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As I have stated SHTF means something different to everyone. But what it really comes down to is any major change on daily life. I know we have had similar threads in the past but I will tell mine here. I know it is a long read.

I have been on very little lately due to life getting in the way. I have been working 72hr weeks for a couple of months. When I am not working I am remodeling my house and building a shop. Part of the reason for this is I just got married last Sunday and I needed a place for her and the kids.

Construction here has not been going as fast as it should so I decided to take this week off work. Sunday my brother was around to help me do some of the large/heavy work I can not do on my own. We headed out to get the trusses set on the shop.

We were moving the first truss over and had it almost there. My brother was using a wide platform on top of a dump truck on the "heavy" end. The boys were sliding the light side along the beam using a long 2x4 and I was helping stabilize the middle using an 8' ladder. So I would set the ladder, stabilize, they would slide one end, I would reposition.

On about the 5th move I was on the way down the ladder. Maybe the 3rd, possibly the 4th rung and all of a sudden me and the ladder were falling. I am not exactly sure how I landed but I know the ladder and my tool belt "broke" my fall :eek: I am not exactly sure what happened to my right knee but I knew I had twisted it bad. I had instant pain and "laying" on the ground I could not find a spot to move it that did not hurt.

After a minute the wife came out and helped me into a chair. I was trying to be tough and "walk" it off, but this is one of those hurts you know you REALLY hurt yourself. Being a paramedic both makes you more knowledgeable and stubborn at the same time. So after sitting for a few and thinking I was going to have to go to the ER, but putting it off as long as possible, I got an ATV ride over to the house. I tried to hobble my way up the steps and felt something in my knee "come out" and back in. It was at that point I decided that a trip to the ER was in order.

ER took x-rays and no breaks, but I did suspect that, assumed major soft tissue damage. Now I am in a knee brace, on crutches.

So where does the SHTF come into this, well all of it?

First off any time you break or damage any part of your body you do not realize how much you use it, until you can't. Simple things like taking my right sock off, going to the bathroom, getting food from kitchen, ect. Carrying stuff with crutches does not work.

Second, long guns, forget it. Handguns still provide a challenge. Even then there is no "moving" and shooting.

Third and probably one of the bigger things, finances.

ER and specialist bill (even with insurance), plus whatever else it ends up costing.

Luckily I don't think I am going to miss out on any work, but I might depending on what they find wrong with it. It is good to have as few bills as possible and have a bit of money in savings.

Food, I have a well stocked pantry.


While it is only short term it only takes a second for a "life changing" event to happen. This is probably one of the most realistic SHTF scenario most people will face. Stay safe out there.
 
Your not the Lone Ranger Nwcid.
Last Thursday I was standing on a tree pruning ladder and pole sawing on a rather large limb that came down on my pole barn shed roof.
Made the mistake of climbing up on the slick panel roof afterwards to inspect the damage and managed to slip and fall while not wearing any gloves at the time.
My left hand broke through the fiberglass panel, and I managed to slice open the top of my index finger and also the bottom of my middle finger.
22 stitches later, the ER doc informs me that I have sliced through a bunch of nerves on one finger and partially through a tendon on the other. Next stop, a hand surgeon specialist for evaluation.
My insurance deductible is $10,000.00 per year.

I was in the remodeling trade for over 30 years, and had many a close call with power saws and other power tools but I always thought that a table saw would be the culprit that took a finger or two, but I never thought it would be panel roof that messed me up.
I can't even imagine what it would be like to have an injury like mine, and no immediate professional medical help available at the time, especially the infection that set in the next day.

Hope things heal up fast, take care.
 
Hope you get better soon. Last year my wife had both Knees replaced one in June and then the second one in Nov (to get as much in under the insurance year window as possible) We spent most of a year getting ready for it finically and getting family and friend support. I work heavy construction so June is like 50 hours a week on average so for the first one we had to have a bunch of help. The one in Nov was a little better but I got put on a Rock haul 40+ hours a week with 2.5 hours a day of commute. It really helped on the money side but the wife had to look after her self more then I would have liked. So I can relate.

Having once hung 20 ft off the ground by a hammer handle when a ladder fell out from under me while nailing sheeting on a gable. Screaming for one of my cousins to come put the ladder back. Its amazing how fast that event you have no control over can happen.
 
