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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask about your experience of broken limbs?

13 replies

Arachnophobic · 26/03/2012 07:22

Well it happened, I broke my wrist :-(.

I have two under 5s, a job that involves some office work but a great deal of driving as well as nursery runs, running a home, you get the picture.

DP works long hours but has taken some time off this week. Next week I will have to make do.

Can I ask those of you who have been in this situation what you did and how you coped? Sorry for the somewhat selfish post, but I am struggling to fel optimistic about all this......

OP posts:
picnicbasketcase · 26/03/2012 07:25

Sad Sorry to hear it and I hope you mend quickly. I've never broken any bones (touch wood) so I'm probably no help. My DM broke her arm very badly when I was young and couldn't work for several months. Have you been told not to drive for a certain amount of time? Can you have time off work?

ithaka · 26/03/2012 07:27

When I broke my wrist, I had to arrange taxis/lifts to and from work as your insurance will not cover you to drive. Apart from that, I managed everything else as normal (work/children/horses etc), albeit it took a bit longer and was more of a hassle.

Placcy bag over cast in the shower and got my DH to wash my hair. It was 6-8 weeks in plaster and it is amazing how quickly it passes. Make sure you do your physio excercises when the cast is off.

Good luck.

Arachnophobic · 26/03/2012 07:28

6 weeks no driving, still need to get to office I think, luckily I don't need to write too much for my job.

OP posts:
bex2011 · 26/03/2012 07:31

I broke my wrist 3 years ago. This was before any DC came along, but I do often think how I would have coped if I did have children. Did the hospital offer to sign you off work? I was signed off for 4 weeks before I signed myself back. I think the drs would have given me another 4 weeks. I hate not working, but in your circumstances it sounds like one less thing to worry about would help.

Give it a week or so and it will get easier. You will find you can do a lot with your cast on. Oh and accept as much help as you can from friends and family.

Bossybritches22 · 26/03/2012 07:37

I think you have to call in the favours for the next few weeks.

Time off work certainly as far as driving goes, if only for the fact that if you crash, any excuse for the insurance not to pay out. Also you'll find it difficult & possibly painful to hold the wheel properly, and you'd risk making it worse.

Can you get someone to help with the running around to nursery etc for a while, and possibly get some help around the house short term?

You are not going to get totally better in 2 weeks sadly so best rally some troops. You'll be surprised who won't mind helping in an emergency so just ask around.

Good luck!

Silverstar2 · 26/03/2012 07:46

Poor You! I broke a bone in my elbow last May, just days before Dh was due to go away with work for 5 days leaving me with 2 DC, age 6 ans 8.

You have to call in all the favours you can. I was lucky inthat a god friend works near me, and drove me to work (25 min drive away). My neighbour drives past school to get to work, so I was brave and just asked for a lift, and offered petrol money. My work very kindly dropped me back at school at 3pm if Dh couldn't pick me up, and then we would either walk home or just ask people for a lift! Most people don't mind on the odd occasion when it is obvious you are struggling. Round the house you will be surprised at how much you can do, and get DC to help.

You WILL manage, because you have to.

Get the docs to sign you off work if you can't drive.

Good luck, hope it gets better quickly!

Ilovedaintynuts · 26/03/2012 07:49

Oh I know all about that!
I broke my wrist 5 weeks ago. I have 3 DC's, youngest two are 3 and 18 months. It has been a nightmare to be honest.

I don't have much help either, DH works full-time, my mum would help but also works full-time.

I have been signed off for 4 weeks and then for another two as still lacking much flexibility in my wrist.

Worst things - not being able to drive/push a pram. Not being able to pick up kids, change nappies easily, cook, put on bra, tie my hair back, shower/get changed. Took about 4 weeks before I could write.

I have a management job and have been going into work twice a week to sign things/give advice and am just starting to be more funstional.

My DH has had to drop my 3 year old to nursery and collect her as I'm unable to push a pram.

