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SN children

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

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Original poster

Dyspraxia and on crutches - what a combo

12 replies

auntevil · 24/04/2011 19:13

DS1 broke his ankle on the trampoline today. He has wayward arms and is finding the logical process of using crutches very difficult.
I must admit to watching in amazement at where the crutches are being flung around
On a serious note, what are the rules for getting them back to school? He is MS with a disability base - no stairs - wide corridors that can accommodate frames etc.
Sorry if i have to bolt for the moment, but i have the in laws staying plus a birthday party today for DS2. But any advice on school and crutches and whether his random ability to use them will hinder his return, would be very welcome.

OP posts:

EllenJane1 · 24/04/2011 19:21

Bloody hell Auntevil. No idea but lots of sympathy.

TheNinjaGooseIsOnAMission · 24/04/2011 19:43

are you due back to the fracture clinic this week? They're the people to ask, it'll probably depend on what exactly he's done, although it gets manic up there, take a book one of the girls in ds1s class broke her ankle last year and managed fine on crutches for the duration, a boy the year below borrowed a wheelchair that he took into school for ocassional use. Can you email school at all, can't see that they couldn't manage though with their set up Hope he's not getting too itchy!

Ineedalife · 24/04/2011 20:15

My worst nightmare auntevil... Dd3 twisted her knee the other day on the tramp and I thought she has done something serious.

Trampolines are brilliant but they are dangerous aren't they.

If your Ds is not in pain and gets used to the crutches he should be ok in school a dyspraxic boy in year 5 at Dd3's old school who broke his foot managed quite well on crutches with the help of some very tolerant friends.

Hope everything heals ok and he is back on his feet soon.

Marne · 24/04/2011 20:52

Your poor ds , i know theres no way my dd1 (AS and possable dyspraxia) could cope with crutches. I broke my ankle when i was 10 and it took me a few weeks to get the hang of using crutches, i used to go up and down stairs on my bum , i'm sure he will get lots of help at school from staff and friends.

Original poster

auntevil · 25/04/2011 09:14

I must admit to the fun i'm having watching him try to organise his crutches. This is a lad that can't hold a knife and fork and they've given him 2 huge big metal crutches .
As there's no-one at school at the moment, i'm just going to take him in as if nothing has happened. Then i will take a note to the office just to let them know what happened, then i will run home - very quickly!
It's going to be hard enough with him on crutches (i don't drive) without him being at home as well - specially after just having had 2 weeks off [exhausted emoticon]

OP posts:

EllenJane1 · 25/04/2011 12:34

Are you sure your real name isn't mummyevil? [bugrin]

Though if you don't drive, you're going to need a wheelchair to get him to school. Will the hospital lend you one?

moosemama · 25/04/2011 12:56

Oh your poor ds - I did my ankle last June (managed to break a bone and snap a tendon ) and was in a cast for 9 ish weeks right through the summer! Is he in plaster or an Aircast?

I was doing the school run twice a day with my leg in a cast up to the knee, one crutch and a pushchair! It took me a couple of weeks to get into a good rhythm with the damned things though and I'm not dyspraxic. To be honest it was bloody hard work. Using crutches is exhausting even if you're fit and well co-ordinated. Its not as noticeable around the house, as its just a few hops from room to room, but longer stretches are really tiring - the crutches hurt your hands, your arms ache and hurt from where the crutches go around your upper arm and you get back and hip ache from compensating for the weight of the cast.

I've noticed when children at ds's school have crutches they get a designated 'buddy' to carry their bag/books etc everywhere for them - so it might be an idea to ask if that's a possibility.

I think I'd be inclined to keep him off for a few days until he gets the hang of it and builds up his arm muscles a bit.

I second Ninja's advice about the fracture clinic as well, you're always there for hours. No sooner had I had my last appointment, dd decided to break her wrist and we were back and forth endlessly with her taking her flipping cast off and having to have her break reassessed and a new cast fitted. I got quite adept at packing a 'fracture clinic bag' by the end of it all. You definitey need to take a bottle of water and plenty of snacks or even sandwiches (depending on your appointment time) for yourself and ds, something for you to read, something for ds to read (or even better a games console to play with) I also took a pad for playing hangman and noughts and crosses - oh and change for the parking machine. The worst ever appointment took a staggering four and half hours!

Poor ds. Hope it heals nice and quickly for him.

Original poster

auntevil · 25/04/2011 18:34

Good idea about the school buddy, moosemama. He has a best friend that he does like to boss a bit. He's milking it already, i don't want him too abuse a buddy too much Thankfully he's in year 3 and most of the work is done in the class. I don't think he'll be needing his wobble cushion for a while though!
School is a 5 minute walk, so he will be walking (hopping ) I will be allowing plenty of extra time as he is incredibly slow. He will also want to stop and tell everyone what happened - whether they've ever met him before or not.
EllenJane - it was only noticed how evil i really was when i became an aunt But if you ever see me name change..........

OP posts:

moosemama · 25/04/2011 18:48

I remember when I broke my foot at secondary school (did a backflip on the beam in PE and missed ). I loved all the attention - people carrying my bags for me, being allowed to sit inside at playtimes with a friend of my choice and getting a chair so I could watch the others do PE etc.

Funny the things that make you feel special when you're a child.

No such luck when I did it last year - it was more a case of - get on with it woman - a broken ankle is no excuse for slacking.

TheNinjaGooseIsOnAMission · 25/04/2011 19:06

moose, a back flip on the beam!!!! seriously impressive, I could barely walk along it [too tall and lacking anything approaching coordination] The kid on crutches was always the popular one when I was at school too Hope you're feeling better.

aunt, are you allowing about an hour for the hobble down to school then, it's one busy road that one

moosemama · 25/04/2011 19:14

I was very, er ... bendy as a child. I now think this has a lot to do with being hypermobile, but nobody realising it at the time. School wanted me to do gymnastics and represent them/the county or summat - Mum was very anti and stopped me doing it though, as apparently she'd heard it stunts girls' growth. Actually, breaking my foot did a lot to put me off it as well, funnily enough.

I am the only member of my entire family who has ever been any good at sport and I gave it up for a life of sofa loafing, chocolate and obesity years ago.

Minx179 · 26/04/2011 16:02

I'd suggest getting some pipe lagging to tape over the handles. It will soften the pressure on his hands a bit.

Best of luck

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