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Solo Op - broke my foot

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#21 ·
TPendagast said:
Dont farm anything out, just hire help, maybe this was natures way oftelling you you needed time to work ON your business more instead of IN your business.
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I defiitivly see an opportunity to this also, hire help to get going, and sit back sit back in your truck managing your biz, and push to get more accounts, all while your foot heals. You might take a hit the rest of this season, but you would be set up for next.

I've had about 9 broken bones, and 5 casts. Whatever you do, make sure you let it heal complety. The last break I had was the lower joint on my thumb 3 years ago. I pushed too soon and I still have problems with it, including re-fracturing it once or twice.
 
#22 ·
Jason Rose said:
Holy cow man! What an ordeal! Something like this is one of those fears in the back of my mind, because I work solo as well. A guy would never think that a STEP could mess you up so bad. Though I'm pretty sure that a few years ago I blew out my knee stooping down on my front step to put on my shoes... I heard the POP and squeek, and after that just more and more pain for months. Of all the dumb things, walk hundreds of miles on uneven terrain mowing and then, just like you, get hobbled on the front porch. Luckily mine wasn't bad enough to keep me from working though.

I had a four wheeler and actually stopped riding and sold it based somewhat on the fear of having an accident and loosing my business, which in turn meant I would have lost everything. Of course there's always other options. Hiring some HELP is a great one, and I hope it can work out for you.
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I also quit playing soft-ball, basketball, and realized I'll never ride a motorcycle ever again.
 
#23 ·
well this year just like in may my busy time i broke my ribs on my dirtbike. i could not bend down. i could not lift my gate up and down without pain. starting trimmer and blowers lol.. it sucked bad but had no choice to work thru it. also i could not laugh or sneeze. well i did sneeze once driving and had to pull over and could not move or breathe for like 3 minutes.
its just one thing really bad about working for yourself. my uncle broke his ribs this year too on a slip and slide he's 50 lol and was out of work for over 1 month paid too.
 
#24 ·
it sounds like you did what I did...stepped off a porch the wrong way an broke the fifth metatarsel(sp?). I was on crutches for eight weeks and in an orthopedic boot for 13. Do yourself a favor and get on EBAY NOW..look for an Exogen 4000+ Bone healing system. Doctor will most likely try to fit you with one. YOu can save a TON of cash buying one on EBAY. I just sold mine last week for $365...I think I paid well over $1k for it. I wish I had better news for you, but this will be a long drawn out process. this is a slow healing injury, commonly referred to as a jones fracture. just be patient. I know I nearly most my mind when I went through it BUT I did have a lot of time for Lawnsite!
 
Discussion starter · #25 ·
Here's what I've decided.

Tomorrow I'm going back to work.

I've set it up on the ZTR with a bucket upside down for support and to keep my leg elevated.

I figure I'm not going to damage anything more if I do it that way than if I sit at home on the rocking chair.

After the surgery I'll sit in the truck, and by then I'll have 2-3 guys working with me and can tell them what to do and where at each location.

I just went and picked up a 16 year old nephew today, he's good until the 25th of August, which will get me past the 2 week window after my surgery.

After that I'm hoping the incision will be healed enough where I can get back on the ZTR.

I've also got another kid showing up that used to work with his dad in lawn care, but his dad had to get out of the business, due to cancer, so that should help as well.

I'll give another update tomorrow. Once I get done with the invoices tonight, I'll see if I can scan the x-rays in so you can all see what I'm dealiing with.
 
#27 ·
I'm in the same boat brother. Let it heal, let it heal, let it heal.

I just had carpal tunnel surgery. Struggling to find reliable help, but it's coming together. Strained the hell out of my hand today, going to the doc tomorrow for some more pills, cause what I got is gone and the pain's still here.


Now to get more accounts. So that I can sit back and watch too.

Abe
 
#28 ·
LwnmwrMan22 said:
Here's what I've decided.

Tomorrow I'm going back to work.