Oh yes she up to riding 10 miles on her stationary bike and walking up to 3 miles around town. Aside from a little pain now and then (mostly due to nerve damage from a car accident back in 1988) she's doing great.

Hopefully Nwcid will be able to say the same soon.
 
Had an MRI late last evening. Found out this morning I have a torn ACL.

So that is not as bad as it could be, but still not awesome. I need to work on "using" my knee some and keep it from stiffening up. I just got a sport knee brace with the metal supports (on recommendations of 2 personal friends that are PT) and trying to start working it as I feel comfortable.

Dr wants to reevaluate me when I get back from my honeymoon in about 2 weeks. I know I should not push it, but still trying to decide if I am going to be able to scuba while we are in HI. The in water part is no issue at all. It is the getting in and out that is a concern......
 
Tomorrow I'm going in for reconstructive hand surgery for my little 20 stitch accident last week.
The Doc is fixing up a lacerated tendon on my index finger, all the severed nerves on my middle finger and for good measure, she is giving the same middle finger a shot of steroids for my "trigger finger" problem that's been bugging me lately.
One hour of surgery will top out over $9,600.00 and that doesn't factor in the emergency room costs from last week.
My personal health insurance policy has a $10,000.00 deductible.
 
Tomorrow I'm going in for reconstructive hand surgery for my little 20 stitch accident last week.
The Doc is fixing up a lacerated tendon on my index finger, all the severed nerves on my middle finger and for good measure, she is giving the same middle finger a shot of steroids for my "trigger finger" problem that's been bugging me lately.
One hour of surgery will top out over $9,600.00 and that doesn't factor in the emergency room costs from last week.
My personal health insurance policy has a $10,000.00 deductible.

Good luck with that surgery, jbett! Hope you get 100% back!:) SRG
 
Not near as bad as y'alls misshaps but about a month ago (no bounce factor) My feet went out from under me and I straight armed my fall,with my right arm of course.I have no insurance so I'm hoping I don't need surgery and all
It still hurts if I lift my arm above my head but it's way better.
Now had it jammed a little harder or dislocated my shoulder,then I would have had to become ambidextrous over night.
Had I been still working,there would have been a lot of pain killers to operate any heavy equipment.
Now I just support myself and my dogs but just in a heart beat my ability to work was gone
= instant SHTF
Most of us will get hurt worse at home because we don't have that PITA telling us we're doing it wrong.
Be careful with your home projects.
 
ACL tears are nasty, was that the only injury? Or were there other issues too? If you go the route of surgery to replace the ACL, I would say not to go the route of the "patellar tendon graft," where they cut the patella tendon in thirds and use the middle third as a new ACL. Recovery is horrible, two friends of mine have had it done. From my understanding, you can actually be quite successful without replacing the ACL, but you run the risk of dislocations and the "wobbling" of the knee without the ACL stabilizing its lateral motion can cause the meniscus and cartilage to become worn quickly or tear. I have no idea how old you are, but if you're younger and aren't super into weightlifting (like I am), then the route of the hamstring tendon graft might be a good option. The third option which is most common is the cadaver tendon replacement, but I've seen one guy tear his cadaver ACL right in front of me playing basketball, and have another friend who went through 3 cadaver ACL replacements in 2 years!!! Needless to say, I'm a bit skeptical of that option. Just research it and seek out advice from as many people as you can to make your own decision, you don't have to trust some random nursing student like me!
Good luck!
 
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I know how you feel and it sucks:( I broke my leg last year (steal beam and my leg did not mix well) and also my right hand got messed up. I learned a whole new way of moving around and am still kind of slow when it comes to moving around:D

Hope you heal up quick!
 
Yup I think SHTF comes in all shapes, sizes and configurations. I have learned it will never be what I have planned for, and that plan I have made will go sour as soon as I implement it. I am fortunate to have a very smart service dog that does his best to keep me from doing foolish things. I have concluded that the dog is actually smarter than I am. Good luck on your recovery guys, and I hope there is minimal after effects.
 
Best of luck on your recovery. I had a crushing injury and a fracture near my elbow on my dominant left arm at 20 years old. Zero use of my left arm for about 3 months. Due to this incident, I handgun with my off-hand on a regular basis, just in case I loose use of my dominant hand/arm. My accuracy is almost as good right vs left, just a bit slower.
 

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