Crap. Have broken both lower limbs. Survival tips please.

[TellMeSomeGoodNewsPlease]

Have managed to simultaneously break left fibula and metatarsal in right foot.

Left leg is in below knee cast, strictly non weight bearing (hoping to keep it all in one place and avoid surgery).

Right foot is minimal weight bearing as comfort allows, although bearing my (admittedly too high) body weight through one broken foot is obviously bloody painful and feels a bit perilous. Was given one of those standard issue massive rocker bottom walking boots but that made it impossible to balance on crutches - I just toppled backwards. Can just about manage a short painful distance on a Zimmer (the glamour) but to be honest have been shuffling around on my bum most of the time.

DH is working from home (as am I) and has been a superstar but is unfortunately hellishly busy at the moment in a way that cannot be avoided - as well as doing absolutely everything else around the house/with the DC etc.

So what can I do to help myself here? I can fortunately throw a bit of money at it.

We already have a cleaner who says she can do a bit of ironing etc for us too. Already do online shop. DH is the main cook anyway and we will get deliveroo etc when he can’t face it. Children are in maximum childcare.

So far I have acquired:
A flatter soled/lower ortho boot which should help with balance/mobility once my right foot starts to heal up
A large refillable water bottle for me
A step to help me get on/off the loo
A limbo cover for showering
A thing to hang my phone round my neck as I shuffle about
A little hospital style table to go over the bed/sofa so I can work

Any other tips gratefully received.

Also any stories about how quickly my right foot might be balanceable-on as I feel like that might be the crucial turning point.

You poor thing.

If you can afford it, I would have a visiting physiotherapist three times a week to help with healing.

Good luck

Sorry to hear that. When Katie Price broke her ankles she bought/hired a mobility scooter so she could get out of the house. That might be a nice thing to do. Local babysitter/friend/family to take kids out for a fun day? Flask for hot drinks?

Not the same but when my DH had a hip Replacement he was given one of those grabber things for picking things up (search for Grabber Stick on Amazon), a long handled shoe horn which we still use (although you won't be putting shoes on for a bit!) and a built up loo seat.

A rucksack to carry things round in, a litter locker to pick things up from floor and good hot drink cup with secure lid.

Litter picker.

@NaturalBlondeYeahRight

Sorry to hear that. When Katie Price broke her ankles she bought/hired a mobility scooter so she could get out of the house. That might be a nice thing to do. Local babysitter/friend/family to take kids out for a fun day? Flask for hot drinks?

Can’t justify buying one (don’t have Katie Price money!) but hiring one is a good idea if the weather picks up a bit. Can imagine my small DC wanting to clamber on though . Unfortunately we live a long way from family but they have offered to come up and stay nearby in the near future to take the boys out. Friends are helping out with some drop offs/pick ups etc. People have been very kind!

@PricklesTheHedgehog

You poor thing.

If you can afford it, I would have a visiting physiotherapist three times a week to help with healing.

Good luck

Thank you. Will look into this later on - although tbh I’ve found NHS physios to be fine as long as you can put in some hard work yourself. I may change my mind if I’m still shuffling in a few months’ time.

Litter picker/grabber is a good one - thanks for the multiple suggestions! Will also get my thermos out of the cupboard

Wheelchair?

DH was on NHS physio and with Covid they let him go so he's had to find a private one. I would suggest when the NHS one discharges you, there is still the option to continue for a little longer with private physio

No helpful suggestions here...I just want to know how you did it!

Not sure a physio will be able to help much. The bones need to be immobilised in order to heal
Properly.

ill look into this later on - although tbh I’ve found NHS physios to be fine as long as you can put in some hard work yourself. I may change my mind if I’m still shuffling in a few months’ time.

I agree that NHS physio is perfectly adequate, but the frequency of visits will really help recovery. You will undoubtedly lose strength and flexibility during recovery (ankles, across the top and bottom of the feet, calf muscles and achilles, knee, ham and glutes all likely to suffer from lack of movement in some way) and having 3 visits will bring your progress along exponentially. You may also find that as you recover you find the rest of the morning/ day easier to get on with if you've had physio in the morning, rather than trying to do it yourself straight from getting out of bed. Good luck!

All good points re physio. Will be right onto this once I’m out of plaster.

Wheelchair, self propelled kind, you can hire them, so you can go out occasionally. Pyschogically important
Ramps in house where there are steps.
Bed on ground floor
Washing with a basin and flannel
DS broke his upper femur and was non weight bearing for two months
A visiting private physio/massage was incredibly helpful to get circulation going properly and prevent muscle wastage, he healed much faster as a result

Have you been offered an OT referral? They are the experts in this kind of thing. I'm not sure if it would be via your GP. Could your house be arranged to accommodate a wheelchair?

@ProperVexed

No helpful suggestions here...I just want to know how you did it!

It was a pretty innocuous fall - a step that was higher than I thought so I caught the front of my sandal and rolled my foot over the wrong way. Was carrying a toddler so couldn’t break my fall properly. Thought I’d just sprained the right foot but apparently I don’t do things by halves.

Hire a wheelchair if you can to manoeuvre a bit easier. I had a op on my foot years ago and couldn't put any weight on it due to the angle of the cast plus I had an 18mth old to look after. I had a tray that I could pop on my lap so I could bring through lunch and anything else I needed. Hope you have a swift recovery

I'm recovering from a badly broken leg and ankle ,my GP referred me to the NHS community hub and I received an assessment visit from an occupational therapist. Following this I was provided with aids such as perching stool, chair and toilet risers a step for the door and bathroom aids. I also had several follow up visits and six at home sessions with a physiotherapist Not sure if I just got lucky or if it is standard but maybe worth asking your surgery. I also asked on my local community page and someone kindly loaned me a wheelchair ,several others offered too .

@helpfulperson

Have you been offered an OT referral? They are the experts in this kind of thing. I'm not sure if it would be via your GP. Could your house be arranged to accommodate a wheelchair?

Had a chat with two nice OT people while in A&E who got me up and going with the Zimmer and talked about toilet access etc. My house has a few threshold steps to e.g. the kitchen so I thought a wheelchair was OTT for the space it would actually give me access to. Also I can technically weightbear a bit on the right foot and everyone seemed very keen to get me moving around independently. Wonder if I dismissed the wheels too quickly though. Certainly for outside the house. Can only Zimmer slowly and painfully!

I can get up and down the stairs on my bum and pushing with the heel of my right foot. Sleeping in my own bed with my DH is psychologically important!

But maybe a wheelchair and ramp to the kitchen is worth it even if for a few weeks.

Can’t shake the feeling that I’m being a bit of a wuss about my metatarsal, which is technically weight bearing. But it’s so hard to mobilise on that foot alone, it’s still so painful and wobbly.

When I broke my ankle, I found I couldn't balance on crutches, so I ordered a stool with wheels similar to this - www.amazon.co.uk/Dawoo-Hydraulic-Rotating-Massage-Leather/dp/B07SZ7MPFC/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=wheeled+stool&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1629366511&sr=8-6
It meant I could scoot around the house but would only work with flat floors.

For in the house, a wheely office chair is great for moving around downstairs, and easier to get through doorways than a wheelchair. If theres room to have one in the kitchen then you could do food prep from it, and sort washing/dishwasher
A thermal cup like a Contigo so you can make a hot drink and move it without scalding yourself
A lap tray to put your laptop/food on
A grabber to pick things up off the floor, would also let you put things in the washing machine/ get them out

Rather than ironing, I'd ask the cleaner to change the beds and put bed sheets on to wash and if she could do another visit in the week to top kitchen/bathroom up and change half the beds then