I've set it up on the ZTR with a bucket upside down for support and to keep my leg elevated.

I figure I'm not going to damage anything more if I do it that way than if I sit at home on the rocking chair.

After the surgery I'll sit in the truck, and by then I'll have 2-3 guys working with me and can tell them what to do and where at each location.

I just went and picked up a 16 year old nephew today, he's good until the 25th of August, which will get me past the 2 week window after my surgery.

After that I'm hoping the incision will be healed enough where I can get back on the ZTR.

I've also got another kid showing up that used to work with his dad in lawn care, but his dad had to get out of the business, due to cancer, so that should help as well.

I'll give another update tomorrow. Once I get done with the invoices tonight, I'll see if I can scan the x-rays in so you can all see what I'm dealiing with.
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just be careful. especially getting off and on the mower. I tried it too while I was on crutches. Shirt tail hung the handlebar and threw me off balance. in trying to catch my self from falling I put the injured foot down and all my weight went down on the injured foot. THAT was painful and may very well have delayed my healing. The best thing you can do is to keep moving the foot to keep blood flowing through it but just don't push it man!
 
Discussion starter · #30 ·
corey4671 said:
just be careful. especially getting off and on the mower. I tried it too while I was on crutches. Shirt tail hung the handlebar and threw me off balance. in trying to catch my self from falling I put the injured foot down and all my weight went down on the injured foot. THAT was painful and may very well have delayed my healing. The best thing you can do is to keep moving the foot to keep blood flowing through it but just don't push it man!
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I understand. I wear polo style shirts tucked in with a belt, so hopefully that won't happen.

I'm not going to work fast at all, just try to get some yards done while trying to train in a trimming guy.

The first properties we're going to do are all wide open with minimal trimming, so it should be a fairly smooth go, hopefully.

I'm done printing off the invoices now, so it's upstairs to see if I can scan in the x-rays.
 
Discussion starter · #31 ·
Update from day #1 back at work.

I once again remembered why I don't have any employees.

I should say I once again remembered why I don't hire "kids".

I got my nephew (15) out this morning. We went to the first place, a large commercial place, takes 2 hours to mow, takes me about 20 minutes to trim.

I pulled up and told him that he needed to trim around all the trees.

I guess I should have said "things in the planted and mowed areas" but I figured that would be too hard to figure out. He trimmed around all the trees. Not the signs or not the picnic tables in the grass or along the building, but around all the trees.

I chalked that up to him not wanting to mess anything up. He has no idea how to work as a LCO, so he may have thought that I just wanted the trees trimmed here.

Anyways, told him he's got to trim around everything in the grass where I've mowed. Took him about an hour.

Went to the mower dealer and bought a new 21" mower. $400. Nice Honda. I have accounts that are small that I've learned just to do with the trimmer. There's no way anyone else is going to have the finesse to mow a yard with the trimmer in the first 2 hours they've been running a trimmer.

2nd account he hit a tree stump in the grass, bent the shaft coming out of the engine. So much for that $400.

Sooooo... we got 6 accounts done, then had thunderstorms roll through. All in all I'm out $45 in wages, lunch and a $400 mower. Nothing like losing ALL the revenue, not just profit in one morning.
 
#32 ·
LwnmwrMan22 said:
Update from day #1 back at work.

Went to the mower dealer and bought a new 21" mower. $400. Nice Honda. I have accounts that are small that I've learned just to do with the trimmer. There's no way anyone else is going to have the finesse to mow a yard with the trimmer in the first 2 hours they've been running a trimmer.

2nd account he hit a tree stump in the grass, bent the shaft coming out of the engine. So much for that $400.

.
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And people are always whining "why buy a commercial 21"?? The resi models are the SAME machine."

Ya ya ya , bent shaft, they arent the same. Thats why you spend $1000 and not $400.
Resi machines wont stand up to abuse, sure as a owner/operator, solo guy you might have enough insight to avoid this. But heres the situation, people working for you never will.
 
