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Children's health

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Original poster

Broken Legs

59 replies

ABC12342 · 08/07/2023 15:25

Hi all, DS15 recently broke both his legs. He broke his fibulas just under the kneecap so is in two full leg casts from his toes up to his thighs. Hospital and fracture clinic weren't much help with advice on how to get about. They sent him home with just crutches although insisting he should be non-weight bearing until the casts come off and on bed rest for the next week or so. We have rented a wheelchair from the red cross but as he is currently stuck upstairs the only use for it is to move him from the bedroom to the loo.

I really do think it would be good for him to come downstairs somehow for just a change of scenery instead of being constantly stuck in one room but I have no way of getting him down the stairs. Really DP is strong enough to carry him down, but our stairs are quite narrow and I wouldn't want to risk hitting his legs against the wall or god forbid DP falling and getting hurt as well.

On top of this, he keeps getting quite hot and cold, does anyone know what the best clothing would be for him, at the minute he seems to constantly be changing his clothes to try and keep a comfortable temperature. Particularly socks, his toes either seem to be boiling hot or freezing cold, any ideas on how you can deal with that?

Really just looking for any advice in general for anyone who has been in a similar situation with their kids, any help would be welcomed.

OP posts:
toomuchlaundry · 08/07/2023 16:06

What will he be able to do once off bed rest?

Original poster
ABC12342 · 08/07/2023 16:09

toomuchlaundry · 08/07/2023 16:06

What will he be able to do once off bed rest?

Unsure at the minute really, I assume for the first free days he'll just want to stay around the house. I know he wants to go back to school for the last few days but not sure if he'll be able to do will have to see.

OP posts:
Original poster
ABC12342 · 08/07/2023 16:10

Meant to say few not free

OP posts:
BCCoach · 08/07/2023 16:10

When someone has a broken leg you make up a bed for them downstairs to save them from going up and down the stairs. I’m pretty sure the leaflets they send you home with state this for the benefit of people with no common sense.

Original poster
ABC12342 · 08/07/2023 16:12

BCCoach · 08/07/2023 16:10

When someone has a broken leg you make up a bed for them downstairs to save them from going up and down the stairs. I’m pretty sure the leaflets they send you home with state this for the benefit of people with no common sense.

First of all there's no need to be rude, as I think I made pretty clear it was more practical for us to have him upstairs due to us not having a downstairs toilet and I know he would much rather use the toilet than a plastic urinal or commode.

OP posts:
Hopingforagreatescape · 08/07/2023 16:15

How about he lies on a blow up mattress which you and DH, one at each end, carefully drag down the stairs? Getting him back up would be harder work, but possibly do-able.

The issue is that you don't have a downstairs bathroom or loo. You could potentially hire a commode from the Red Cross? I realise your ds might not like the idea of that though.

Fillyourshoes · 08/07/2023 16:17

3 days op.

just crack on for three days. Join him for dinner time in his room and keep the windows wide open.

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 08/07/2023 16:19

I think realistically he'll be in the wheelchair not on crutches while the casts are on, he just won't be able to use the crutches to get around without putting weight on his legs. That might be ok in the latter part of the 6 weeks when the bones have started to knit together but my logic thinks that it would be bad in the first few weeks.

So attendance at school would be based on:

  • is the school accessible by wheelchair?
  • do they need to do a risk assessment?
  • is there an upstairs, are any of his classes upstairs, is there a lift?
  • can you get him and his wheelchair to the school bed back home because it will take a lot of arm power he hasn't had time to develop to get himself there and back and public transport/school bus could be difficult.

I think spend the next couple of days while he's on bed rest reconfiguring your downstairs space and deciding how practical it will be to have him move down there.

  • can you move furniture around so he can use the wheelchair around the downstairs
  • can he reach cupboards from the seated position
  • can he access the toilet/sink/shower
  • can he get through doorways
  • is there somewhere he can sleep
  • do you need a temporary ramp at the door to get him outside
Fillyourshoes · 08/07/2023 16:19

BCCoach · 08/07/2023 16:10

When someone has a broken leg you make up a bed for them downstairs to save them from going up and down the stairs. I’m pretty sure the leaflets they send you home with state this for the benefit of people with no common sense.

Oh the irony of your comment on common sense 😂

BrunchMonster · 08/07/2023 16:21

But surely the problem will still be there after 3 days? He might not have to be on bed rest, but if he can't get up and down stairs at all, he might as well be still in bed as there won't be anywhere else upstairs to go really, until there's a solution for the stairs.

