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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

7yo DS has stitches underneath foot/toes and can’t walk ...

63 replies

EmmaLouisLou · 15/09/2019 08:11

AIBU to buy him crutches and send to school Monday?

DH went in with DS during stitching and reported back that the advice was to keep clean and dry, he’s fine to walk on heel but not toes as could re-open wound, cover it with a sock and see GP on Monday. Our GP only gives same day appointments to under 5s. If I get through on the phone Monday morning he may get an emergency appointment but not guaranteed, next bookable appointment is 2nd October so I’ll have to phone each morning hoping for emergency appt. He’s currently moving round house on bum/hands with foot in air. Will not stand at all as it hurts even if just heel is on floor.

OP posts:
IsobelRae23 · 15/09/2019 08:58

If you phone the surgery and say the hospital doctors have said he is to see the GP today, they will give an appointment.

MildThing · 15/09/2019 09:01

I have a child who has had many occasions in crutches since he was 7 and I would say ‘no way’.

Not with the stitches and injury so new
Not without having been seen by GP
Not without proper risk assessment

Are there any stairs / steps in school? They definitely nee to be shown how to use crutches safely on stairs.

Schools are busy, jostley places, he will put his foot down if someone bumps into him.

How will he manage in the toilet! Crutch, one leg, hands on crutch... it really isn’t easy for them.

Call the GP and tell the Receptionist that you have been referred following an emergency appointment and needed a wound care check for stitches on Monday.

LaBelleSauvage · 15/09/2019 09:11

Wound check will likely be with a practice nurse. Just call on Monday morning and explain.

They'll just check it though and give care advice- it won't make any difference to whether or not you get crutches. That's up to you though as we on the internet can't really gauge the severity of the wound

HannahLee · 15/09/2019 09:13

He doesn’t need to see a GP. A practice nurse would be a far more appropriate HCP for checking a wound.

Original poster
EmmaLouisLou · 15/09/2019 09:47

The advice at the emergency care unit (minor injuries hospital) was he can walk on it but try not to bend or put weight on the toes (?!) cover with a sock but don’t put shoe on as it needs to breathe, keep clean and dry, make appointment with GP for Monday. DH was in with him for stitching, I’ve had to pry this info from him with a thousand questions. Also stitches might need removing, probably but he’s not sure, at some point. As they said he can walk on it no crutches were offered, although he also thinks they didn’t have any child size available.

Will phone GP tomorrow and go from there, am thinking advice from hospital was just for over weekend but who knows. He can’t walk on it at all yet but was keen to try crutches so I’ve ordered kids ones for home use for time being from amazon (same day delivery!)

OP posts:
joblotbubble · 15/09/2019 09:54

DH was in with him for stitching, I’ve had to pry this info from him with a thousand questions.

Why?

Original poster
EmmaLouisLou · 15/09/2019 09:58

@joblotbubble because he doesn’t pass in any useful info unless asked appropriate questions to job his memory Confused He just says what he remembers at the time which was ‘he was really brave, he’s had gas and air and was having a funny chat with the elderly lady in the next cubicle who was also having stitches’.

OP posts:
TheChemicalMothers · 15/09/2019 10:44

“I had crutches following a foot injury recently. I had to have a physio show me how to use them before I could be discharged as crutches can be a liability in themselves.”

Especially for children.

His stitches and foot will be fragile. One slip....

redchocolatebutton · 15/09/2019 10:47

yanbu
that's what amazon prime is for...

dc broke a leg at that age and was totally fine with the crutches at school. they arranged a buddy system to carry his bags and stay with dc during break time.

youarenotkiddingme · 15/09/2019 10:54

Personally I'd look into local Red Cross and hire a wheelchair for a week. He can at least move around house more easily and he can go to shops, walk outside for fresh air etc. Even if he gets crutches he probably will take a few days before he's fully mobile efficiently on them.

CrazyPineapple · 15/09/2019 10:57

As careful as he may be, it worries me the thought of being around other kids of a similar age that could inadvertently stand on his toes or knock him. Can you imagine the pain and the mess if the stitches burst open again? You can put this view to the school too if they start complaining about his absence.