#33 ·
I feel your pain. 20 years ago I missed a step on a loco and took a 3' drop. Right foot caught the edge of a saw cut concrete slab. Broke the foot from the arch to the little toe. That healed in a week. But the damaged ankle took 3 months to be able to put weight on without pain. Just thinking about yours made my foot hurt. Stay off of it as much as possible but don't let it just hang down all the time.
 
Discussion starter · #34 ·
Well, I've been operated on.

They had to run to Home Depot to get all the parts.

Today I had 4 guys running, and it took them 1 hour less to do 13 accounts that I usually do myself.

At least the work is getting done.

I go in Monday to have the incision looked at, and then 2 weeks from there I get a walking boot but still not weight bearing.

Yesterday I mowed 9 lawns with another guy doing the trimming.

Image
 
Discussion starter · #36 ·
Just giving another update, I know a couple of guys that are solo-ops wanted to now how things went, so if it ever happens to them, they've got an idea on what to expect.

Yesterday (Thurs 8-21) I had the stitches taken out.

I tentatively got the okay to ride a zero turn, as long as I can get on and off without stepping on my foot.

It's been 2 weeks today (Friday) since my surgery to put the plate and 4 pins in.

The doctor said I no longer have to worry about elevating it or putting ice on it, it's now just letting the bone heal.

Sunday or Monday I get to finally wash the foot, put it in water and let it soak. I was sitting in the truck yesterday with it out the window, and the wind was blowing in..... crap did that thing stink.

I mowed yesterday for about an hour, and the foot started to hurt a little, so I got off, let the guys finish the last property.

I mowed again today for about 4 hours, but then hit a big hole that jarred my body, and figured that was enough for today.

The foot doesn't hurt if it's out in the open, but this walking boot they put me in hurts like the dickens. It's mostly because I've got to keep my ankle at a 90 degree angle, not let it rest like normal.

We're all done for the week now though, so it can rest Sat. and Sun. I lose one of the guys helping back to school, so it'll be down to two guys and myself, when my foot feels good. Once I get a twinge in it, I'm back in the truck.

The wind was blowing 20 mph today, and everythings dry grass and dust. It doesn't take much to get me back in the truck in those crappy conditions. :laugh:

My next appointment is Sept. 18. That's when I learn if I can start putting weight on it or not. 4 more weeks of crutches.
 
Discussion starter · #38 ·
Another update, 9-18.

I broke my foot on 8-3.

Today I went for a 5 week checkup after surgery, and I was told I can start to walk on the foot.

I tried walking without crutches, but the foot and leg just shot up with pain. I haven't put any pressure on the left foot since I broke it.

It's looking like a couple of weeks now walking with crutches, getting the foot used to impact again.

Honestly, it's probably one of the best things that's happened to me.

I've hired 2 guys full time now to take over where I was working 80 hours / week.

Next year I'm adding enough work (already landed a $25,000 contract yesterday) so I can start to work a full week myself again, and let the two guys that are working for me now go out on their own.

I already own 3 trucks, 4 trailers, 4 mowers and enough hand held and other equipment, so I won't have to put any money into equipment to start to run two crews, just land the accounts. The bottom line will have a huge leap next year.
 
#39 ·
yeah the first day with pressure on the foot sucks. I remember leaving the doctor and going to walmart and thinking I'd really screwed up by walking too much the first day. But I'd been on crutches for nine weeks and was ready to walk again. Keep plenty of Advil Liquigels on hand. THat is all that got me through it.
 
Discussion starter · #40 ·
This morning I was walking in the boot, with 2 crutches.

By 9 am I had gotten down to just 1 crutch.

By 3 pm I was walking with the walking boot with no crutches and no limp, albeit a short distance across a parking lot.

I then went home and put a pair of Nikes on, and was able to walk somewhat without crutches.

We went out to dinner and got a hair cut, and I was back to using one crutch. The foot was a little to tender to go without.

I'm hoping to be trimming by the end of next week.
 
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LwnmwrMan22
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