Any tips for living with a plaster cast & crutches?

[TheBightyMoosh]

So, I had a bit of an old lady fall, and I've ended up with a broken metatarsal, a leg in plaster and crutches !

But I'm struggling a bit to do stuff round the house like getting up and down stairs, making cups of tea and just getting around. I'm so unfit and weak, I'm finding the crutches really hard work!

Also I'm desperate for a bath - I can't cope much longer with just washing at the sink (while hopping on one leg!)

Has anyone got any tips to help me be a bit more mobile around the house and to help me get on with a few essential bits pieces?

Thank you so so much - I really appreciate it!

oh dear.

get a simple bag (carrier bag style) with a very long handle that you can hang round your neck to carry stuff around. The bags they give our free with kids books are perfect.

get a thermos mug for cups of tea (so you can put it in the bag).

for stairs, I used to chuck the crutches ahead (or drag behind) and just use the banister.

What sort of shower do you have? I used to shower standing on one leg with the shower door open and with the cast wrapped in a bin bag resting on a chair just outside the shower. Baths are no good IME.

you'll be able to manage with one crutch quite soon - once you can put a small amount of weight on your foot, switch to using the crutch on the 'good' side.

Thanks so much Muddleduck.

That's all brilliant advice - I've been whizzing round the house with a bag around my neck, generally feeling less frustrated at my situation!

It's just a whole new way of coping and I'm using muscles I've never used before - ironically, I think I might end up fitter that before!

Firstly, poor you, its awful, I have been there.
My tips are:

1. Get a limbo limb (google) so you can have a shower in peace. I Also bought a bath chair and some grips for the crutches at better life .com, brill especially if you are going to be in this state for a while)
2. I took some strong fish oils (Nutri, Eskimo 3, high strength) to stop under plaster itching, I had no probs and the consultant could not believe it! He is now recommending it at the fracture clinic at Chelsea and Westminster. You can buy it here www.yournutritionshop.co.uk/shopexd.asp?id=734
3. I also tried to eat protein with every meal (peanut butter, seeds, nuts etc) and calcium and held off on the coffee and booze as apparently that can stop the bones knitting together.
4. The muscle atrophy is GRIM I tried to do a bit of bed excercise, clenching buttocks, clams, just to stop everything going floppy.
5. Get some DVDs that are funny. Its really grim the first 2/3 weeks but I promise it does get better and more quickly than you think
6. DO NOT go onto Mybrokenleg.com it is full of horror stories about people whose bones never knitted together again and I got really freaked out.
7. Top up the NHS physio if you can (you might get special treatment). They were great but very stretched and there was only 1 appointment a week. For a fast recovery you need to be getting manipulation 2/3 times at week at first!
8. Can you get an air boot? That speeded up my recovery versus plaster as you put a little weight on it and it stops the bone loosing as much calcium apparently? 9~) Don't underestimate how tired you might feel and how vulnerable and emotional. Don't be afarid to ask for help, ditch the housework and rest as much as possible
9. I had a rucksack which was very handy and also wore skirts with pockets. Take your phone everywhere in case you slip Some hugs cos I know its crap

p.s. I had a fibula break, surgery and metal plates so I think I might have been less mobile than you initially so sorry if this sounds drastic!

All good advise above - wish I had posted on here when I had my leg in plaster in March!

Definitely agree about asking about an airboot - I was put in one after 2 weeks and the difference was amazing in my mobility and you can change the 'sock' every day so it keeps much cleaner. Also, while you change the sock you can do some basic maintenance like leg shaving so not so grim when it eventually comes off.

Someone suggesting wearing an apron with pockets to me - but I could not quite bring myself to so a skirt with pockets was best.

I also stopped using the crutches in the house as soon as I could and used the furnature to move about....

Good luck

Oh yes THE HAIR when the cast comes off is really quite shocking

ooh, thanks for all this - I'm having a bunion removed on Monday and will be in plaster for 6 weeks. It's going to be grim when the cast finally comes off isn't it?

buy a Limbo now, immediately, without delay

I think in this weather you're probably ok but an Outcast can be a godsend if it's cold / wet and you're out and about

Oooh the outcast looks great! I used to take the limbo limb with me everywhere in case it started raining!

