Be safe!

[Grant Lamontagne]

In the immortal words of Brittany, oops, I did it again. 

I am sitting in the ER after an accident at work.  It’s not likely anything serious but I slipped and fell on ice and I thought I just twisted my knee.  Now a couple of hours later I have pain all the way down my leg and my right foot is in significant pain.

I decided it was best to leave work and get it checked out, which is our proper procedure.  I already sent my boss a message to fill out an incident report, but as our work day starts at 6 and our engineers don’t get out of bed before ten, it could be a while before that part gets done!

These are the joys of working outside in the winter in Canada!  The nice thing is, when you fall here you have ice on it right away! 

Def

[Adam5]

Hopefully it does not turn out to be something broken or torn 

[ThisAlarm7]

Here's hoping the damage is limited and heals soon!

[Grant Lamontagne]

Hopefully it does not turn out to be something broken or torn 

I have a lot of experience with broken bits and it isn’t broken.  Maybe twisted, sprained or pulled, but it doesn’t feel broken.

Of course, soft tissue injuries can be a much bigger PITA than a broken bone, but I’m not expecting the news to be too bad.

After some storms and some lower than usual temperatures for longer than usual, this whole area is covered in ice and I’m surprised there aren’t a lot more people here in the hospital.

I messaged Inky that earlier and he said they are probably still trying to get here! 

There is also a good chance that anyone who fell last night got buried when a plow went by.  We will know for sure in the spring I guess! 

Def

[Grant Lamontagne]

Here's hoping the damage is limited and heals soon!

I’m sure it’s nothing too serious.  I am just getting this done as a precaution because I am the one that constantly preaches to my coworkers about not reporting injuries.

In the past couple of weeks one fell and fractured his shoulder blade and wasn’t going to report it until I (in his words) forced him to.  That’s how he found out it was fractured. 

Then last week another one fell and injured his wrist and wasn’t intending to report it because we are all of an age where we were told to suck it up, walk it off and get back to work.  He finally reported it because the guy with the fractured shoulder blade told him if he didn’t then Grant was going to force him to as well! 

When you are THAT GUY sometimes it bites you in the arse!

Def

[Barry Rowland]

I'm sorry to hear that Def.  I used to try to work my way through it but I've seen too many injuries that turn out to be more than what they initially seem to be.  You made the right call.  Keep those other guys in line!  I agree with you on those sprains.  Sometimes they hurt worse than the breaks do. 
Keep us posted and I hope it isn't anything serious my friend!

[nate j]

I've seen too many injuries that turn out to be more than what they initially seem to be.  You made the right call.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Thanks- I know it’s the right call, but that doesn’t make it easier to make!  My generation (as was many of yours I imagine) was always told that you never show weakness, always go to work, pretend it doesn’t hurt etc.

Rub some dirt in it and walk it off, you’ll be fine.

No you smurfing well won’t.

I have too many friends that suffer from long term and chronic issues brought on by incorrect or lack of treatment from injuries that were either not reported or not reported and/or treated properly.  Now they suffer every day and still go to work because there is no alternative for them.

As much as I hate sitting in a busy hospital, taking up space and time that others need, for a problem that is likely quite minor, it truly beats the pants off the alternative.

We have three major hospitals in this city and several people were stabbed a couple of weeks ago at one of the other ones- the one closest to my house, in case anyone is keeping track.

This morning that hospital is locked down, again with no details released- at least not that I have heard.  The hospital I’m in now is already busy because of the ice and storms and now is busier to handle the overflow from the other hospital.

I know it’s the right thing to do to be here, but as I sit here with a fair bit of pain radiating down my leg I am seriously tempted to just get out of everyone else’s way.

I know that’s the wrong thing to do and I’m not going to do it, but I can’t help but feel there are people in much greater need than me at the moment.

Def

[Grant Lamontagne]

Sorry for the above.  I am just bored and my mind is going in a thousand directions at once, as it tends to do when there isn’t anything else to occupy it. 

Def

[powernoodle]

You'll feel much better if you order a new Leatherman on your phone while you are waiting.   

Hope its nothing serious, sir.    

[Grant Lamontagne]

I’m sure it’s not serious.  It reminds me of the old saying:

What doesn’t kill me, really hurts! 

Let’s hope that everyone uses this as a reminder to be careful at work and everywhere else.  It’s not worth getting injured over!