Can your DH lift him in and out of a wheelchair, and then up and down stairs once he is in less pain and a bit more ready to be moved by being carried. Perhaps he could slide down on his bum but be carried back up if needed.

Are they going to be replaced with the sort of casts that he can bear weight on, even slightly, so that he could use crutches?

Sounds like you need a referral to the Occupational therapy service somehow.

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 08/07/2023 16:22

Sorry just saw about no downstairs loo.

Ok other potential solutions

  • do you have any kindly relatives with a better downstairs layout who would be willing to host him?
  • do you have a utility room or anything like it that could be turned into a temporary jerryrigged bathroom for him with a camping toilet/commode so he has a private secure space to use?
PickledPurplePickle · 08/07/2023 16:31

How did he get upstairs?

cittigirl · 08/07/2023 16:35

Can you ask the OT for a commode and move him downstairs? I understand he may not want to use one though but it would get him out of his room.

iminvestednow · 08/07/2023 16:35

Reality is he will struggle to walk properly even after the cast comes off due to muscle atrophy and bone density issues. He has to suck it up and learn there are no short cuts with healing and don’t mess with quad bikes.

EarringsandLipstick · 08/07/2023 16:37

@BCCoach

Unbelievably rude, as well as dim, post. Try reading the OP's posts.

EarringsandLipstick · 08/07/2023 16:38

do you have a utility room or anything like it that could be turned into a temporary jerryrigged bathroom for him with a camping toilet/commode so he has a private secure space to use?

😳😳😳

EarringsandLipstick · 08/07/2023 16:39

OP, I think you'll just have to use DP for getting him up & down after the week has passed & get out as much as you can in the wheelchair.

The poor boy. Though quad bikes are so dangerous, he really is lucky to be alive.

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 08/07/2023 16:44

EarringsandLipstick · 08/07/2023 16:39

OP, I think you'll just have to use DP for getting him up & down after the week has passed & get out as much as you can in the wheelchair.

The poor boy. Though quad bikes are so dangerous, he really is lucky to be alive.

Problem with this is whether DP can be home all day every day for 6 weeks as without some kind of toilet facility downstairs he'll be carrying his 16 yr old up and down the stairs multiple times a day.

A commode would be the ideal solution but sitting in a chair with a hole in it in the corner of the living room, then having his mum/dad empty it will be really awkward/embarrassing for him so trying to find a way to make that as 'normal' as possible by having the commode in a different room that others aren't using or at least in a screened off section might help.

FairAcre · 08/07/2023 16:46

BCCoach · 08/07/2023 16:10

When someone has a broken leg you make up a bed for them downstairs to save them from going up and down the stairs. I’m pretty sure the leaflets they send you home with state this for the benefit of people with no common sense.

Blimey what a rude and ignorant comment.

Hopingforagreatescape · 08/07/2023 16:48

I think you can get 'commode liners' like bags that you just tie up, so you, his parents, would not need to see what was actually in the commode - he could tie up the bag and you just take it to the bin, or potentially he himself could take it to the bin - big outside wheelie bin placed right near the door - get a ramp if necessary so he can wheelchair himself to it?

Maddy70 · 08/07/2023 16:48

Rent an electric wheelchair. It'll be a game changer. But he needs the leg supports with it

determinedtomakethiswork · 08/07/2023 16:49

BCCoach · 08/07/2023 16:10

When someone has a broken leg you make up a bed for them downstairs to save them from going up and down the stairs. I’m pretty sure the leaflets they send you home with state this for the benefit of people with no common sense.

That is really unnecessary and rude. You hadn't even read what she said about not having a downstairs toilet and about how they struggle getting him up and down the stairs.

Fillyourshoes · 08/07/2023 16:51

@BCCoach has shuffled off with her tail between her legs.

No doubt rather familiar to her

EarringsandLipstick · 08/07/2023 16:53

@FatAgainItsLettuceTime

Yes, very good point. I hadn't thought of this.

Gosh it's hard. 😢

oldoldieoldieold · 08/07/2023 16:54

Maddy70 · 08/07/2023 16:48

Rent an electric wheelchair. It'll be a game changer. But he needs the leg supports with it

Electric wheelchairs are big bulky and heavy. They would need to have plenty space inside the house to allow the chair to access everywhere, and then you need level access or steps suitable for a temporary ramp for to get in an out. At his age, he would be fine to use a self-propelled wheelchair.
OP I would expect after the first week he'll have a review and be told how much weight he can start to put through his legs. He should then be taught to walk using the crutches in a way that will allow him to only put the correct amount of weight through.
He'll be fine upstairs for one week.