how you're doing, see if we can get you up on crutches this afternoon.”
After checking her out, during which Nick backed away from them some, but stayed close enough to hear what was going on, Dr. Stone made the awaited announcement. “Kara, I think you're ready to tackle the crutches.”
Nick came back to the side of the bed. “Do I need to limit her time up for a little while yet?”
“I would, but not because of the dizziness so much as it may wear her out.” He turned to Kara and explained further. “A concussion is a brain injury, and all injuries need rest to heal. When your brain is tired it relays that message to your body. It's important that you don't ignore that message. If you start pushing yourself the effects of the concussion will reappear. You may start to feel dizzy or lightheaded again. If that starts, you definitely need to rest. But if it does start, it's like exacerbating an injury, and it will take longer to heal. So take it slow and rest a lot, both here and when you go home.”
“Okay,” Kara said, rolling her eyes a bit. “I get it. Everyone is telling me to rest. The doctor that did the anesthesia checked on me last night and said I need to rest for several days until all that is out of my system. The nurse this morning told me the same thing.”
Nick had a frown on his face when she glanced over at him. Dr. Stone spoke up. “We're all telling you this because it's important, Kara. Your body has been traumatized pretty severely. You have a brain injury, as well as a broken foot. Then the anesthesiologist pumped drugs into your body to force it to sleep. Lots of rest is the one thing that will help more than anything else right now, to allow all these areas of your body to heal.”
“I understand,” Kara assured him. “I'm not trying to be rude, and I apologize if it sounded that way. I'm just not the type of person that rests a lot, and being forced to do that sounds horrible. But I understand what you're saying.”
“Understanding what I'm saying and doing what I say are two different things, Kara. That's all I'm saying; no more lectures. I'm sure you'll hear much of this same thing when Dr. Sherman gives you his going home instructions. I'm going to release you from my care now with that advice, but be sure to call me if you have any problems, okay?”
“Okay. Thank you, Dr. Stone.”
“You're welcome. Good luck.” He turned to go, but stopped at the door and turned to look at them both. “And good luck with your dinner date. I hope it works out well for you two. I think you'd be good for each other.”
He turned and left, and Kara turned to look at Nick. “What did he mean by that; that we're good for each other?”
“I'm not exactly sure, but I can guess. I can be a little controlling, or demanding, and I've already noticed you can be a little testy, or feisty, so maybe that's what he's talking about.”
“I'm not feisty. I just don't take any crap from people, and I want things done my way when my way is the right way.” She thought a few moments before sheepishly adding, “Which I feel is most of the time, I guess.”
Nick laughed heartily, a full belly laugh. “You, my dear, are an adorable little lady that I'm eager to get to know better.” He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. “And for the record, you are a feisty little thing.” Before she could argue he added, “Which is one of the things I find so adorable about you.”
He smiled as he watched the emotion in her eyes. She turned from upset to what he hoped was happy. He patted her leg. “So, are you ready to tackle walking with crutches?”
“Oh, yeah,” she said anxiously. “How hard can they be?”
Twenty minutes later she was slowly making her way down the hall with the crutches, while Nick walked beside her, pushing her IV pole. They went to the physical therapy room, where he and a physical therapist taught her how to go up and down steps with crutches.
“Very good,” Nick praised. “Let's go over to the chairs and sit down and rest a little bit.” When they got there he showed her how to back up to the chairs and hold her crutches while she sat down. “You're doing real well, Kara. You're a quick learner.”
“I have a new respect for people on crutches. This is harder than it looks,” she admitted.
Nick chuckled, but nodded in agreement. “Yes, it is. Now, you wait here a couple of minutes while I go get a wheelchair to take you back to your room.”
“I can walk,” she insisted. “It's not that far.”
“For your first time up you've done enough. I don't want you getting worn out.” She started to argue, but saw the stern look on his face and stopped. “Wise choice, Kara,” he said seriously. “I'll be right back.”
He left, and Kara thought about his words while he was gone. Wise choice? He said earlier that he could be a bit demanding or controlling, but she had to admit it was more like demanding what was best for her, and it surprised her to realize she found that trait rather appealing. She was still thinking about that when Nick returned with a wheelchair. She pushed the thoughts aside for consideration later on.
He was soon helping her back in her bed and getting her comfortable. Ellie followed them into her room and checked her IV and took her vitals. “I'll be back in about 20 minutes to change your IV bag and add your antibiotic. How's your pain level? Do you need something for it?”
She paused a moment, and when Kara didn't answer right away, Nick stepped in. “Kara, there isn't any need to suffer. You've just been moving around for the first time since the surgery, and your foot has been down, not elevated, so it's apt to swell some, which means that you're more than likely sore.”
“I am a little sore,” she admitted, “but I don't think I need anything as strong as the pain medicine I've been on. Could I try something like some Tylenol?”
Ellie looked at Dr. Sherman, who offered a suggestion. “Kara, I'll order something a little stronger than Tylenol, but not as strong as what you've been on. Suffering with pain doesn't do any good at all. It just delays the healing. My guess is you'll need something a little stronger than Tylenol today yet, especially after all the activity you've just had. We can try Tylenol first if you want, though, as long as you'll let her know if you need something more.”
“Okay,” she said, laying back against her pillow and closing her eyes.
Nick finished writing in her chart and handed it to Ellie, who read it and nodded to him. “Which do you want to try, Kara; the Tylenol or something a little stronger?” Ellie asked, observing her patient carefully.
Nick answered before Kara had an opportunity to. “Why don't you let her give you this new stuff now and take a nap. Then you can try the Tylenol if you want.”
To his surprise, his feisty little lady agreed, which told him she was in more pain than she was letting on. While Ellie went to get the medicine, he sat down beside her. “So which hurts more; your head or your foot?”
“My foot,” she answered quickly.
“That's good,” Nick said. At the odd look she gave him he explained why. “I'd rather you not be in pain at all, which is why I want you to take the pain medication, but your foot should hurt some. You just had surgery on it, and you've been up. Even though you haven't put weight on it, it hasn't been elevated, either. So I expect you to have some pain with it. We can manage that pain.”
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