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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to suspect SIL is lying about broken foot

110 replies

thatistheq · 06/08/2019 11:01

Last Wednesday my SIL told me she had broken her toe. This morning she arrives at my house (with her kids) and is sporting an ankle boot/brace claiming she has broken her foot. I am now expected to look after her kids and wait on her hand and foot. SIL has form for being a pathological liar. I suspect she's lying as my sister is adamant she saw her at the train station on Friday evening in heels! I'm tempted to call her out but my PIL's get very touchy when SIL is accused/called out. Also, they're only here for a couple of days and I've spent a fortune on food and just want an easy life.AIBU?

OP posts:
Original poster
thatistheq · 06/08/2019 11:20

Can you take all the children and go out somewhere?
After I've sorted lunch we're going to set off to the county park. We've booked a session on the high rope course. SIL is umming and ahhing whether to go or not. I have a feeling she'll stay on her arse.

OP posts:
msbevvy · 06/08/2019 11:22

There seems to be a lot of different outcomes when it comes to breakages in the foot.

When I broke my big toe I hobbled around on it for a day before going to A&E. It was then put in a plaster cast and I was non weight- bearing with crutches for several weeks.

Original poster
thatistheq · 06/08/2019 11:23

Would she seriously go and buy that just to keep the pretence?

I wouldn't put it past her. Like I said I'm only really suspicious as my sister saw at the station. SIL has a very distinctive work bag which my sister identified unprompted.

OP posts:
PookieDo · 06/08/2019 11:25

Big toe is a much more serious fracture and depends if it involves the joint

So there will be lots of different outcomes because fractures are all different. You could fracture your smaller toes and not need any treatment because they will heal in time with no adverse outcome, or you could break a metatarsal and they will need a different treatment or you could fracture and displace a joint which needs something else!

contrary13 · 06/08/2019 11:26

I had a boot like that, last summer, when I tore my achilles tendon. If it's just a toe? I don't think she'd need a full boot like that.

If she has a broken foot, and a boot like that? She'll be supported; it's very snug and solid. So yes; she can walk. Crutches or not (I only used mine outside of the house).

Original poster
thatistheq · 06/08/2019 11:27

SIL doesn't have crutches

OP posts:
ginandnappies · 06/08/2019 11:29

My MIL broke her foot, walked about for a week before finding out through X-ray and had a boot like that. No cast, no surgery. Lots of different places it can break surely?

ginandnappies · 06/08/2019 11:29

My MIL broke her foot, walked about for a week before finding out through X-ray and had a boot like that. No cast, no surgery. Lots of different places it can break surely?

ginandnappies · 06/08/2019 11:29

My MIL broke her foot, walked about for a week before finding out through X-ray and had a boot like that. No cast, no surgery. Lots of different places it can break surely?

LittleLongDog · 06/08/2019 11:30

Why not just say “oh my sister saw you at x the other day. How on earth did you manage to wear heels?”

Damntheman · 06/08/2019 11:30

She might not need the crutches, depends on the break as Pookie says.

I think you can't really doubt if there's a break or not. But you can doubt if she's really that incapable. I've managed to look after my own children the whole way through despite being non weight bearing for 3 weeks - my kids are 2 and 6.

I'd take the kids given they're nice kids but leave her to look after herself. Or your IL's can do it.

ginandnappies · 06/08/2019 11:30

Obviously Mumsnet wanted to put my point across three times haha

endofthelinefinally · 06/08/2019 11:31

If she doesn't move around and drink loads of water she is at high risk of DVT (blood clot), especially if she is on hormonal contraception. Hopefully she has been warned of these risks by the orthopaedic staff.

ddl1 · 06/08/2019 11:31

I honestly doubt it - it's not that easy to just get a boot of that sort; you would need to get it from the hospital as far as I know (I was given one when I came out of plaster for a broken ankle). And it's not uncommon for doctors to initially think that one bone is broken when it turns out on X-ray to be another.

TixieLix · 06/08/2019 11:40

You can get those boots really easily from various online health/physio sites.

I'd be tempted to say to her, in a really light way "Do you know SIL, you have a doppelganger living nearby. My DS saw this person at the station on Friday and they even have the same work bag as you. Couldn't be you of course, because that person was wearing high heels, but how weird eh?" Just see how she reacts.

Has she explained how/when she did it?

notso · 06/08/2019 11:41

DD had a much more basic boot and crutches for 6 weeks when she broke her foot.

Sorry KurriKurri but the dog chewing a tea bag and the three kidneys made me laugh.

Damntheman · 06/08/2019 11:46

I don't know how I did mine.

Then again, I don't know why I'm defending her! I think SIL is being a lazy tit Grin

Clutterbugsmum · 06/08/2019 11:48

I wouldn't leave her at home she can come to the rope course and watch her children, there know reason for her not to.

Teddybear45 · 06/08/2019 11:51

I broke 3 toes and my foot and was still swanning about in heels before I was diagnosed. All depends on your tolerance for pain and where the where the break is.

NCpreggo · 06/08/2019 11:56

Could she be the entertainment for the kids while you get on with other stuff - "oh I'm sure auntie would love to read that book with you/build a Lego thing/play a board game/do a craft project" - at least then she's being useful and she doesn't really have a leg to stand on to say no Grin

DidntAskToBe · 06/08/2019 11:56

I walked hobbled around with a stress fracture for 6 weeks before finding out what it was. It's possible. When I wasn't weight bearing it didn't hurt at all.

By then it was too late for a boot.

The second time I did it I knew right away and put the boot on straight away.

Wellmet · 06/08/2019 11:59

Get her to tell you where she went on Friday on the train.....not by letting her know she was seen, just steer the conversation through "What have you been up to?" type questions. Once she's admitted she was at the station, ask her how she's been finding getting around with the boot. If she claims she was wearing it that day, you'll know she's lying. But it gives her chance to say "oh, I didn't realise how bad it was so I was struggling on in heels" or something, if she's telling the truth.

QueenofLouisiana · 06/08/2019 11:59

I was diagnosed with a hairline fracture in my foot recently. I’ve been walking around in all sorts of shoes, including heels- the least comfortable are my Superga as they restrict where the swelling is. I’ve even done a few days where I’ve covered 7 or 8 miles across national parks.

No boot for me as it seems to be healing well.

Oldraver · 06/08/2019 12:02

If you like spending time withe the kids then go about your plans, but would say "Oh I think it best you stay here" You know she will hinder you.

I would drop in at some time..."Where were you going on Friday as my DS saw you at the station?"

bluegirlgreen · 06/08/2019 12:06

Whether she is telling the truth or not, why are YOU the one looking after her/her kids?

Why is your DH not doing it? This is his sister right? Why are all the chores and domestic shit, almost ALWAYS lumped on the younger women in the family? Hmm

I personally would call her out on it. Tell her that your mate saw her in heels a few days ago - 2 days AFTER she said she had broken her foot.