Any suggestions for what would keep my husband occupied after a nasty injury leaving him immobile?

[KittenyChops]

He had an accident at the weekend where he badly cut his leg leading to a partial Achilles tendon sever: after two nights in hospital and a repair and stitch up , he’s been told it’s now 2 weeks in a plaster cast set at a specific angle so he can’t weight bear on it

After that he will hopefully move to a boot for a month and start rehab.

Hes feeling a bit low and incapacitated. He usually goes to the gym 4 times a week, plays golf at a high level three times a week and is always up doing ‘something.’ Basically a very fit and active man

so my question is - can you think of any ideas to keep him occupied? Hes categorically not into jigsaws or word searches and there is a limit to how many Netflix series we can watch

He can work from him but not for another two weeks so I think it’s just this next fortnight we need to get through so I’d be grateful for any suggestions

he’s on crutches and is ant keen to go out right now but maybe I should push this? Cinema or lunch out perhaps

Genuinely, if I were him, I wouldn’t want someone else coming up with cheery suggestions for activities, like I was a child. I’d prefer to be left to sulk for a few days and then come up with my own ideas.

Set him up with a Mumsnet account.

He could read a book?

Just leave him be. He’s probably in a lot of pain, and adjusting. If he wants entertainment, he’ll ask for it.

Oh he’s not in pain, weirdly. And he will soon tell me to piss off if I jolly him along too much 🤣

but yes - maybe. I should just let him crack on with some low level moping. He’s a very resilient person on the whole

Podcasts? Games console? Making models? Lego? Duolingo?

Something like a Steam deck could work if he's into gaming.

@doodleschnoodle yes to a games console! He used to play a lot but sold his ps5. However can borrow one without issue so that’s a great idea

Practical things like making sure bank accounts are on the best interest rates, and that insurance, Internet, utilities etc are too.

Reorganisation of files /online files incl photos.

Plan a holiday then get onto duolingo to prepare

Bloody hell - the man's already been through enough. This would push me over the edge.

Hey op I’m in the same boat! Broke one leg and severed a tendon in my other knee so I’m in a cast and a leg brace following BF surgery and after several days’ hospitalisation.

Is he in bed mostly (I am)? I don’t understand why can’t he wfh (I was working in my hospital bed and back to work as soon as I got home)?

I’m 14 days post injury and also not in pain for the last several days - I take paracetamol from time to time if it aches.

He can join FB groups for tendon rupture rehab - lots of support and good ideas how to keep muscles working whilst in recuperation/brace/immobilised.

He can handle your online supermarket shop, sort out admin - it will make him feel productive.

DuoLingo, planning a holiday for next year, all sorts of things can keep you distracted.

Oh give over. “Going through hell” is twelve months of chemo leading up to your death. “Going through hell” is a late term pregnancy loss after you’ve been ttc for years. “Going through hell” is living with an abusive partner you can’t escape from.

An Achilles rupture is a setback, and doing something useful HELPS so you don’t lose your sense of being useful. Simply playing sudoku and Gran Turismo whilst bingeing Netflix for 6 weeks will drive many active people bonkers! Practical things to do are a very good idea.

Don’t baby him though. He’s an adult with a brain let him figure out his plan to stay busy.

@OopsNoHolidaysorry to hear you’re in the same boat too. He had the accident on the very first day of his two week annual leave , hence why he’s not working right now:

I don’t baby him, don’t worry!

Getting out in the garden if you have any outside space may help. Obvs not in the middle of the day if you have a heatwave.

just getting outside time is good.

lots of exercises you can do with just your arms and hands as well. Look up chair exercises on YouTube.

When I had a period of illness and was confined to bed for a few weeks, Audible, my Kindle, Duolingo, and a good cryptic crossword book saw me through.

I'm also into world cinema, so I made it my mission to watch as many films, from as many of the great directors, that I hadn't already gotten round to, as possible.

Check his contract. If he would have had to call in sick if not on leave, then he may be able to claim his annual leave back?

This. The things most of us don’t have time to get around to.

And embroidery/knitting 😁

Could he get into doing digital art, on a tablet? Learn a musical instrument? You can learn guitar sitting down? Learning a language?

Obviously he can still do some upper body exercise with free weights?

As long as he doesn't get addicted to gambling or porn, hopefully he'll be alright!

Nobody mentioned anything about him 'going through hell' so I'm not sure why you've objected so strongly to that post

Start by watching Rear Window. 😉 Then on to more classics. No idea on his/your ages and/or film interests but that's definitely a goldmine if he's not seen them all already and will be much more satisfying than the vast amount of netflix drivel.

Games console already been suggested.

A really good TV series that he hasn't seen? My suggestion would be Mad Men. Plenty of episodes.

Otherwise I do think you ought to push him to go out at least once or twice a week. Much better for him mentally, and will also help him physically if he's used to being active and fit.

Anything else...eh... a lock picking set, build your own radio or any number of that type of activity. The Christmas (sorry!!) gift idea/bargain threads are great for unusual suggestions.

Hope he gets better quickly and doesn't get too depressed!

How high up the leg is his cast? Would he be able to use a knee scooter to get around a bit more easily?

Would some of his golf friends pick him up and take him golfing..would need a golf cart and he would have to just watch and chat

Might he like to try some kind of wood working or whittling

What can he do in terms of household jobs to take the burden off you for the next few weeks..since you will be taking on all of the manual stuff

If he's a gym goer, has he presumably already considered strength training his upper body? He could do a load of exercises with dumbells without being on his feet.

I have 60 days free trial of peloton app if you want it, PM me. It’s got adaptive strength training designed for injuries, wheelchair users etc he could do and upper body stretches