So this was going to be picture filled, a 1/2er hike(funny I know), rather than your typical 12er, etc. Instead, I'm here with my leg propped up and struggling to reach my laptop.

Husband worked on the jeep all morning and part of the afternoon, and we decided to take it out in the back 400 drive around, and hike. I never seen the stock tank so full, size of a pond, Miya swam ran around, good times. We have hiked this property hundreds of times. we've had 1000 times more rain this summer than the 3 last summers combined. Mosquitoes were bad, only downside.

We did not intend on doing any major hiking, it was still in the 90's when we left at 5 p.m. so I didn't gear up, brought a couple waters, through on some sneakers, brought a small first aid kit.

We hiked around the back end of the tank. Started on the largest hill, the 500er, lol, to see how the hidden tank looked. Miya was in the lead, husband ahead of me, carrying a riffle since there are wild hogs out here. I was in the rear. Don't know what really happened, don't know if I was swatting a mosquitoe and loss my footing on the sand and rocks, but down I went.

Hubby threw the riffle down and Miya raced back to me, and blood was everywhere. He got me up, and told him I couldn't climb back to the jeep. So Miya and hubby raced back to the jeep. I looked down and knew our small first aid kit wasn't enough. Got me in the jeep and raced back to our neighbors house(Miya's bf house). Husband mentioned how calm and well mannered Miya was throughout this, he never had to tell anything, she instinctively stayed with us and sat perfect during our jeep ride back to semi-civilization. So the male neighbor was first to see my wound, he went to get his wife and their first aid kit, later I found out he told hubby to get me to the emergency room of the hospital 16 miles away, he didn't like what he saw, and no kit would help me.

They took care of Miya. while hubby and I switched cars and got me in his truck. Emergency room had one person in it. We were there a total of one hour, gave me immediate care. On call nurse is a army vet, and thought no big deal, clean it up. Doctor, not so much. Told me had it been less than 2 inches higher I would be prepped for surgery to replace my knee cap. Seven stitches later, they could see tendons, muscle, etc, it was deep. Got a tetnus shot, some antibiotics, and I hobbled out.

Moral to the story, always be prepared. We forgot our phones and were not properly dressed for a hike, a walk yes, but not a hike. Carry back packs, I was holding our water, which didn't help me to keep focus. Wear bug repellent. I am thankful that I live in a small town, where they could give me immediate help. Today I'm in a lot of pain, dr didn't give me pain meds, which I'm ok with that. But I learned my lesson and wanted to share with everyone, that no matter what type of hike, always be prepared.

Renee

Hey, broken buddy! *high fives*

In all seriousness, that really sucks but I'm glad it wasn't worse. I've found that Ghost especially has a sixth sense about disabled people (she was always fantastic with my grandmother), these dogs just really are so perceptive. That's awesome that Miya was so good though, that would have made the situation that much worse if she'd bolted or been disobedient. Hopefully your knee heals quickly!

Thanks Mer,

Funny thing on Tuesday, I accidentally found myself on a fire ant hill, and when Miya saw me dancing the jig, she came to my rescue and forgot about the guinea hens she was chasing.

Got to leave stitches in for 10 days, doc gave hubby instructions on removing them and a couple med scissors, to save us money, I don't have health insurance.

I worry about that kind of stuff all the time when I'm out with my two at the park. It's secluded and I walk them alone, usually have phone but it doesn't get reception so it's useless if something happened. I'm glad your husband was with you to help drag you back and you weren't alone. What would we do without our ever attentive dogs? In the least, getting to pet them while we make the drive to get pain meds helps.

That's cool that the doc taught you guys how to remove the stitches, it's always nice when the docs are willing to work with folks.

Thank you Jenn and Mer,

Doc and nurse were awesome. Funny some drunk guy came in and said he had a fight and head hurt. Heard doc say go home and take some aspirin, you got the wrong doc tonight if you think you'll get pain meds, I have a patient(me) that needs my attention. If you can't get rid of your headache in 12 hours come back and we'll do x-rays. Haha, Even in small towns we have druggies.

It's been since 8 p.m. since I left the ER, hubby said to leave everything the way they had it, until he gets home to help me with the cleaning, etc. I don't see or feel any signs of infection, never had anything like this happen to me, The papers they sent home were contradictory of each other. Does any one know if it's ok to go from 8 p.m. last night until around 6 p.m. today with out cleaning my wound? Ack, that sounds so bad, but I couldn't even look at it last night, except for the initial fall and looked down to see it looked bad. The one time in the ER that I seen it almost made me sick. Husband was shocked at how well I handled everything and I quote him "most girls would be crying and demanding pain meds I'm so proud of you".

Renee

Glad you are safe and it was not worse! i have often worried about that, i mean we are way out in no mans land when we summit mountains. we do have a good rescue in CO but it would be a few hrs till my friend got in range to contact them. they do sell very $$$ hiking finders you can buy to be rescued though. if i let worrying about getting hurt stop me from going and having fun life would be boring, you need to take risks but have plans for the worst.
hope you heal up fast!

Terrible thing for Miya no morning walks for several days, poor baby.

Oh man, Renee! Glad you had your hubby with you. Hope you heal up fast!