I bought a cast protector so I could have a bath (similar to the Limbo) from Sainsburys. If you go to a larger store with an instore pharmacy that's where you'll find them (usually on the counter area). It cost me around £15 for a full leg one. It really was great as I had a full length hip to ankle cast and trying to wash was a nightmare. I've still got mine and will always keep it (after 11 casts in 7 years!!).

The worst thing I found was the handles of the elbow crutches. As they're so hard I got blisters on the heels of my hands and also in between my thumb and index finger. I got some padding (something like thick wadding) and taped it around the handles.

Also I asked for a second pair of crutches for upstairs so that I didn't have to carry them up and down. We have enclosed stairs and had a bannister put up on both sides which made it easier (my GP arranged for someone to come and install them, I think it was Occupational Therapists?). Mind you I don't know if this is standard or not. I only got it after I fell down the stairs from top to bottom and broke my collar bone during my third stint in plaster! Oh that was fun.....not! I wasn't allowed to weight bear and couldn't use crutches because of my collar bone so ended up with a zimmer frame at 26!!! It was either a zimmer at home or a stay in hospital....!!

I'm sure you already know the basics (but if you were given you're crutches in A&E then possible not!!) but I'll run through a couple - hope that's ok.

• When using steps or stairs remember the saying 'Good leg to Heaven, Bad leg to Hell' when going up stairs you're good leg goes up first, when going down your bad leg goes first.
• NEVER sit down with crutches still on your arms, this is how you'll break your arms too! Always take your arms out, put the crutch handles together so they form a 'H' then hold onto the crossed handles and sit down (using your free hand to hold a chair arm etc).
• Check the height of your crutches (if they were not issued by a physio) it's amazing how many people are given them at the wrong height! When your stood up straight with your arms by your side the crutch handle should be a wrist level.

Good luck with it all. If you're struggling even with these suggestions have a word with your physio as there are things they can give to help ie if you're really struggling to get to the toilet (if you haven't got one downstairs for example) then they can loan you a comode. I know it's not attractive but needs must.

Wishing you a speedy recovery. (I'm glad you're not in this situation in the midst of winter - trust me it's a nightmare using crutches when it's icy outside, I've fallen and broken my casts on numerous occasions when icy out!).

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate all your fab advice.

I'm definitely going to get a Limbo - washing at the sink hopping on one leg or leaning on the sink is just grim - I really need a good old soaking!

And great advice about how to help the healing process. I'm back at the fracture clinic in a weeks time, so I'm hoping things have improved enough for me to get an air boot thingy - I can see that it would make the world of difference being slightly more mobile. And I'm sure my DD would appreciate it too - I think that's what I'm finding hardest - not being able to pick her up and carry her about, and just run upstairs when I hear her crying at night. I think, to be honest, she's playing up to the situation, but she's certainly not adjusting well.

I know he won't read this, but I have to say my DP is being AMAZING. He is doing pretty much everything, and without complaining at all. I seriously don't think I could cope without him.

And of course - thank you to the wonderful world of Mumsnet - you're all FAB

I know you need to rest it, etc, but DO NOT sit down too much.

My husband had a DVT last summer, leading to a Pulmonary Embolism (blood clots in the lungs that had travelled from the DVT at the site of his broken ankle), and when he finally got to the hospital he was down to 15% usability of his lungs.

He almost died and it was mostly my fault because I didn't phone an ambulance, but in the 2 weeks or so before that horrible day, he'd said to his GP that he'd had pain in his lower leg every time he stood up. Turns out this was the blood being unable to get back up his leg from his bad foot due to the blood vessels being blocked with blood clots, until they dislodged.

He is okay now, after 6 months on Warfarin at the age of 33/34, but you WOULD NOT BELIEVE the number of people who have had a Pulmonary Embolism as a result of having a leg in plaster, and thus the calf muscle not contracting to push the blood back up towards the knee (this is called "muscle pump")

Get up and move around regularly, if you can wiggle your toes or move your foot up and down that's good whilst you ARE sat down, and look out for toes losing their healthy pink colour (although that didn't happen to my husband). Also, whilst you are sat down do not even THINK about crossing your legs at the ankle - that is practically guaranteed to restrict blood flow.

