Update on my crazy 3 month wait for broken foot repair...

[CallMeExhausted]

for all of those who contributed - my consultant's nurse called today, he got an extra day in the theatre, so I will be having the repair op next Wednesday.

Thank goodness - now to get everything I need done for Christmas taken care of... I won't be allowed to beat weight for at least 7 weeks after the operation. Should make Christmas fun!

Thanks for being a sounding board.

[musicalendorphins2]

That does suck. But the walker will help quite a lot. Best of luck Wednesday.

[FannyFifer]

Awww that's shite. I don't know the cost of them, though the cost of medical equipment in general is so expensive, it's really unfair.

Hope your operation goes well.

[CallMeExhausted]

I looked at a knee scooter - for the length of time I will be off my foot, renting one is prohibitively pricy. Buying one is an equivalent cost.

Because I am in Canada, and we don't have supplemental benefits (another story entirely - my DH's employer is driving me mad) I have to pay out of pocket for whatever I need. Unfortunately, the knee scooter isn't something I can afford.

I sure wish it were.

[FannyFifer]

How about a knee scooter, my friend used one when she broke her ankle, found it really helpful.
www.strideon.co.uk

[CallMeExhausted]

Thank you for all your Zimmer frame recommendations. I found one at a charity shop today for $3.50 (it was 75% off).

So, it looks Klein am ready to go for Wednesday morning... just not sure if the rest of the family is

[CallMeExhausted]

I am thinking very hard about getting one. It'd help to get around the house - not sure how much I'd trust it outside, though. I doubt it would manage snow and ice too well.

[PiperIsTerrysChoclateOrange]

www.amazon.com/iWALK-2-0-Hands-Free-Crutch/dp/B00092RB06?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

Would this help

[PiperIsTerrysChoclateOrange]

Don't write Christmas cards out, wait until you have recovered a bit then do it while you are off your feet.

[Andrewofgg]

Good luck OP and galore.

[trashcanjunkie]

I am currently half way through an eight week non weight bearing cast (lateral ligament repair) and have had excellent success getting about the house on my ikea office chair (one of them bucket seat type thingys) I have a zimmer for the house too but don't use it, and I got crutches from the hosp, but after a couple of tumbles we looked into hiring a wheelchair. I got one for eight weeks for seventy eight quid from a local hire shop. I am toying with the idea of using the shopmobility scheme. They hire out electric scooters for a nominal joining fee Good luck with your op OP!

[musicalendorphins2]

CallMeExausted, I can see how you would be affected, especially if you were covering that story in particular. That poor, poor woman, what a horrific way for her to die. I have only been on the subway once since then. However dh is there every night, and is there right now. he has seen some pretty gruesome suicide scenes. 2 recently. Always bad this time of year.

[AcrossthePond55]

Call in all and any support you need and can get! Obvs you are familiar with surgical recovery! (So sorry you had to live through that terrible crash)

The thing your DH seems to not understand is that it isn't just having to keep the weight off, it's the fact that your arms and hands are NOT free when you're moving from place to place. And how exhausting it is to hop around on one foot (ok, I'm not in the best shape, maybe it'll be easier for you). Sure you can sit on a stool and make a sandwich, but how are you going to get the bread, meat, etc from the shelves/fridge to the counter and back without the use of your hands (which are being used to balance you on the zimmer)? Even using a wheelchair (and putting stuff on your lap) it's still not easy. I dropped things off my lap a few times! Cook a meal? Don't be silly, DH!! Unless he is going to be there to move all the ingredients & food to the prep area, then to the stove, then table, and back. Nope. Tell him to tie his hands to his sides and try to move things!

Since DH will be home during part of the day, let him do the housework as much as possible. DH would bring me laundry to fold but that was about all I could do. Vacuum? Nope. Dust? A little. Make beds? Nope. I was very lucky in that DH and I were both retired so he was around & very good at helping out.

Remember that you must keep all weight off because not only do the bones have to knit in place, but they have to heal around any hardware you end up with.

[CallMeExhausted]

musical I was part of the crew that worked with the story that made the biggest news (on site surgery, extricated through Dupont Station).

I used to live not far from the emergency access south of St Clair West. I have since moved out of the city, but I still get shivers going back to visit the city if I drive either near Casa Loma or Dupont Station.

I still have nightmares. HATE confined spaces now.

[musicalendorphins2]

I have a rollator walker that has a seat and a detachable basket, and it is very handy fro carrying stuff around the house when I can't actually carry them around. However, you might want to look into renting a wheelchair from the Red Cross. ($35.00 a month I think) I rented one for DS for a few months until he got his own. I also highly recommend calling your local Community Care Access Centre, if you haven't already been in contact. They arranged for my walker, PT at home, and my son's wheel chair. Super helpful. You probably know this already due to your children's special needs but thought I'd mention it in case you didn't think to look to them for help for yourself.

[OwlCapone]

Lol - I see exactly that suggestion was made with the Zimmer frame one earlier. I remember lending my grandmother my pram net bag when she had a hip replacement and used a frame for a while.

[OwlCapone]

If you do get hold of a Zimmerframe, attach a shopping bag to the front. Good for carrying a book or magazine or other light stuff.

