Cast & crutches. Aghhhhh!

[peonyinparadise]

Fractured my foot. Plaster cast & no weight on it for 8 weeks. I'm a mess with the crutches, cannot figure them out, hopping around like a pirate & cursing like one too. Any tips on how to get through this? First break in 50 years, zero idea of what I'm doing How do I keep it elevated at work in a pokey office? Tell me how to get through the next 8 weeks please!

This was me a year ago, fractured ankle, non-weight bearing for 8 weeks too. no walking cast for me. Crutches were an absolute bastard and I didn't have any actual trouble coordinating them. I padded them out with pipe lagging to help stop the sore hands and arms and that made some impact.

Take small steps, don't over reach with the crutches, use a cross-body bag to carry stuff around with you if you can. Go upstairs on your bottom, it's hard but easier than hopping while falling backwards.

I had a toddler to chase at the same time. He ran rings around me. It wasn't pretty.

You mean they didn't sign you off work?

Sorry to hear this! I had my wrist put in plaster yesterday so I kind of know the feeling! Hope you are ok!!

You really need to be signed off work with crutches. They're not designed for having a normal life. They're for getting you from the sofa to the toilet to bed.
You need to keep your foot elevated for 99% of the time.
You cannot get the cast wet (what happens if it rains while you're going to or from work?)
What happens if the fire alarm goes off at work - who will be responsible for you?
What happens if you have an accident with your crutches on the way to or from work?
What happens if someone trips over your crutches at work?
How are you going to go to the toilet at work with crutches?
What happens if you slip over on a wet patch on the floor at work and break more bones? Crutches aren't slip proof.
Using crutches too much puts strain on your shoulders with weight they're not designed to carry - crutches should be used sparingly. What if a shoulder injury from using the crutches too much puts you back in hospital and you can't even use crutches to get around? You'll be immobilsed.
Did the physiotherapists at the hospital not go through with you how to use the crutches and what their limitations are before you got discharged?

Right.

1. Get some of these for the crutches. Saved my hands. www.amazon.co.uk/Oarsome-Crutch-Grips-Pair-Choose/dp/B00BJKKWIK?tag=mumsnetforum-21 Cannot remember what size - but check a few reviews and that will tell you.
2. Get a limbo so you can shower: www.amazon.co.uk/LimbO-Adult-Waterproof-Dressing-Protector/dp/B0056PQPKS/ref=sr_1_3?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1496604922&sr=1-3&keywords=limbo&tag=mumsnetforum-21
3. Get an over the shoulder bag so you can carry things from one room to another.
4. Once/if you can weight bear but still in plaster/withcrutches go up the stairs good leg first (hold the bannisters) And down on your bum Remember Up to heaven (good leg up) Down to hell (bad leg down) Until that point it was an on the bum job from what I remember.
5. Do Not Hop Whilst Carrying A Cup Of Tea. Just saying. It splashes yes I was fucking stupid
6. At your next appointment at the fracture clinic takes some babywipes with you so you can give your leg a good rub/clean. 7) Buy a knitting needle to scratch inside the cast - but carefully so you don't gouge your skin off

Good luck. Get cleaners in if you can. Live of other people's cooking or ready meals. Learn a new sitty-down hobby.

Good luck. Get cleaners in if you can. Live of other people's cooking or ready meals. Learn a new sitty-down hobby.

^This^

And don't go to work. Get signed off. You WILL have an accident and/or make your injury worse.

Southwest Thanks for the shopping list and for all the messages. So helpful, gotta love Mumsnet at times like this. Does the bag thing actually keep a cast dry? Am I looking a splash washes for the next 8 weeks?? I don't live in the UK, so work stuff is different here and have not been signed off yet. I honestly do not know how I'm going to manage the office with those f**ing crutches. I'm like a sweary baby giraffe with them. I have access to a good taxi service and if I got a temporary wheelchair, I'm wondering if the driver could help me in /out of office... what are your thoughts on a wheelchair. Good way to keep foot elevated & weight off?

Good way to keep foot elevated & weight off?
Keep your foot on another chair with cushions on it.

Limbos absolutely, totally work. Just get for the correct limb (ie leg and not arm, and not just half leg if cast above your knee for eg). They are recommended by the NHS (leaflets in Fracture clinic waiting rooms). I never had a leak. Find a small plastic stool to sit on though as showering onefooted v v difficult. And slippy.

I read this as "cats on crutches"

Sorry op get well soon!

I've had 3 ankle surgeries and struggle with crutches. For my last one I had a cast for 6 weeks. A walker with a fold down seat and 2 wheels, 2 feet is a good back up for crutches. You can put the knee of your bad leg on the seat and sort of hop that way - much easier than crutches. I do have crutches with ergonomic handles from mobility smart which are much better than NHS ones.

I agree you should be signed off though, work is too much and you won't be able to get comfortable. Ideally you eyed your foot higher than your heart at least some of the time - if you have your leg down too much it will swell in the cast and get very uncomfortable. Prop your leg up on lots of cushions, or up on the back of your sofa or lie on your bed with your leg up the wall. Hard to do that at work!

Ice may help if you have swelling - put an ice pack behind your knee, or if you have a big one you can put it over your cast and you'll feel it a bit.

Good luck!

Limbo 100% works, I bathed with mine and not a drop of water got in
When you stand up, stand on good leg and kneel on a stool/chair at suitable height with bad leg. Easier to balance if you're doing something like makeup or cleaning teeth

Update from fractured foot world 🙄 Bought an iwalk2, see photo, which is a big improvement on crutches. I still feel pretty ginger using it around the house & have not been outside with it yet. Best thing is my office chair. I scoot around backwards, lifting cast up & pushing with my good foot. Our house is on one level with tiled floors, so pretty easy to get around. It was an expensive chair & I've fallen in love with its greatness

www.mybrokenleg.com/tips.html

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