I do NOT wish to scaremonger, but I was completely flummoxed at a) how easily this happened to my husband in the first place, b) how many other people said that it had happened to them too, although most not as serious as DH and c) how blase the doctor was when my DH reported the pain in his leg and then when he found out about the DVT and PE. The specialist in the hospital said that if the doctor had picked up on my DH's symptoms and not just dismissed it as "the pain to be expected with a broken ankle", it could have all been prevented.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Some great tips on here!
I broke my right fibula 3.5 weeks ago so am in a knee high fibreglass cast and on crutches. Luckily the break is stable and I don't need surgery but am not allowed to put any weight on the foot so exhaused from hopping around on crutches.
Susie100 - your advice is great! I did look at mybrokenleg.com and agree it is full of horror stories.
I've been off work since it happened and confined to my one-bed flat so working at home to combat the cabin fever.
My tip for bathing is to get one of those cheap shower hoses you attach to the taps and sit in the bath with the plastered leg up on the side of the bath. Does the job and keeps the plaster dry.
I also bought some great pads for the handles of the crutches from the internet, they are huge and much better than any home made version I tried.
To get food and drink from a to b, I put it on a plastic tray and push it along the floor with my crutches.
To help with the itching from the plaster I am taking a hayfever pill each day - no idea if this is advisable but works.
Hopefully the plaster will be taken off next Tuesday at my next hospital visit and I'll need physio then...plus a massage for the rest of my body after the effort of the crutches!! :)
I'm wiggling my toes and stretching the leg as far as I can in the plaster to keep it awake but get pain in the muscles from lack of use.
Thanks for the advice posted here, helps a lot.

A tip for your crutches ,is to put bunion pads on the handle bit .The padding stops the palm of your hand getting sore/ blistering

Thankyou for tips everyone... I know this thread is old, but the flask idea is a godsend! I had resigned myself to drinks in the kitchen only!
I bought hand grips for the crutches but was later told to use pipeagging as a cheap option.
Just got an aircast boot from eBay and had the cast removed...but not too happy about sleeping in it when it has been outside. Thinking maybe to use a pillowcase to cover in when in bed?
Is there anyone still around in casts that can tolerate sharing moans and tips?

If you are out when it is wet, whilst on cruches, make sure you dry the bottom of them on a mat before you put them to the floor indoors, this is to stop them slipping.
I also second using a rucksack type bag for out and about, carrier bags and crutches do not mix.

I bought this stool from IKEA which is exactly the same height as the sides of the bath, so I can shuffle backwards onto it to have a shower (with a no slip mat unerneath obviously).

I'm currntly struggling with being so lopsided (plastered foot has a weird boot thing to make me walk on my heel, and makes me a good couple of inches taller on one side, so standing twists my hips), but plaster comes off on Thursday .

Oh, and the smell is fairly disgusting, as there's only so much you cna do with wipes .

And I have the pleasure of knowing i'm going through it all again when I have the other foot done (bunion removed). Never mind, apparently I looked amazing after the first fortnight of sitting on the sofa with my foot up, being waited on totally .

I have an aircast boot not a plaster, and mostly non weightbearing. But on the odd occasion I have been out so far I am really struggling with crutches...how long till I will get more confident? I still have another 4 weeks and hate feeling so useless, dependent and vulnerable....

When I injured my knee and was on crutches I got a thing called a crutchbag....was a life saver.

try www.crutch-bag.co.uk

help me carry things around till was back on my feet

I have found this thread very helpful after falling off a ladder and breaking 2 metatarsals. i have now ordered a limbo as I would love a bath! I was given a black shoe to put on with my plaster cast but don't know if I should be trying to walk on it? They didn't tell me at the hospital and I was too distressed to think to ask! I am finding it very tiring walking with the crutches. My foot is very badly bruised (well, my toes are all I can see and they are!). I would appreciate any advise please.

Hi , thank you everyone your tips have been a life saver as broken my ankle in three places and had to have surgery that wasn't so bad. It all started when got home and realized how hard everything was going to be , just simple things like getting a drink and snack most of time ended up sitting in the kitchen till finished. Hated my crutches took ages to learn to use them and exhausted hopping on one leg, its been six weeks now and ready to come off . Everyone's tips came in handy so thank you .