On crutches, how do I shower and should my cast be this loose?

[NicoAndTheNiners]

I've ordered a cast waterproof cover.

But I'm not confident about getting in and out the shower. I'm non weight bearing. There's a step in the shower frame to get over to get into the shower. While I can manage steps normally the bottom of the shower is really slippy. I tried putting a crutch on the shower bottom yesterday and it skidded away. There's no way I'd dare do it with me having my weight on the crutch as well. I was going to order a shower stool but I still wouldn't be an,e to get in and out?

Also this is the first time with a cast. I haven't broken my leg so there shouldn't be any swelling but the cast feels looser today than yesterday. I can move my foot around a bit which I don't think I could yesterday and if I tug on the cast I can move the whole thing up and down a couple of cm. the cast is meant to be keeping my foot inverted at a certain angle and I'm not sure it is.....but maybe this is the best they can do. I guess it can't be too tight?

I would suggest no shower, use a flannel, and contact the plaster room for advice on the cast.

Plastic chair in the shower or flannel wash.

Plastic chair in the shower, and someone to help you in and out of the shower. Hope your leg is better soon. Flannel wash or loads of wet wipes to freshen up otherwise.

I broke my ankle a couple of years ago and was non weight bearing, I simply did a wash of all my bits in the downstairs loo, sitting on the toilet to do so. And washed my hair over the kitchen sink.

As for the cast, sounds like the swelling has reduced, I'd contact them and explain, you may need a new one, and they will likely wish to check.

Thanks, think I will have to do flannel washes as not confident with the shower at all.

I'm finding the crutches so difficult. Struggling to do any distance in them and am meant to be going back to work tomorrow. I have a five min walk from the train station to work where most of the time I can sit down. I can't not go to work for the next 4 weeks when it's only a five min walk but am finding it difficult atm to get from the sofa to the kitchen! My shoulders are killing me!

I suggest getting a non-slip mat for the shower - the type that suctions onto the shower floor. Then a stool of some sort on top. Don't put your crutches in the shower - put them as close as you can on the bathroom floor, and hop as gently as you can into the shower.
If you can't do that, put the stool in the shower near the shower door, stand at the edge of the shower facing outwards and sit backwards onto it. Then if you are confident, you could stand up on your good leg and move it back slightly, if you aren't then just stay there and put a towel or two down outside the entrance to mop up any water that sprays out.

Hopefully your shoulders will feel better soon and you'll get stronger - a 5 minute walk on crutches is a long way! Is a taxi a possibility at least until you are more confident on the crutches? I assume there's no bus or anyone who could pick you back/drop you off?

The cast should be quite snug, so it sounds like it might need to be re-done. Hope you recover quickly!

Can you take down the shower head? If you fine a way of getting in the bath (stick a chair in maybe) turn on shower head, get everywhere wet, soap up, rinse off

It does mean you're not continually under warm water but you'll be clean.

Can't really afford a taxi. While it's only a five min walk the road distance is much further, so maybe a ten min car journey.

I've got one of those rubber shower heads which fits on the bath tap for washing the dog so I can do my hair over the bath with this. But I don't think I can get in or out the bath.

One benefit of going back to work though I've thought is they do have a wet room, disabled shower thing. Maybe I will shower at work!

We only have a bath, with one of those plastic shower heads that go on the taps. When I was laid up with a broken leg I would sit on a stool next to the bath, then put one arm on each side of the bathtub and lift myself over and in.

How long have you been using the crutches for? It took me a few weeks to build up enough upper body strength to move around effectively, and even then a 5 minute walk would be exhausting.

My cast was loose like that too, but that doesn't mean it's right.

Only started using the crutches yesterday. I do weightlifting prior to this and can't believe how much my muscles ache! I thought I had good upper body strength but it's killing me. I will just have to grit my teeth and pretend I'm doing body pump!

I'm 8 weeks in with a broken knee and only just weight bearing. Wash in downstairs loo is all I can manage

oh OP I feel for you

I also thought I had upper body strength till I ended up on crutches!

I'm afraid I'd say shower is just a no. I had to do flannel washes and wash hair over the sink. I wash hair daily so that was a mission. You might need a spray shower hose thing to attach to sink taps.

wish you a speedy recovery

I remember crutches well :(

Tip 1: pad the crutch handles well. I also bought cyclists gloves which are padded, which helped.

Tip 2: for goodness sake ask for and accept help. Ask if somebody from work can pick you up/drop you off at the station. How are you managing at the other end?

Get a close friend/family member to help you shower. Dignity is for those who don't want to get washed 😁

Who can you borrow or buy a cheap plastic chair or stool from? That's what you will need for a shower, or if you have a bath, a bath seat (can be as simple as one that looks like a plank across both sides). With either, sit down then swing legs in/out - MUCH safer.