Hope it goes well!

[musicalendorphins2]

Don't worry about housework, or even cooking. You may not have your usual traditional dinner this year, but getting your foot mended is more important than cooking.
Your subway tunnel comment caught my attention, as my husband works for the TTC, and was working there that night. It was a horrible, horrible accident.

[CallMeExhausted]

You haven't scared me - having the more practical aspects of this mentioned is more helpful than you know. My husband seems to think I will be able to cook as long as I have a stool to perch on on the kitchen. He is sadly mistaken.

I am "known" for pushing it - I have had 6 spinal surgeries... I worked in the tunnel the day of the subway crash in Toronto, I had been discharged from the hospital the day before and stil had surgical staples in my back... After another of the ops, I was alone at home wth the children (1 1/2 and 9 at the time) while DH went off on a trip for 5 days - he could not cancel it.

This time, though - the logistics will be different as getting around will be tougher. Both of my DCs have special care needs. I am going to withdraw some money from my savings to cover the most challenging hours of the weekdays for me (the 1/2 to 1 hour before and after school) and pay my DD's RN that accompanies her to school so she can help with medication and setting up gastrostomy feeds, and getting her dressed in her outdoor clothes. We shall see what other support I need as it plays out.

What makes it particularly tough is that DH works evenings, so once he leaves for work at 2, I am on my own with the DCs until he gets home after 11.

We will definitely work it out, but right now I will admit that I am a bit uneasy. If nothing else, I will have to loosen my standards for housework

[AcrossthePond55]

Ha! Yes, necessary will take on a whole new meaning!

If you can, get a small ice chest (camping style) with ice and put it within reach of wherever you will be sitting/lying. Put some milk, juice, water, snacks, whatever you fancy in it to save you getting up. Also perhaps DH can make you a sandwich or cold-plate for lunch before he leaves for work and put in there, too. You may be surprised at what you can't do and you won't want to push it if you're home alone. It'll be easier if you can get a wheelchair or use a wheeled office chair. If you have a light-weight cloth bag, like a shopper bag, keep in near you. It'll be invaluable in carrying things around. My DH fastened one on the zimmer I used so my hands were free. If you have a hobby (I enjoy needlework) or like to read, have your things nearby.

One of the harder things to do (at least for me) was to try to balance on one foot and (TMI, sorry) get my pants down & up to go to the loo. I wore a nightie or lounging-type dress with no pants to make it easier. And try to arrange so you are as close to the loo as possible.

Remember to always have your phone with you. Never go anywhere in the house without it.

I don't remember if you have children at home. If so, let them do some of the fetch and carry for you. Even little ones can help. Let friends help out, too. Don't be afraid to ask for help.

I hope I haven't scared you! It's really not that bad, more just frustrating.

[CallMeExhausted]

Thank you for the wishes, Across .

I will admit that I am getting anxious now. DH can't take time off work (we live on a very tight budget, and missing time from work could throw us too far behind) so I will essentially have to care for myself once I get home. It will not take me long to determine what is actually "necessary" and what can be off-loaded...

Time to lower my standards, I guess

[AcrossthePond55]

I wish you the best of luck! The surgery itself was a breeze (since I was 'out' for it). I didn't have a lot of post-op pain and got into physical therapy as soon as I could. I really recommend PT, it was amazing how quickly the muscles in my leg atrophied & stiffened from lack of use.

For the first few weeks post-op I was in a wheelchair due to the severity of the break and the amount of metal. They didn't want to chance my accidentally putting weight on it using the zimmer from stumbling or whatever. The worst part of that was my poor DS2 (then 23) having to help me up and down off the loo once when DH was gone! Poor kid, I thought he'd die of embarrassment!

[CallMeExhausted]

Across it hadn't occurred to me to use a zimmer frame at home - thank you! A friend suggested I use a rolling desk chair in the house, which might be handy, too.

Right now, I am just working on fitting in the extra Christmas tasks around regular daily responsibilities so I can head to hospital Wednesday morning without worrying about leaving tasks undone.

[CallMeExhausted]

I suspect I will be longer non-weight bearing, as there has been no attempt by my body to even start to heal the fracture without intervention other than casting so far. I hope I am wrong.

[AcrossthePond55]

Glad your getting it done sooner. I was non-weight bearing for around 12 weeks due to the severity of the break (tri-malleolar fracture). My ankle now has plates, pins, & screws. I used a zimmer frame to get around the house hopping on one foot, & a wheelchair for in town. Many stores here have electric carts to use which was a big help for shopping.

It was rough not being able to go and do whatever I wanted. I got a bit stir crazy after a while. Thank God for DH, he was a real champ.

[CallMeExhausted]

bonkers Would it make you happier if I said I would be ill advised to bear weight upon the affected appendage as it will break the hardware that is being installed to reassemble the already broken bone in my foot that is not mending on its own?

Thank you to all of the rest of you for your well wishes - I know the physical restrictions will call for creativity, but it is all for a good reason.

enter I have a spiral fracture of the 5th metatarsal that extends the length of the bone - I did it back in mid-September.

And bonkers ... Go piss up a tree.