In 1971, the year I got out of the Army, I was playing on a rope swing in the woods with my nephews. Only a couple feet off the ground, going sideways, I thought I was going to hit a tree, and so dropped intending to roll like I had done so many times.
But there was a sudden crunch in my left ankle, and as I fell over I felt a conglomeration of crazy nerves travel from my ankle all the way to my brain and back to my ankle, and that's when the terrific pain began. I fell down as if in slow motion, and when hitting the ground, I rolled over in agony, and after my body rolled over, my left foot flopped over. It was a trimalleolar fracture; my foot was broken off my leg, with three bones breaking at the same time, as if held on only by nerves. It was not a relaxing experience. When men came to help, one asked, "Are you sure it's broken?" Easiest question to answer yet.
Then came surgery, cast, wheelchair, crutches, cane, and limp. I asked the doctor if I would have a complete recovery, and he answered in so many words that I didn't understand it all; but over time I realized he must have been telling me that it might cause me some arthritis in my ankle when I get old. For the forty years that followed the healing, I was fine, as if it had never happened. But then the arthritis began, and for years I've hopelessly limped, with a cane and ineffectual casts handy. I even have a cripple tag so I can park in handicapped parking spaces. Sometimes just standing I get sudden sharp pains in my ankle.
When Mom died, I acquired a strange but interesting device from her home that I had to research online to learn what it was (it didn't have the case or the paper shown in this picture). Mom suffered from arthritis some, and that is one of the ailments the InfraRed II Portable Heat Lamp is supposed to be about.
I don't fall for scams. I suspect any ad. But for the fun of it, I tried out this infrared lamp. After all, it looks neat, and belonged to my mom. Well, to my surprise, it works! It takes no mess or effort to let it shine on my ankle, five minutes on each side, and it actually does give temporary relief (not cure) from the aching!
And since I like everyone who visits the Butter Rum Cartoon, I consider it my duty to let you know that the InfraRed II Portable Heat Lamp works. It can be found here and there online, with prices ranging from $10 to $30. Getting one would be a fun adventure in itself, and using it would be worthwhile.
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