The wound should be okay going that time between cleaning. Sometimes it's better if fresh wounds heal more before you get a bunch of air down in them. As long as they cleaned it good before wrapping it and there's no debris left inside, you should be good to wait unless it gets infected.

Thanks Jennifer,

We have done this hike hundreds of times. There is about 1600 acres or more with no humans, where we go. Although where we were only took maybe 15 minutes to get back to our little community. The one thing that the doc said was I keep myself healthy, this is only the third time in 20 years that antibiotics has been given to me, my blood coagulation was perfect, my vitals were perfect, he felt my healing would be quick.

I posted this thread to remind people that even if you're not climbing a mountain accidents happen and try and prepare yourself as much as possible. Wear proper gear, carry backpack or have your dog carry one, although an emergency kit probably wouldn't have helped me, always have one. Although I'm hobbling around and will be for awhile, I can't wait for our next adventure, lol.

Thank goodness I can't drive standard, and we don't have 4 wheeler anymore, otherwise, yes Miya and I would be doing more hiking. Thanks Ashleigh. And thank you Jenn for wound info. Doc was concerned about knee cap, told him I got up and walked around because I didn't want fire ants to get me again, he was like well, I'll save some money no broken knee cap if you can put some pressure of walking on it.

Jenn they poured stuff in there(2 different solutions) and gave me a shot to numb the area so he could stitch it. Told the nurse to continue cleaning after she thought it was good to get stitched up.

MiyasMomma wrote:

Thank goodness I can't drive standard

Yep, my problem right here. All 3 of our cars are standard, so I swapped with a friend for a few days. This also means I need to say goodbye to the Camaro a little earlier than planned, but I really at this point need to have an automatic available to me.

Mer, it's my right leg, can't drive at all. Hubby is glad that jeep is standard. Seriously Miya and I would be doing hikes alone if I could. Now I understand to have a hiking buddy(not just a dog).

Hey All,

Still in a lot of pain. The antibiotics are the drowsy, no appetite kind, could sleep all day and night. Miya has been such an angel, never fussing with me since I can't play or walk her. She sits patiently with me until hubby gets home, feel sorry for hubby she has so much energy by the time he gets home. Neighbor stops in once a day to check on me, which is cool.

Anyway, Jenn brought up a good point about walking alone and no cell service, whenever Miya and I go out alone I always text my husband and tell him where we are going and text him when we get back. That way he knows where I am and about how long our expedition will be. Please if any of you go out alone, no matter what type of walk or hiking give some one a heads up so you're not stranded somewhere without cell service and without someone knowing just in case.

Take care all and thank you for wishing me well.

Renee

Btw, hubby took before and after pics, don't think you all want to see them, but upon request I'll post them up, ick.

Renee, I just barely saw your post. I hope you start feeling better and recover soon! It's really unfortunate to hear you had an accident. It's a good thing Miya was such a good girl and stayed by your side. I'm sure Lycus would've been one to just bolt off, sadly.

I've personally never gone hiking alone, always for that same reason. A lot of times you have no cell phone service when you're far enough away from the city so it can always be a little scary to go on your own. Especially if you live in a desert area like myself. Dehydration can happen very quickly when the climate is hot enough.

Thank you Rocio,

Same here with the dehydration, humidity levels are very low here most of the time. When Miya and I hike/walk it's in an area that hubby can reach me if no word after a certain amount of time, and ironically our dirt roads here can be considered hiking, yet they are considered county roads, so there is some traffic through here within a pretty regular time frame. We never go out to the 1600 acres alone. Although a beautiful spot, the terrain is rugged with rolling hills and deep, steep type canyons. Next time we go up I'll take pics. I think what got me is the sand that washed up from all the rain we had and embedded rocks, some the size of boulders, the combination was slick and downhill. Going up I'm great, going down not so much.

It's funny with Miya, I was real sick when she was about 5 months old, throwing up and sitting by toilet, all she did was lay by my side. Even now she has stayed to my left side, avoiding my right, I did allow her to smell my booboo after it was wrapped, so she must know I'm hurt. The cat not so much, she's a little dummy, but a love monger, lol.

Lycus was actually the same way when I was sick once. He would just lay by my side and he was so mellow during that time. The last time I was sick, he was also sick. We were both throwing up in the bathroom like at 1 in the morning lol. Thankfully, I felt better by the morning and he went to the vet and got better soon after. Talk about some serious bonding there lol.

LOL!! That was funny, but a bonding experience for sure. I'm seriously going to have to suck it up and walk her tomorrow, I only have one open spot on a stitch, the rest have "gelled" if you will and I can almost bend my knee enough not to slide my leg and walk, ugg my husband has been working more hours this week so he is no help in exercising her, and she is getting restless. I still haven't drove my truck, and hubby had a heart attack picking up 6 items at the grocery store, big baby. I feel stupid and useless asking my neighbor to come by every day, told her I was ok today. Didn't think a knee was that important, ha. Living on a dirt road is only asking for trouble, so I continually have to wrap it when I take Miya out, and we have a stone pathway I have to maneuver as well. Breaking my leg would have been better, hubby would have been way more sympathetic, I would have had a cast, and I would have had crutches, sh*t that's terrible to feel that way, but man I feel useless. I'm so blessed to have an understanding dog though, lol.