Has anyone broken their dominant arm (wrist) and managed on their own whilst in a cast?

[ApolloandDaphne]

Just that really. If you have can you let me know what things were tricky and what tips you have for doing things more easily? Thanks.

[Turmerictolly]

It'll be tricky if you live completely alone to carry out personal care and dressing. Social services can put carers in temporarily to assist if you are struggling.
Buy a few kaftan type dresses with no buttons/zips. You might have to go to the hairdressers to get your hair done.

[SequinnedShawl]

You might have to go to the hairdressers to get your hair done

Somehow I sense this might be the least of her worries.

[ApolloandDaphne]

If you have been living elsewhere and getting help for a few weeks so are in less pain I should have added.

[MauveMavis]

I injured my dominant wrist last year. I had a fixed splint on most of the time.

I live on my own. I managed. It took a bit of time to get used to wiping my bum / brushing my hair with the "wrong" hand and doing up the button on my jeans was hard initially as was putting on a bra.

Typing was also really bloody difficult and was part of the reason i was off work for so long (I also have a clinical job that requires me to use my hands a lot).

I got really adept at stacking the dishwasher wrong handed and accepted that emptying the washing machine was just going to take longer.

I did have to ask neighbour to come and get stuff down from the top shelf in my kitchen as I couldn't manage that (I store infrequently used baking ingredients in plastic storage boxes on the top shelves and of course as I was off work i had loads of time to bake so wanted to use them.... ).

My sister came round and changed my bed as I couldn't manage putting a king size duvet cover on.

[Woeismethischristmas]

I broke my right wrist a couple of years ago. No cast as needed surgery then in a splint. Could do most things with the wrong hand it just took ages. Buy easy food you just stick in the oven or pre prepped stuff. Organise your shower stuff before hand. I found shampoo bars and bars of soap easier than bottles.

[ApolloandDaphne]

Thank this is all very helpful.

It isn't me who has a broken wrist, it is my DM She is 81 but she is fairly fit and healthy. Has always done her own shopping, cleaning , cooking etc.

She has been with us for over two weeks and I know she can shower and dress independently, get her own breakfast, walk fair distances. She can't dry her hair but it is short and would dry fast if she just blasted it. She gets her own breakfast but hasn't tried to get lunch or dinner. I can help her out with food shopping and prep as can my DB and his DW. I live about 30 minutes from her and DB is a 5 minute walk. She has great neighbours she has known for years who would help if she needed a bottle top loosened or whatever. .

I am not sure whether to start suggesting she should return home now or if that seems callous. She is driving me and DH mad staying here. We live rurally and there is nothing for her to do or places for her to go. She wants company and we have stuff to do (DH works and I am a part time student).

What do I do?

[LucyFox]

Yes - mine was my elbow so I had less elbow movement than a simple lower-arm cast. One of the things I didn’t expect to struggle with was buttering bread/making a sandwich - sounds like easy meals but you don’t realise how you need to hold the bread still whilst you butter it/cut it!
Also opening a jar/bottle - ring pull cans you eventually work out how to hold though they were tricky initially.
You’ll work out which clothes can work, putting socks on & doing buttons up takes practice & bras are almost impossible initially. Shoe laces are impossible!
Most other things I was able to work out without too much difficulty.
Dry shampoo could be very useful.

[stayathomer]

Was about to post and say I managed things but that was in my 20s. My mum did the same last year and lived with my sister. Very difficult to manage and she was 72. I'd convince her to stay until it's properly in use op

[ApolloandDaphne]

I don't want her to stay a moment longer than she has to!

She can put on her shoes, coat, hat etc. She can put on all clothes and do all aspects of keeping herself clean including showering. Getting her sorted with food is not insurmountable. We can do her cleaning and laundry for her.

[WhatDidISayAlan]

I had the same issues with buttons, bras, wiping bum, shoelaces, etc. And unexpected ones like peeling veg. Went to pre-prepared for that, or spuds in skins. Left my hair to dry curly. When I went back to the fracture clinic I asked if there was anything they could do for my fingers as I’m a touch typist and just couldn’t do it so would have had to take 6 weeks off work. They gave me a carpal tunnel split which was great. I ordered two more off the internet so that I could wash them. Got a lot easier after that.