Def

[AzteCypher]

Swift recovery!!

I fell on ice about 2yrs ago.  I jumped up quick (make sure no one saw me), brushed myself off and continued.  The next day, I was sore like hell. 

At least you were able to apply ice right away. 

[Alan K.]

I really hate hospitals. I hope they've at least seen you by now and you're not just sitting there waiting this whole time.  Hope it's an Ibuprofen and Ace bandage type of thing and nothing more serious.  Glad you are having it checked though.  "I'll be fine tomorrow" are, as they say, famous last words.

[Grant Lamontagne]

I haven’t been seen yet- with the overflow from the other hospital things are pretty tight here.  And honestly, this is not life threatening so I am happy to let more serious cases jump ahead of me.

I’m sure that it’s just going to be a “rest up for a few days, take some ibuprofen if it bothers you” kind of thing.  I’m honestly not concerned about it in the least, and I’m just here to be prudent- and to prove to my team that you really do have to follow through with these things.

Def

[Grant Lamontagne]

I have been moved to an advanced waiting area with more comfortable chairs.

They came out and said “Gary Lamontagne!”

I said “Did you mean Grant Lamontagne?”

Lamontagne is not an overly common name, especially around here, so it seemed odd that Gary and I were here at the same time…..

They looked and sure enough, it was Grant.

I said “wow, usually people mess up my last name, not my first!”

Everyone in the waiting area got a chuckle, which is good because who couldn’t use a chuckle in the Emergency Room?

Def

[Grant Lamontagne]

I’m all good. 

Nothing broken, just a strain.  They gave me some drugs and sent me on my way.  They also gave me a slip saying I should be off work for 5 days but I’m going to ignore that as I don’t do much at work most days anyway.  Might as well sit in the car and get paid rather than sit at home and not!

Def

[Barry Rowland]

Great to hear that and I enjoyed the post about your name Def....they foul mine up all the time (first and last!). 

Don't blame you for going back and getting paid either!! 

Take it easy and be safe my friend.

[kirk13]

Gary, I'm glad to hear it wasn't serious. But don't go giving us, or Megan frights like that Def

[nate j]

I’m all good. 

Nothing broken, just a strain.  They gave me some drugs and sent me on my way.  They also gave me a slip saying I should be off work for 5 days but I’m going to ignore that as I don’t do much at work most days anyway.  Might as well sit in the car and get paid rather than sit at home and not!

Def

Glad to hear it’s nothing serious.

Since it happened at work, wouldn’t you get injury pay or workers’ compensation or something to cover the 5 days off?

[Grant Lamontagne]

Yea, I would, buuuut…..

It’s a percentage of my regular pay, based on my regular wage which is absolute crap.  Obviously there is no overtime when you aren’t working.

When I am working, it’s usually at least 3-4 hours of OT every day, and my OT pay is about 40% of my overall income.

That means that I would get a fraction of a fraction of my pay if I was off sick, and that’s not worth it.

Def

[Barry Rowland]

No, I don't blame you at all there Def.  OT is OT!

[nate j]

Yea, I would, buuuut…..

It’s a percentage of my regular pay, based on my regular wage which is absolute crap.  Obviously there is no overtime when you aren’t working.

When I am working, it’s usually at least 3-4 hours of OT every day, and my OT pay is about 40% of my overall income.

That means that I would get a fraction of a fraction of my pay if I was off sick, and that’s not worth it.

Def

I see.  Best wishes for a quick recovery!

[Antti Lammi]

Happy it wasnt anything serious, swift recovery

[SteveC]

 

[andywork]

It’s good to hear that there’s no breaks or lasting damage.

Hope you’re back on your feet and fighting fit soon.

Take care.

[Chako]

Quick recovery Grant. 

[Grant Lamontagne]

I'm all good- thanks to the extra padding I have these days I bounce a lot better than I used to!   

Def

[Chako]

Bouncing is good...splatting not so good. 

[Grant Lamontagne]

Tell me about it! 

Fortunately no splatting so far!

My knee is a bit tender right now but sore joints are not a new thing for me.  I messed up that knee in high school long before I started with the Mechano set in my ankles, so no big deal.

Def

[Farmer X]

Mrs. FX slipped on ice some time ago, and only much later did she find out she'd broken both of her wrists. Sadly, she never got to get them fixed properly. Glad to hear you got checked out, and hope you are fully recovered by now.