Mabelface · 15/09/2019 11:00

Look on amazon for a post surgery wedge shoe and get him some crutches. The wedge shoe keeps the weight on the heel and off the forefoot. Don't send him to school this week.

Yourostar · 15/09/2019 11:01

I wonder if your DH's boss also has to ask him questions to "jog his memory" when he's required to pass on information at work?
Not good enough.

AnnaMariaDreams · 15/09/2019 11:02

He’s only 7, he won’t miss much having a few days off while it starts to heal. I’ll bet if you kept him off a week he’d be feeling a lot better to walk on it by next Monday.
I’d just tell School that they have to safeguard him by ensuring he won’t have to walk on it. They won’t be able to do this so will advise you keep him off.

IslaMann · 15/09/2019 11:03

He DOES NOT need to see a GP. He needs to see the practice nurse for a wound check, although all being well that is a formality. You won't get crutches from the surgery either. He is safe to weight bear on his heel, he just can't yet due to the pain. A couple of days and he will be able to tolerate heel walking. He just needs a few days off school. If the school is more concerned about their attendance figures for OFSTED than about the welfare of their pupils, that is a worry.

StroppyWoman · 15/09/2019 11:06

Keep him home a few days, poor lad.

InglouriousBasterd · 15/09/2019 11:09

I voted YANBU but I meant after a few days, not tomorrow! Definitely see nurse not doctor, doctors have no clue about dressing wounds. Poor boy, bet that hurts like hell. Definitely give him a few days for the swelling to ease.

Seeline · 15/09/2019 11:10

Have you asked school whether they are willing/able for him to go in with such a new injury? I think they will be quite happy for him to have a few days at home .

In any case, if he is still in pain, and can't put his foot to the floor, school is not the right place for him. It's not as if he is sitting GSCEs next week!

Crutches will be more trouble than they are worth. Kids will trip over them, they'll all want a go with them so your DS won't have access to them when he needs them, and using them all day is exhausting. He won't be allowed out at break/lunch either.

Grasspigeons · 15/09/2019 11:13

Aw, you wouldnt go into an active job if you had to shuffle on your bum with your leg in the air. School is a very active place at 7.

YeOldeTrout · 15/09/2019 11:19

I wonder if OP can hire a child's wheelchair for just a few days.

Ring school on Monday, explain, ask for their best suggestions how they want to manage the situation. He sounds like a wheelchair would be a decent bet for the first week, with crutches to get to/from car and at home, and hopefully only on crutches at school next week, and hopefully just hobbling after that. Thank goodness kids heal fast.

catanddogmake6 · 15/09/2019 11:20

Op, the reality is school won’t want him first thing on Monday morning amid all the normal chaos. They will need a plan on how to manage it, work out which staff will oversee, probably do a risk assessment. This for a child who is in pain and not mobile. See the relevant person at the practice, work out what your son requires and then give school time to work out what it’s doing. If school question it, as pp said, medical advice is to see your surgery and point out the above. Hope he feels better soon.

Cakeorchocolate · 15/09/2019 11:33

Don't let the school culture influence you to make inappropriate decisions on health and well-being. Schools are under pressure on attendance and achievements, must tick those boxes.

It's impossible to learn while struggling and in pain. Schools do not appreciate or care about that. Generally speaking. Bums on seats is the priority.

Some schools have been known to ignore medical advice and force children to participate in activities they are unable to do also. I wouldn't take the risk so soon after the injury and while still in pain.

Hope he feels better soon.

bizzey · 15/09/2019 11:58

OP if you do go down the crutches route..

Get him some cycling gloves to protect his palms from blisters and sores .
Good luck .

dollydaydream114 · 15/09/2019 12:46

If the hospital thought crutches were a good idea, wouldn’t they have given you some for him?

Just keep him off school for a day or two.

sashh · 15/09/2019 12:48

Keep him off for a couple of days, if he still can't walk then he may be better with a wheelchair you can borrow them from the Red cross.

www.redcross.org.uk/get-help/borrow-a-wheelchair