But these things happen and I guess in the whole scheme of things it's pretty minor!

[channelling PollyAnna]

wishiwasonholiday · 26/03/2012 07:51

I broke both my wrists at the same time when I was about 10, I didn't need to drive obviously but had to have a really uncomfy pot on as it kept popping out of place, my mum must have washed my hair etc, at least I didn't have to struggle with household jobs.

Ilovedaintynuts · 26/03/2012 07:51

Oh and if you broke your dominant wrist then ironing and hoovering are out!

twoistwiceasfun · 26/03/2012 12:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Fuzzywuzzywozabear · 26/03/2012 12:10

I broke my arm - DH would take us all to school (2 miles) and then I'd walk home - in the afternoon I would get the bus to the school and then we'd all walk home or get the bus - I got the train to work and the lady I work for came and picked me up from the station

it was a looooooonggggg six weeks for me!

roadkillbunny · 26/03/2012 12:42

My story won't make you feel better really... I broke my leg in three places almost 10 weeks ago. I am still mainly wheelchair bound, I have a big boot cast for outside and starting to put a bit of weight through while on sticks. Things are a bit more complex and slow for me as have pre existing problems with my lower limbs (and other areas but lower limbs are worst), On the 10th of april, just over 12 weeks post accident I get rid of the boot and can start learning to walk again. I am hoping that by the end of May I will be able to walk without sticks for short distances. It is a huge goal that will take a great deal of work.

I have a 4 year old (he has turned 4 while I have been going through this) and an almost 7 year old. I don't have a clue what would have happened without the support from friends and the community. There is a cooking rota in the village for me, I am now able to look after my children on my own but for 6 weeks it was a rota of friends and school friends, the same for the school and pre school run. Last week, 9 weeks in I was able for the first time to do the school run on my own in the wheelchair as I was finally able to get in and out of the house on my own. All sorts of things you don't think of come up, have to relay on people to get me to the hospital and physio even simple things like fetching a drink for myself or the children. On days my ds isn't at pre-school my dh makes him a packed lunch that ds can then get out the fridge for himself, we have found little ways of getting around problems. Dh took the first week when I was in hospital off work as I was very ill and my leg was under threat but we can not afford for him to take any more time off as I am self employed so we have lost my small but makes a difference income.

The big thing I have learnt are that I have to ask for help, if people offer help don't be afraid to say yes. Tell people what you need so you don't end up with a fridge full of cottage pie and no one to pick the children up from school. A big help has come from the church community, due to it's organised nature it has meant that we have been able to organise things well even though I know the vicar and consider her a friend I am not a regular church goer (mainly due to working Sunday mornings but we go to mass on Good Friday, Christmas and if a service is on a different day or time then normal Sunday service, about 4 times a year it works out), a good church community will want to help even if you aren't 'one of them' that is what being a Christian (and other faiths to be honest) is about.

The positive for you is a wrist isn't so bad, I assume from what you said you haven't needed surgery so it should be 6 weeks in a cast? My good friend (who has been my main help) broke her wrist last November, she needed quite allot of help for the first 3 weeks, she wasn't able to drive which was a big problem (we are rural, I haven't a car and can't drive hers) but we managed to get round it with help of others in the community. She ended up having her cast off a week early at 5 weeks post fall and was able to drive a few days later, she was back to things very quickly although she didn't take up physio and now regrets that as she has limited movement. It was barely a month after she came of of her cast when she became my main carer (poor thing) and he wrist has been fine on the whole.

I hope you are able to get support from friends, family and community, the hard bit is the asking and the accepting, pushing myself to maintain my independence has always been a big part of managing my pre existing condition as mobility issues can be a big part of it so having to do a 180 degree turn on that has been very hard.
Sorry for the very long, probably waffling post, I hope you recover well and quickly just know your not alone!

slug · 26/03/2012 13:16

These are your friend

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