Broken ankle and housebound, how are others passing the time if you are laid up?

[Inastatus]

What are you up to today if you are laid up for any reason? I’ve broken my ankle and not allowed to bear any weight on one leg so am pretty redundant at the moment unable to do anything round the house. I’m getting around by hopping with a walking frame. I might consider a knee scooter once I’ve had my hospital appointment next week and find out whether or not I’ll need surgery. DH is running around after me and I feel guilty - I can hear him hoovering and I’ve never wanted to do housework so much in my life!!

I’m sat on the sofa with my leg up watching morning tv which is quite depressing. I’ve been half heartedly doom scrolling on my iPad and occasionally read or have a go at a jigsaw puzzle. What else can I do to occupy my time? Any good Netflix recommendations/games/activities?

Oh and sleep! Plus vitamin c
you need it for healing

I managed some food prep/washing up/staring out the window by putting the knee of my bad leg on a stool/chair

I got promoted at work when I broke my ankle - also couldn’t do anything but sit in bed with my laptop…

I had this for 12 weeks and vowed I'd never watch another Midsomer Murders ever again

I had this for 12 weeks and vowed I'd never watch another Midsomer Murders ever again

Adult colouring, I'm disabled & colour every day, time passes so quickly.

I know! There are lots of info around. But I am not the only one I know of with a great outcome, after the massive blow that is to end up without an actual functioning ankle joint for weeks. It is very daunting. I remember crying thinking I would never walk again. And here I am.
Follow all advice the doctors and physio give you.
Do not put weight or pressure on it before they tell you to. The only bothersome broken ankle I know off had the foot resting on a bin in the garden, and put some pressure on the surgery too early by moving and then getting the foot into the bin.
There is hope ahead. Take good care of yourselves.

With some fractures it is zero pressure on the joint. Crutches are a risk, better avoided for a short period. I had 2 whole weeks of sitting on my ass, all day long! With bed rest recommended. Also, it is hard to believe, but you can actually feel the draining on your body energy that takes to heal bone and tissues when you have a big fracture.

That was going to be my suggestion, start with something like Lovely Runner and you'll be hooked.

Don't try and do anything too early....no matter how boring it is! I would also recommend crochet as easier than knitting... I learnt from Attic24 ... maybe making something could give you a goal ..
.... You could nake a blanket or cushion cover or or ..for yourself or as a gift . it's definitely doable as a complete beginner..
I generally do whilst watching tv or listening to and audiobook once i get going!

Or something creative theres lots of online courses for inspiration look at Hockney's ipad paintings..

Plan a holiday?? And/or redecoration of a room..

I mixed up my day..so sorting admin a bit.. picked something a day.
Tv a bit generally a series, did something practical eg peel veg, sort online shopping , something creative , rest , watch film,

If you can get outside a bit would try to..is there an option to get hold/hire a wheelchair...to get you into the garden or hop there...change of scene can be beneficial...if u could get pushed somewhere
We got one in local Facebook group... knee scooters less stable we found.. although a knee crutch maybe an option later

Best of luck ...your body will need the rest though ..

@lovecotswoldsliving - the minor injuries unit recommended a walker so I took that. I briefly tried crutches at the Red Cross shop but I felt too wobbly. I need to practice!

Here’s what I’ve been doing / planning to do (apart from working from home):

Meditate
Chair (well, sofa!) yoga
Learn French (I picked up a French novel from a book swap just before my foot op)
Draw
Sort photo albums (they are physical albums and this didn’t go so well as made my foot sore)
Sort emails
Add interesting artists to Pinterest
Update instagram
Meal planning
Board games
Lego
Twin Peaks re-run and finally watching series 3

Crocheting, craft kits, painting. Get DH to bring you veggies so you can chop for dinner. If you set it up properly on a table you could put a food mixer there and ingredients for a cake. Reading, whether kindle or paperbacks, Duolingo, Suduko, puzzle books or on phone. Manicures.

Sort documents (paper) which need doing. Or set up excel/word/pp docs on laptop.

utility bills or insurance heed a switch? Take a look at those.
if a machine fits, dressmaking. Don’t use foot which is broken.

Don’t forget cold drinks

Have you watched Legends on Netflix? I loved it. Full disclosure - an extended family member has a role in it; not full on lead but fairly substantial.

All based on real events.

When i broke my foot ( twice) and was forbidden to weight bear for 6 weeks I would move around the house on a low back office chair with wheels.
It freed up my hands to carry things and was even able to cook a bit.

Good luck.

@ButterPiesAreGreat - no I haven’t seen it but will add it to the fantastic list of suggestions people have given me on here.

@Whataretalkingabout - thanks. My husband is actually collecting an office chair for me tonight. I think it will be really useful.

I like these logic puzzles. Much harder and more satisfying than a free phone game version. If you ever liked those grid logic puzzles these are what I moved onto after that
https://www.puzzler.com/magazines/logic/nonogram-magazine-subscription?srsltid=AfmBOorEnWhiUNMe_p37WotW6R1v6Xo22UiMof8r1k-u9fTrULJg-nSgmTk

They also have a harder version with bigger puzzles.

TV series - Spooks and Game of Thrones were some of my favourites. One recuperation I got sky movies and worked my way through the Marvel films in order.

Yes it needs practice. Once you have got the knack, you can put a bag on the crutches and speed all over the place.

Binge watch all the Harlan Cobens on Netflix!

Last time I was stuck in bed but not deathly ill, I knit a baby blanket. I was there for a baby so it gave me a goal.

I have an app I want to write. I would probably do that. I would first have to learn the rest of my the skills to do it, but that would be part of the fun.

I was laid up last winter on the sofa, and DH and the kids used to bring me things to sort/declutter and organise while I was watching telly - eg. I went through all the odd socks, one day I did all the toiletries, another day the contents of the pantry chucking anything that was out of date, I sorted out bags of handmedown uniform, mended clothes and sewed lots of labels, etc.

It does require another person to fetch and carry the sorted out things for you but it was very satisfying.

Learn a language? You could do an online course or use an app like Duolingo/Falou