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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Entertaining son with a broken arm.

15 replies

Lovewearingjeans · 09/05/2015 18:32

My 8yr old DS broke his arm at school on Thursday, it was quite a bad break, so he is in plaster up to his armpit. Anyone had any experience of this, and what I can do to entertain, make life easier, and what is unreasonableand what I can expect him to do? It is his right arm, and he is right handed too. It is his birthday Sunday too Sad

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UncertainTea · 09/05/2015 18:39

Make finger food for his birthday so he's not the odd one out having his food cut up for him!

How much pain is he in?

Can you simplify the clothes he wears (larger size so easier to get on, slit sleeves and add Velcro/poppers)?

Sit down with him and try to learn how to write with the "wrong" hand.

I think you will have to be quite led by what he can manage to do and help him a lot until he is used to the cast.

CMOTDibbler · 09/05/2015 18:40

Have you ordered a Limbo? They are brilliant (I spent most of 2 years in plaster) and let you have a proper bath.

If you cut his food up for him, then he should be able to do most things. Writing will be an issue, so will school let him type on a laptop or ipad in the meantime?

SirBobblysock · 09/05/2015 18:43

We've had this, and after a day or so (when it was very painful) there was very little DD couldn't do (after a fashion). It's worth investing in one of those waterproof plaster covers - not just for baths but if you're planning to go to the beach or do anything involving water. She carried on playing games (other hand for tennis etc) and we just made sure she avoided anything too rough. She learnt to write with her "wrong" hand enough to get by. I think you'll find it's a lot easier than you think!

Purplepoodle · 09/05/2015 19:26

Luckily ds1 (6) did this at start of summer hols so writing wasn't important. I just cut his food up, helped him dress, everything else we carried on as normal pretty much. Washed his hair over sink then just a shallow bath with arm stuck out over bath

Original poster
Lovewearingjeans · 09/05/2015 19:34

Thank you all! He is having his proper cast on Friday at the fracture clinic. I am hoping that he will find the fact it is lighter, easier to manage. I spent most of Thursday cancelling plans for the weekend. He still wants sausage pie and chips for his birthday meal ( favourite foods!), and I am trying to persuade him packed lunches would be a good idea for school, and pointing out all the things he hates, that he won't be able to do. I think I am being over protective at the moment though. He is enjoying being waited on hand and foot at the moment!

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MaitlandGirl · 09/05/2015 23:22

Dd2 had a broken wrist last year and once the pain settled down she was pretty bored with it. It was her right arm (and she's right handed) so used my iPad at school, had all her food cut up, getting dressed, showering and doing her hair.

I let her try to do everything once herself then stepped in and took over. She was 13.5 at the time so hormonal as well.

What really surprised me was the amount of pain she was in - we used lots of heat packs at night and pillows to keep her arm elevated. She had noro virus at the same time so wasn't able to take any painkillers.

I downloaded games onto my iPad amd got work from her school that I could either do (with her dictating) or that she could type out to keep her occupied. She also watched far too much tv and worked her way through all my DVDs. I'm not sure how much was the noro virus and how much was the broken arm but she slept a lot too.

Welshmaenad · 09/05/2015 23:33

If he'll be in plaster for a while you can get a Cast Cooler thing that attaches to a vacuum that's supposed to be brilliant for relieving sweatiness, itching and general foustiness.

Mistigri · 10/05/2015 06:47

One of DS's BMX friends broke both arms in a competition last year, he was in plaster to the elbows on both sides, it was tough! At school his friends had to feed him as he couldn't get a hand to his mouth.

Anyway - get a waterproof plaster-cover - the good ones create a vacuum and allow you to shower and bathe, and even swim. I used one for regular swimming sessions when I had a serious leg break, as did my son when he was in a road accident.

Rather than attempting to write with his left hand it would be better to learn to use a mouse - it's relatively easy for a righthanded person to use a mouse with the left hand - usually takes no more than a day or two to get used to it. Good luck!

Babiecakes11 · 10/05/2015 10:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

sugarman · 10/05/2015 10:17

I agree with the advice ^^ about the pain settling down after 3-4 days and also a waterproof cover.

My worry was ds remembering not to climb or jump. School was really good, gave him a lunchtime buddy to remind him to stay at ground level.

It is tricky if they are normally very physical children: audio books, board games, dvds... after a coupleof weeks they are very adept with one arm.

All the best

Original poster
Lovewearingjeans · 10/05/2015 10:19

It's his birthday, and is able to play on the X-Box, so that is a relief. He has been nauseous, and was sick last night. He had to have an anti sickness medicine in hospital too. Also having nosebleeds, which he is prone to, thinking that may be the stress. He has managed to eat breakfast, and isn't feeling sick at the moment. We will see how tonight goes. Have ordered a waterproof cover and better sling off Amazon, that should be arriving tomorrow. Thinking if he is sick tonight, to see the doctor tomorrow. Thank you everybody.

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Updatingmywill · 10/05/2015 11:09

My ds broke his left arm at 4 and then his right arm at 7 (he's right handed). Fortunately the second time was at the start of the holidays! I bought him a big box of blo-pens to give him something he could do.

As others have said, it didn't really stop him and I have a picture of him ploutering about in the shallows of a river, with a plastic cover on his arm, holding a bucket of water in his good hand whilst standing on one leg so he could use the other foot to tip the bucket with. Grin

Clutterbugsmum · 10/05/2015 11:11

My dd1 did this the year before last year, we bought her a new bike the week before so she would have it for her birthday. The Thursday before her birthday she broke her wrist so she couldn't ride it for 6 week. Her nan also bought her treble recorder which she had asked for.

Gramgram · 10/05/2015 19:07

My DD broke her arm during the school holidays so there was no real need to write, however she did get quite good with her left hand. We cut up all her food for her, so she ate well as you tend to spoil them with favourite foods.

We were also lucky that her cousin came for a week and was happy to read to her she found turning pages difficult, she also learnt card games though there were mishaps she did find it funny. If she was losing, distract by dropping the cards!

It was a long time ago so she had heavy plaster, they may use something lighter in weight now. DD charged people to draw on her plaster and donated the money to charity.

I do hope your DS feels better soon.

Original poster
Lovewearingjeans · 11/05/2015 08:49

Thank you everyone. He is feeling lots better today, being able to play his new games on the XBox and DS helped! He is relishing the fact that he can sit on the sofa watching Minecraft YouTube videos on Apple TV. I can't think of anything worse, so sitting in the kitchen watching election fall out! Hoping back to school on Wednesday.

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