Broken ankle and crutches/dyspraxia - advice please?

[twosoups1972]

So poor dd (16) has broken a bone in her ankle. She's been given a boot and crutches.

It only happened yesterday and she is obviously still getting used to them but she is worried because she is dyspraxic and finds balance and gross motor skills quite difficult at times.

Does anyone have any advice/tips please? She's bum shuffling up and down the stairs but is finding it hard to transfer back to her good foot and crutches afterwards.

Not sure it specifically answers your question but ive generally found with any dyspraxic tendencies think less about what you are trying to move where and more about which limb you're meant to be putting your weight through. So at the bottom of the stairs instead of "how do i stand up?" think "weight through good leg, push up on arms" kind of thing.

That also breaks the large movement into smaller bits which helps.

saying the different stages out loud as you do them can help like you actually ordering each bit to move in turn (or having someone else say them if coordinating that is too challenging) having someone point to or touch the bit thats trying to move helps if you get proper stuck and cant work out what moves next

When she progresses to weight bearing and standing doing stairs or single steps; "Good leg to heaven, bad leg to hell" (good leg first going up, bad leg first going down)

I found with stairs I needed a footstool and or dining table chair at the top to help me get back up from bum shuffling.

Don't overdo it! Using crutches is absolutely knackering! Short bursts, then a sit down rest.

Padded cycling gloves, as well as padding the handles of the crutches makes a world of difference.

A small light backpack and drinks bottle/flask is an amazing help.

Thank you all, I will pass this on to dd.

@coffee she tried putting fluffy socks on the handles of the crutches and I have secured them with elastic bands. And she's using a bum bag for essentials.

School have been great - all her lessons have been moved to the ground floor. It's more at home that's difficult.

What do you do about bathing/showering? I helped her in and out the bath yesterday.

Fluffy socks are bad as they will slip. Best thing we found was a pack of sponges from Poundland a bit like this secured with duct tape.

When I broke mine I found crutches impossible. I hired a knee scooter and it was absolutely bloody amazing. Was able to get around really easily
I don't know how to do a link thingy but if you google it I hope something like it comes up

Do you have a shower cabinet? Can you fit a folding plastic chair in it? That does the trick for me when I break myself :) Otherwise you'll just have to keep helping her in and out of the bath.

Seconding the sponges/duct tape advice! Definitely have her move about as little as possible. Poor thing, I hope the healing period goes faster than she expects.

I am the clumsiest person, totally uncoordinated. When I broke my leg in 3 places the physios, OT etc. were intent on me moving around despite my husband telling them I'd be dangerous attempting crutches. So they gave me an old lady walker on wheels - I managed to fall off this and dislocate my elbow, ending up having an operation to put it back in place and my arm plastered for 2 weeks. At home I got around on a typing chair (a light, cheap one), which I used throughout my recovery. Crutches were not for me. Hope your daughter feels better soon

You want proper strong foam with some resistance for the crutch handles and plenty of it.

I made do with flannel washes and once a week black bin bag well taped and into the shower. If you have shower above a bath, a sturdy plank across the bath acts as a seat, or waterproof chair or stool in the shower tray.

Does she definitely have to keep her weight off it?
Ds broke his ankle last year and was in a boot. He was allowed to put as much weight in it as was comfortable so he ditched the crutches after a couple of days.
He could also take the boot off to bath. If her’s can’t come off, have a look at getting a [[https://limboproducts.co.uk/ Limbo cover). If you order it in the next hour or so you should have it tomorrow.

Yes she definitely can’t bear weight on it.

Will look into the knee scooter although not sure how dd will feel about it.