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

[EmmaLouisLou]

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.

Def NOT a GO appt needed, they would not have a clue about wound care!!
Make an appt to see the Practice Nurse (Practice Nurse here)

GP not GO!

I agree with pp that the school culture may be forcing parents to feel like they must act in a certain way which isn’t in your child’s best interest.
A week or so off his feet and off school will in the long term be better for him if it allows his foot to heal without complications. If you rush him now it could end up with him having more time off and more difficult issues with his foot.
You say he’s a gymnast - his feet are fundamental to this activity, and again complications could have an adverse impact.
I agree with pp if hospital thought crutches need they would have issued them or suggested you get some.
Also schools aren’t known for always following medical advice and you have the risk that he may feel under pressure to undertake activities that he shouldn’t.
Go to the nurse get the wound checked and ask them if they will give you something to show to school and keep him at home until the wound is healed sufficiently enough that the risk of popping stitches or infection is significantly reduced.

No, hospitals wouldn't necessarily issue crutches even if its blatantly obvious they're needed. At my local one, they say 'we haven't got any' and to call a cab when you're strictly non weight-bearing, your jeans are in shreds and it's 3.42am. A friend, a couple of hours post reconstructive surgery on a completely fucked ankle, was told to get on amazon and buy a wheelchair and crutches so they could be delivered to her home the following day as she was being handed her discharge note.

She spent months crawling up her stairs to the toilet and was completely trapped indoors, unable to work or do anything until she spent a lot of money on a wheelchair. She wonders now whether the lack of 'help' contributed to the inadequate healing which has meant a repeat operation.

There is an entire room in the fracture clinic full to the ceiling of crutches - big ones, small ones, children's ones, where they've been handed back by patients - but they won't take them back to A&E.

Urgent care centres don't have them at all.

I'd keep him off for the week, as that should be long enough for the pain to ease off, the wound to start healing and then see whether he needs a crutch or not.

You havent said anywhere (that I could see anyway) that you are giving him painkillers but it sounds like if you are the regime may need adjusted.

An alternative to crutches or wheelchair could be the knee walker, you can hire them if you dont want to buy for such a short period.

mobilityhire.com/hire/walking-aids-hire/knee-scooter-hire

Def NOT a GO appt needed, they would not have a clue about wound care!!

Don't be ridiculous, of course a GP knows about wound care. Just because it's usually the practice nurse who deals doesn't mean the doctors don't have a clue

What a bloody awful thing to say.

Make sure you keep an eye on any infection starting, a young family member was on antibiotics for just over four weeks after getting a cut on his his leg, his infection was raging the day after he received the stitches

DD1 had similar a few years ago. Night before school went back after summer she cut the bottom of her foot open and had stitches. She had been due to go back on the Tuesday so I kept her off for the rest of the week, bought her child crutches on Amazon (which went round every child in the neighbourhood afterwards, very useful!) and she went back to school on the Monday. She was 7 and a half.

@joblotbubble tbh my GP told me he knew less about wound care than the practice nurse who deals with it day in and day out. You don't need to make up an urgent GP appointment with it. If the practice nurse thinks GP input is needed once s/he sees the wound, they will ask a GP to step in.

tbh my GP told me he knew less about wound care than the practice nurse

I don't dispute that in the slightest.

My comment was to the poster who said GP's 'would not have a clue about wound care'

At the very least you need to speak to the school. They wont want him in til he's mobile enough to manage the loo and they'll need to make alternative arrangements for break and lunch. And to make sure he doesn't get injured in the classroom and lining up for assembly etc. At our school a risk assessment would be drawn up with the school nurse service.

GP surgery will not have any crutches to give to you. They don’t buy or supply them. Practice nurse for wound care. Still won’t have any crutches though

If you have a minor injuries unit near you, then you may be able to get some from there. Or the Red Cross
I was given crutches by a physiotherapist so that is another option
Call them and ask but you are unlikely to get any from the GP themselves

A minor injuries unit, or pediatric ward in a hospital might be your best bet for finding NHS mobility aids. Some general info here
www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/care-services-equipment-and-care-homes/walking-aids-wheelchairs-and-mobility-scooters/

The Red Cross lend wheelchairs so may be worth a try.

Commercial companies also lease all kinds of mobility aids, e.g, the knee walker
directmobility.co.uk/shop/knee-walker/
But check what they have in terms of pediatric sizes.