I burn up the other leg. Bums me out to be sidelined for another year. But it makes for all the more determination to get healed and back to a professional level of bronc riding.

 

The batteries are connected so you just need to charge one to charge them both.

You will be back riding in no time! Dont worry, it wont affect your riding ability at all. It will be tender and all that for a while but you get use to it. I was back wrenching on diesel engines in a couple months. The biggest thing is when the doctor tells you to use it like normal again do it. Dont baby it! That new skin is thin and all but that the way you get it tuffined back up!

 

Okay, so when I was in the hospital I was rather out of it during alot of conversations with the nurses/docs due to some good drugs. Now my girlfriend swears up and down that the docs said to me and her that I can not be around smokers or places/bars where people are smoking. That it would hurt the leg/skin graft. I have no memory of any such conversation. And am not one to call the smarter half a liar. She seems very adamant about this whole no bars where there is any smoke thing. Were you told anything like this? I do remember the doc telling me I could drink Maybe I have a touch of selective hearing

Ya I have been carefull not to bang the leg on anything to protect the new skin. They said as soon as the open spots heal/scab I can stop wrapping it. Boy will that ever scare the neighborhood kids I also find it hard to believe that it could take up to 18 months for the skin to completely heal. I plan on being healed and having a tattoo of flames up the leg in half that time. But then again I tend to rush things
As far as competition, It might be a while, I have lost alot of muscle and weight from all of this.

I do hate being laid up like this, I am fighting off going crazy just sitting on the couch elevating the leg all day. I even started reading a book to try and pass time.