Bin bags and tape work as well as posh cast covers.

It getting looser will happen because your leg was swollen with your injury when it was fitted. Your leg will likely swell up when you do too much or haven't had it elevated enough (consider elevation at work, you will want it on a proper chair rather than little tiny stool). You need the extra room in your cast to allow for that swelling for a little while, if it swells without room that's painful and not good.

Do readjust your expectations. Your shoulders and arms will hurt, yes. You will get out of breath, and you will get TIRED because that's what happens when your body is healing. Don't try to go back to work too soon.

Dig out a rucksack or cross body bag and a flask.

Did I mention ask for and accept help?

Ooh just seen you have shower hose thingy for bath! Get one of these. Sorry I don't know how to do clicky links! And sorry to be a bore but you absolutely must get somebody to help you, even with this. Have bath mat down, go carefully up to side of bath, sit on this seat and swing legs in. I'd wait until you're in, then get person o pass you shower head and help if you need it reaching taps and getting temp ok. Same for getting out, swing legs out, get person to hand you crutches and they're there for help if your crutches go as your getting up. Get them to make sure floor is dry (if you don't have shower curtain over bath it won't be!) and or bath mats cover where your hopping. As you have found out, crutches on wet floors are lethal.

www.nrshealthcare.co.uk/bathroom-aids/shower-boards-slatted-bath-boards/slatted-bath-board?fee=19&fep=3813&gclid=CjwKCAjwqLblBRBYEiwAV3pCJkH1sk9rPk-DEUJ_cWYyKppboxbVoa-atfHzdYIjcuYZC3vjmGIYYxoC6wQQAvD_BwE#228=1722

Thanks for that last link Lord, will get dh to measure up when he gets back.

I e managed to wash my hair this afternoon so that feels good.

I'd also ordered an iwalk pegleg and have put that together but so far I can't get on with it. I saw all these videos of people walking their dog, etc with it and thought it looked great. Think it will have to go back.....might have another go this evening when dh is home to catch me if I wobble.

I'm only a two minute walk from the station this end and 5 mins the other end. I have a rucksack. There are multiple benches between the station and work so I will have to join the local alcoholics on the benches and have a rest halfway if needbe.

Oh and I have padded cycle gloves.

Your local red cross can loan you a bath board or shower stool.

Have you considered a knee scooter?

I know I always pop up on broken ankle / plaster cast threads banging on about them, but I hired one when I was out of action for several weeks a few months ago and I genuinely credit it with saving my sanity. I had depression when I broke my ankle and really struggled to deal with the loss of my independence and having to rely on other people. With my scooter I could go to the kitchen, make a cup of tea and a sandwich, and use the combination of a thermos flask and a Tupperware to transport it all in my little basket back to the lounge. I was also able to get out and about in town and combined with a rucksack I could pick up a small amount of shopping. It was the best £20 per week I ever spent!

I used mine to travel to work on the train every day. I spoke to the rail assistance people and was met by a member of station staff at both ends of my journey who sorted out a ramp so I could get on and off the train. I lived within walking distance of the station so I scooted there and back every day, but the scooter folds flat really easily so I could have taken taxis with minor assistance from the taxi driver.

I promise that I don't work for the people who make these scooters! I do, however, wish that more people knew about them as even many of the staff at the fracture clinic had never come across one before.

Oh and I used a cheap plastic garden chair in the shower. We didn't have one but I put a plea on my local Facebook page and several people offered old ones that they had in their sheds.

I'd thought about a scooter but wasn't sure about the trains. The station at one end isn't manned....would the guard help with a ramp?

Can you transport the crutches while using the scooter because I'd need crutches at work really as well as the scooter?

Hmmm. I'm not sure about unmanned stations but it would be worth talking to National Rail passenger assist - 0800 022 3720. They were really helpful to me and made sure I was still looked after when my train was cancelled or I missed it and I ended up on a different train to the one I was expected on.

My DH used a stretchy cable type of thing like you use to secure roof luggage on cars to rig up a way of attaching my collapsed crutches to my rucksack for travel. I think they are called bungee cords or something like that?

I just had a look on line and found this crutch belt which may not work for transporting them on a knee scooter but may be something else of use to you.

Where is your break OP? Mine was distal (lower) tibia, and I was first put in a below-knee cast, only to then be put in an above-knee one about 2 weeks later. Keep that in mind with stuff like peglegs or knee scooters.

Well ive just had another go with the iwalk and after some adjustments have got on better with it. So think I will stick with that and not the scooter.

I think I will use it with one crutch because I don't feel stable enough without one, but the combo of the pegleg and one crutch I think will be easier than crutches alone.

I'll only use the iwalk for longer distances such as commuting to work. Will manage with the crutches for smaller distances.