I have broken my leg. Come and tell me how you managed with only one leg!

[QueenieBea]

I fell off a ladder on Thurs night. Went to hospital Fri morning, went to different hospital Fri afternoon to see ortho chap and have CT scan. I have a fractured tibial plateau. I'm in a full leg cricket pad splint (no cast, yay!) and am not allowed to weight bear at all for 4-6 weeks. A lovely OT friend has leant me higher toilet seats, a stool for the shower etc so I am all set up in that respect.

So here are the important questions...

How do you get your socks on?
How do I stand up when I get to the top of the stairs?
If I fall over (almost happened a couple of times already) what is the best thing to do if no-one is home?
How the frick am I going to get lunch etc?

I was pretty ok about it all yesterday but had a bit of a wig out in the middle of the night and am worrying about everything now

You poor thing, it's very frustrating, isn't it? Re socks, get somebody else to put them on for you. I had a sock putter on thing, (technical term) but they're such a faff. The best thing I had was a wheely office chair, you could borrow one or go ask on freecycle. I used to get DH to put food on the lower shelves of the ridge for me... I ate a lot of sandwiches! Or heated up soup in the microwave, office chair is great because I could move between the kitchen/sitting room toilet without too much effort. Do you have a downstairs toilet?

You poor thing, it's very frustrating, isn't it? Re socks, get somebody else to put them on for you. I had a sock putter on thing, (technical term) but they're such a faff. The best thing I had was a wheely office chair, you could borrow one or go ask on freecycle. I used to get DH to put food on the lower shelves of the ridge for me... I ate a lot of sandwiches! Or heated up soup in the microwave, office chair is great because I could move between the kitchen/sitting room toilet without too much effort. Do you have a downstairs toilet?

You poor thing. I can't answer your questions as I've broken a foot , which meant I could bend my knee. hopefully someone else will be along soon. Try not to worry.

The thing which helped me the most was a lage dolls pram/carry cot. It meant I could put things in it, drinks, food etc and move it from room to room. Failing that you could use a trolly on wheels type thing. Anything with wheels would work so you can move things around.

Fucker the chair is a great idea! Wish I'd thought of that. I spent six weeks hopping everywhere!

Re. Stairs, are you shuffling up on your bum? Continue to shuffle backwards on the landing and turn around and haul yourself up using the bannister if you can, or get someone to place a chair at the top of the stairs for you to pull tourself up with. Don't worry, you might have a few sticky moments, but you'll get the hang of it after a few days.

Sorry to hear this - do you have good drugs?

I had a bad break some years ago and was in a cast on leg and arm for 8 weeks. To answer your questions:

Long socks - knee length - were easier to put on for me. But in you case I'd say trainer socks if your foot is uncovered.

Stairs - don't go up on your bum, use your crutches properly!

Falling over, scoot on your bum to nearest sofa/chair and pull yourself up (like a toddler!)

Cooking - hop! (but then, I lived on sandwiches as much easier) for the next few weeks ready meals are your friend.

I found a bath with leg and arm hanging out much easier than a shower. Used to cover my casts in cling flim just in case.

Good luck!

Oh thank you for the replies!

I just can't get upstairs with my crutches at the moment, I am very short and I don't think that helps, each stair is a very big hop
I will definitely get dh to put a chair at the top of the stairs, good idea.
DS put my socks on for me this morning! Bizarrely it was socks that caused my wig out in the night. I had gone to bed with socks on because my feet were cold, woke up in the night with boiling feet and couldn't get them off! Woke dh up managed two mins of sensible conversation about trying to get to loo then just wailed 'but..but...my feet are hot and I can't even get my socks off'

I might try the office chair, good idea! My shoulders are a bit sore today from the crutches.

No good drugs yet, dagnamit, (slightly hampered by not being able to take anti-inflammatories because of a stomach problem) - dh is going to speak to pharmacist today and see what they advise.

My partner broke his knee (ouch) a few years ago - he used something called soxon to put his socks on - it would have been quicker for me to do it, but he insisted on doing it himself. www.helpinghand.co.uk/products/product.asp?pid=56&id=

no advice but loads of sympathy.

Long handled bag to hang around your neck to carry things from room to room.
Tall stool to eat at work top if you can't get food to table.

Good luck

How are you getting on? I'd bet you're used to it by now:)

Re the stairs - I'm a shortarse too, it just didn't work for me!

I can get dressed now (still apart from socks) and getting up and down stairs is getting better (on bottom!)

I have some good drugs now (prescription strength co-codamol) which are great for pain relief but horrible side effects (itchy face, dry mouth, totally spaced out). I tried today with just paracetamol but my leg was too sore by the afternoon

I have to confess to feeling a bit sorry for myself today. I am going to fracture clinic tomorrow and think it is likely they are going to want to change my splint for a full cast which is a scary thought. I am surprised at how overwhelming and stressful this whole situation is. Sure it will get better though as I get into more routines

Thanks for checking on me

Glad you are getting on a bit better. Ugh I've had that itchy thing before with good drugs, it's a bit rubbish isn't it?

