DH has a broken foot - how do I make the next six weeks easier for everybody?

[flingingmelon]

Looking for tips and tricks to help DH (and me!) over the next six to eight weeks whilst he's recovering. He has a pot to his knee, a lot of extra weight to carry and I work full time with a five year old.

I've bought a Limbo shower cast cover, he's fortunately able to avoid stairs and the house isn't too hot. He can work from home and my mom can come in a few weeks.

Today is my only chance to get out and throw a little bit of cash at the problem. I'm thinking picnic type food (he can't really cook or prepare food right now because he's still getting the hang of the crutches), shorts that will go over the pot, a big water bottle (I've lost count of the tones I've refilled for him in the last day) and a plastic bar stool for in the shower.

What else can I do / buy to help?

TIA

If you can afford it, knee crutches enable him to 'walk' much better if he's going to be non-weight bearing for any length of time.

Otherwise some crutch foam for handles will protect his hands, otherwise it's gonna really really hurt!

DH filled his pockets with bottled drinks so he could be at least independent with that.

'Walking' upstairs is much easier it you sit in your bum and move up and down with your good leg only. Crutches and stairs are not a good combo, even after 6 weeks of practice.

Good luck, it's going to be a very hard few weeks but it does pass and I'd also say expect his leg to be sore and swollen for a long time afterwards too.

Those knee crutches look like just the thing, thank you!

I think we have an unrealistic idea about how long this is going to take to heal. We are supposed to be going on holiday second half of August and I'm not sure how it is going to work.

Ensure he gets a good dose of calcium on his diet.
Tolerate some grumpiness/low mood during the early part of healing and/or if he is house bound for a prolonged period.
A subscription to a magazine/Kindle unlimited.
Jigsaws?!
Prepare lunch for him before you leave in the morning, especially for the first week.

I speak from bitter experience, when I broke my ankle I was non-weight bearing for 12 weeks. We had 4DC and DH worked long hours. It was really crap!

I was going to suggest sending him to his mother’s.... 🤫🤫🤫

Why on earth can't he do stairs?

DON'T give him a bell!

A cross body tote bag so that he can carry stuff handsfree

Expect it to be longer than 8 weeks before he's fully mobile / driving etc. I'd recommend getting some vitamin D3 tablets. I've found a bag I hang round my neck of backpack ideal for moving things from one room to another. Also lots of takeaway type tubs and coffee cup with lid/ to move food about as he's not going to be able to carry a plate/cup without spilling.

You'll also need to inform your insurance company for travelling, and airlinr may require him to buy 2nd seat if leg still in cast. I've just flown with an air boot (below knee) which was fine in one seat.

His mother is eighty five...the stair lift would be a big help though!

Our house is a converted bungalow. There's no reason for him to go up the stairs.

These are all great suggestions, he can call the insurance company on Monday!

Work out how he will carry a coffee from where he makes it to where he wants to sit down- which might mean moving random bits of furniture to act as staging posts for his cup (can't carry cup with crutches).

Prepare yourself that it may take a long time. I broke my foot and was on crutches for 4 months. I was not able to drive for all that time, and then had to change to an automatic car as using the clutch was painful.

Second the calcium & vitamin D.

Read on another thread. Office wheely chair to get around quickly.
You could also get some cycle paniers or something to hang off the arms to hold all his stuff

Get him doing the online food shop.

some mobility ideas here

You said why he doesn't need to do stairs, not why he can't. I'm disabled and use crutches or a wheelchair. I can do stairs just fine.

How long before he can weight bear?

A travel mug that doesn't spill so he can carry his own tea and coffee - Contigo are perfect. A small backpack so he can carry stuff. Food in tupperware not on plates.

Check crutch tips and if he'll be in them for long, consider changing them to fetterman-crutches.com/collections/tips

The ones that are normally supplied wear out pretty fast and become very slippery. Fettermans are brilliant. They do weigh a bit more, but you get used to it pretty quick.

Thanks @BoudiccaKate, much appreciated.

This makes me a bad person but if he thinks he can't do stairs I get a lovely big bed to myself for six weeks with no snoring!

You mentioned a stair lift would be useful so I assumed from that you and he wanted for him to access upstairs. My mistake, apologies

If he needs to get around a lot then one of these iwalk

I bought one earlier in the year when on crutches as I thought it would make walking from the station to work easier. As it turned out work let me work from home for the duration so I never used it. If he's really just going to hang around the house for the next few weeks I wouldn't bother getting one as crutches are ok for short distances. But if he does want one I can sell a brand new one cheap!

He may well get sore hands from the crutches, in which case fingerless cycling gloves will really help.

Buy a cheap basic kettle and set it up wherever he will spend most of his time. Massive bottle of water and tea and coffee supplies. If he has milk then decant some in to a bottle and pop it in a freezer bag with ice packs. That will see him through for hot drinks whilst you're out. He could also use it go make pot noodles or other instant meals if he's in to that sort of thing

@AnthonyCrowley where are you based? We are at the fracture clinic on Friday but assuming all goes well that's exactly what we need.

@AnthonyCrowley where are you based? We are at the fracture clinic on Friday but assuming all goes well that's exactly what we need.

Now all I need is a robot to take the bins out

My friend had one of these when she broke her ankle and it helped a lot.

And maybe some meals in the freezer for him. She found it awkward negotiating the kitchen.