Your top tips for a single parent with school run about to be on crutches for 6 weeks.

[Ostryga]

I am due to have a short leg cast next week due to complicated plantar fasciitis.

I’m taking the time off work, so currently it’s just the school run that will be my biggest nemesis.

What do I wear that will fit over my cast? How do I not get it soaked if it’s raining? How do I even use crutches

Any other words of wisdom will be greatly appreciated!

Eep, how far is it? Is it a walking cast ie can you weight bear on it at all? If you can’t I wouldn’t even attempt the school run on foot. Taxi or beg other parents for help as it’s short term. Is there a childminder who could collect yours on the way to school?

I broke my tibia and fibula and had a short, non weight bearing cast for 8 weeks then into a boot I could weight bear on for a few weeks after. Baggy yoga pants will fit over, but as it’s summer you might be ok with shorts/dresses. You can buy a plastic sleeve thing to keep it dry in the shower - this is well worth the money. Get a bumbag or rucksack to wear round the house so you can carry things room to room. It’s quite difficult to carry anything like food or a drink if you can’t weight bear - have you got anyone to support you with making food/cleaning?

Crutches are really hard work. How far is your school run? Could you beg favours or use a child minder for a few weeks? Or stretch to taxis?

When my leg was broken and it was warm I wore skirts and a cross body bag. Get everything downstairs and laid out the night before if you have more than one floor, stairs plus crutches is scary (although if your children are school age they should be able to do some of the running and fetching).

School is about a 3 minute walk from ours so I’m really hoping I can manage that. There is a school mum on our road though so if it’s awful I could definitely ask her.

Non-weight bearing for the 6 weeks. Honestly I am absolutely dreading it, but my consultant has said it’s that or surgery so I’m obviously trying to avoid surgery.

Can you use a knee scooter?

Skirts! ❤️

Put big fluffy slipper socks on the handles so you don’t end up with blisters on your hands. Good luck, I hope it’s easier than you think!

I would see if you can pay someone to do the school run for six weeks.

You probably can manage a 3 minute walk but it’s murder on the hands so be prepared to need to stop and rest a lot. How old are the kids?

You should be given a lesson on how to use crutches before your operation or at the very least, before you are discharged.
I would be contacting the school on this one.
how old are the Dc and how far is the trip. I live within sight distance of the school entrance and when I was in this situation I waved to the teacher from our window and stood and watched DC (5) walk out of our garden and she waved back to me when she could see him coming up the road to the school!

As another parent, I'd happily escort your DC to school. Is there anyone who walks past your house on the way?

You will be exhausted on crutches. I recently was non weight bearing on crutches for 6 weeks and it's really really hard going on your arms and hands. I would look at hiring a knee scooter or a self propelled wheelchair for the school run

You’ll get the hang of crutches really quickly. A three minute run should be fine. How old are the kids though? If they are small, my worry would be around roads.
They will need to carry their own bags. For you, dresses and skirts will be easiest with your cast. I think you can get a waterproof cover for the rain.
Im a single parent too and have been on crutches before. The kids will have to step up and help you where they can.

When I was non weight bearing for 8 weeks in desperation (my poor shoulders were in agony) I found something called a go-walk. The kids thought I looked like a pirate. Meant I could be hands free and carry a cup of tea to the sofa.
I would have definitely been able to do a 3 minute walk on it. Quiet expensive new but I got mine on ebay for about £80. I will sell it on again once I know I won't need further surgery.
Or, could hire a self propelled wheelchair. I had that for out and about. I think I paid £100 to hire for 8 weeks from the red Cross.

Dd is 5, she’s very sensible and I’ve been prepping her on the school run getting her to carry her bits etc. She’s not a runner and would hold onto the crutches to cross the road.

Christ I am shitting myself a bit now. I think we’ll just have to leave 20 mins earlier so I can take a break.

She’s not a runner and would hold onto the crutches to cross the road.
This is quite dangerous and will pull you off balance even if she tries her best just to touch the crutch.

Its 3 minutes walk:
ask the other mum

100% ask the other mum, offer to pay etc etc. Do anything to avoid this it'll be way harder than you think. I'm sure the other mum (unless she's a complete psycho) will gladly help you.

Ask the other mum. Offer to do 6 weeks in return next term.

Speak to school and see what they can do - let her in through a nearer entrance.

Get a mobility scooter if you can wangle one. Your DD will love this.

There is a company called Limbo (I think) who make waterproof sleeves for casts. You'll probably get details of them when you have the cast put on. They're really effective. But for at least the first week, ASK THE OTHER MUM FOR HELP. I know it's really hard as a single parent to ask for help when it doesn't seem like an emergency, but you really should in this case. Good luck with it all and I hope your recovery goes well.

Do you have a Red Cross Centre near by? They rent out mobility aids including wheelchairs and just like an anonymous donation when you've finished with them. You might find having the option of using a wheelchair useful if you are taking a small child to school.

Aldo contact the school, explain the situation and they may be able to put something in place for you, especially as you live so close.

Google knee walker.

I struggled to get in and out of the house when I had a non weight bearing cast. Don't underestimate how difficult the easiest tasks can be.

Yeah I have 6 steps down from my front door before I even start the school run.

My sister suggested a knee walker but I wouldn’t be able to get it out of the house! Ditto wheelchair.

I’ve just been nwb on crutches, but following an op for a broken knee. Thinking back to the early weeks, it was hard to manage more than the shortest of distances, but you do get used to crutches and I was able to go short distances after that. I’d probably ask for help for the first two weeks in the first instance.

Definitely ask for help, even just for the first few weeks. It takes a while getting used to them plus the pain in the upper body. Getting up and down the stairs was hell, the first day it took me 45 minutes with my hands and bum and a lot of crying, by the end I could whizz up and down in less than 2 minutes.

I had further to go than you (15 minute walk normally) and for the first week I got a taxi both ways second week I used to get a taxi one way and take my time coming back. After that I was fast enough on crutches to walk /hop both ways.Three minutes shouldn't be bad at all tbh. Crutches are hard work, but you do get used to it. The hardest part I found was carrying stuff. I also used cycling gloves with a padded palm to protect my hands because otherwise I got blisters from the handrests.