What a way to get some time off. [View all]

[Tobin S.]

The trucking gods frowned upon me today. I have probably climbed in and out of a truck a hundred thousand times and never hurt myself, but it happened today. They say it's the most common source of injury for truckers.

I was switching containers when I stepped down out of the truck and turned my ankle. I was getting out of the truck properly, but I stepped down awkwardly on a ledge where some pavement met a gravel lot, just a little ledge, and came down on it with all my weight. Pop! It hurt so badly I thought I had broken it and I wouldn't know differently until after an emergency room visit and some x-rays.

I finished switching those containers, but I could barely walk and I couldn't operate the gas and brake pedals without a lot of pain (it was my right ankle). Thank goodness I was at my employer's yard. I couldn't continue working. I parked the truck and called for help and they took me to the hospital.

They're saying it's a bad sprain right now. I have to go back next week for a follow up visit. They say there could be some ligament damage. My ankle is all swollen up and I have an air splint on it right now. I've got some crutches to use if I have to stand and walk around more than briefly. I've had some sprained ankles before, but nothing like this.