Hurray for arsing up and down stairs :)

Why do they want to put a cast on you now? I suppose it might lessen the fear of donking your leg on things though, but it's really awkward isn't it? Oh well best of luck for tomorrow, update me with how it all goes:)

Glad you are getting on a bit better. Ugh I've had that itchy thing before with good drugs, it's a bit rubbish isn't it?

Hurray for arsing up and down stairs :)

It is scary though, isn't it? I suppose it makes you realise how vulnerable you are and how you have to depend on others for things. The being stuck in the house a lot doesn't help either.

Why do they want to put a cast on you now? I suppose it might lessen the fear of donking your leg on things though, but it's really awkward isn't it? Oh well best of luck for tomorrow, update me with how it all goes:)

Will do. Not sure why cast now but reading a lot about this type of fracture and talking to friend who is a doctor it seems to be common practice but maybe I'll be lucky!

'arsing up and down stairs' love it!

Any idea what they will do at fracture clinic tomorrow or any sensible questions I should ask? I haven't broken anything before (thank goodness).

I had that very thing 3 years ago so maybe I could help :) I had a cast from ankle to thigh for several weeks[4 I think] then a cricket splint thing for 3 more.
I used a seat in the shower-kept pressure low and had leg in a bin bag resting on a chair ouside the shower.I didnt bother with socks at all even though it was winter.I used a zimmer with a tray to get around the house.
I am lucky because we live in a bungalow and my dh did all the cooking.I found the zimmer easier than the cruthes-we hired one with two little wheels and a tray which was very handy.I also used one of those extending grabber thingies.
I did mine trying to hop on a trampoline-never a good idea at 65 :)

I don't know much about the medical side of it, I'm in Ireland and the service here isn't as good as the NHS I'm afraid! Nor did I pay much attention to anything said at the time, it happened 6 years ago when I was 21:)

Hi grey lady! Did you have to have your leg pinned? So far they think I don't need that doing which is great so I am probably running along a similar timetable to you if you didn't either. How did you find the cast in comparison to the cricket pad splint? Also, how mobile were you once the cast came off, what sort of time frame was it when you could walk normally again?

I'm getting better on my crutches but find the difficulty carrying things frustrating. I've been using barbeque tongs as a make shift grabber. I managed to pick up the post this morning

I have a type of arthritis that means that I often can't bend down to reach my feet.

Buy some loose top socks (the type suitable for diabetic feet) as they are easier to get on/off. I'd recommend a long handled grabber and long handled shoe horn to help you reach your feet.

Tbh the sock thing isn't too bad as it turns out dd is a whizz at putting them on my bad leg (I can do the other one) - it's the picking stuff up from the floor that is annoying, my tongs seem to be ok for now but I may invest in the grabber if they don't do the job properly.

No I didnt have mine pinned either thank goodness.I had the cast before the splint which is the usual way I was told so I found the splint better-much lighter and you could take it off for short periods to wash etc.The cast was very heavy and kept slipping so I had it redone twice!Once the splint came off it took a few weeks[cant remember how many] to get full mobility back.
I wasnt referred to physio which I thought was bad.I got some exercises fro the physio dept and some from a friend who had a knee replacement and they really helped-pm me if you want them but it wont be till you lose the cast.I had to use a walking stick for a while too but am absolutely fine now-full strength and mobility-mind it was 3 years ago now!

How'd the clinic go? Didn't realise you had a DD, how old is she?

I used an apron with a big pocket at the front to carry stuff around in - I looked like my granny, but it was great to have phone, book, pills etc with me all the time..

Huge sympathy, it is not fun is it. Hope the clinic went ok?

I broke my ankle and was non weight bearing for 13 weeks (pinned) and another 2 non weight bearing weeks after the pin was out.
Re:carrying things the best thing I had was a small rucksack. My 2 small dd's got very good at fetching and carrying and following instruction!!

DH used to make me & dd2 a packed lunch and me a flask of coffee (he was a real saint!)

I have two dc, one DS 7yrs and dd is 9yrs (know I am instantly recognisable in RL from the leg and dc ages now but that is why I name changed before I first posted about leg!) They have become my minions and are being really helpful which is fab Dh is being a total rock as well, doing all the cooking etc.

Clinic was fine yesterday. I don't have a cast (hooray!) - I've got a metal leg brace with a moveable knee bit (at the moment I can move 40 degrees...Oooh get me!) which I have to wear all the time - including in bed. I can take it off and put the cricket pad splint on for showering and then just let it dry out afterwards which is great.
I've got to have the brace on for at least 8 weeks and no weight bearing which is double what we were told it might be by the idiot (and arrogant) doctor in A and E which was a bit of a gutter to say the least

I've managed to do a couple of useful things, folded some washing, did a bit of ironing, made a birthday cake (with friend as sous chef!) but it is really frustrating not being able to do stuff around the house. I'm not missing all the cooking though