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Tips for making life easier
17 Answers
Hi guys, 7 days ago I slipped on some ice and broke my ankle in 4 places and now have pins and plates holding it together. I am not allowed to bear weight on it and have only a pair of crutches to help me around. I am having a really hard time trying to do things like shower (no bath, luckily bathroom/toilet is downstairs), brush teeth or wash my face etc... alone. My brilliant better half helps me all he can whilst he is here but he works all day. So anyone been there done that who can give me some excellent useful tips on how to ease my six week hell of not being able to use my leg?
TIA
TIA
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Put chairs or stools in strategic places ie by bathroom sink, near surface where the kettle is
Its a real nightmare isn't it. You dont realise how diffult it can be. At times I found it easier to get around on my backside.
If you could borrow a shoulder bag it helps for carrying things without getting in the way of your crutches.
How are you managing for meals? If you have a microwave heat meals in that and if you have a chair next to it it saves you struggling to carry hot food, definitely dangerous otherwise
Its a real nightmare isn't it. You dont realise how diffult it can be. At times I found it easier to get around on my backside.
If you could borrow a shoulder bag it helps for carrying things without getting in the way of your crutches.
How are you managing for meals? If you have a microwave heat meals in that and if you have a chair next to it it saves you struggling to carry hot food, definitely dangerous otherwise
Well today is my first day home after a week in hospital. Fella left laptop next to sofa with a flask of hot soup with bowl and bread - plus a flask with cold drink in. Which has proven very helpfull today I am more worried about attempting to shower with only one leg to stand on, have decided to wait for him to come home just in case I crack my head open. Its just ridiculous, you honestly dont realise how much you rely on being able.
I know exactly how you feel x
I broke my elbow a few weeks back, you wouldn't believe how difficult it is to function with only one arm! I am almost healed now but at the time I couldn't do the simplest things. I could only cook stuff that went into the oven on a baking tray, couldn't turn over in bed, couldn't open my front door (it has 2 locks that you open at the same time), couldn't wash my hair etc etc
It's a nightmare and you don't realise how much you need ALL your limbs until you can't use one!
I broke my elbow a few weeks back, you wouldn't believe how difficult it is to function with only one arm! I am almost healed now but at the time I couldn't do the simplest things. I could only cook stuff that went into the oven on a baking tray, couldn't turn over in bed, couldn't open my front door (it has 2 locks that you open at the same time), couldn't wash my hair etc etc
It's a nightmare and you don't realise how much you need ALL your limbs until you can't use one!
Good grief, you poor bu88er :-(
I know what it's like to break a limb too, I broke my wrist last summer an found the 10 weeks I was in a plastercast to be an utter nightmare. I can't imagine how much worse an out of action leg is as apposed to an arm.
Can I ask you a daft question? Did you, like me, naively believe that once they reset your limb and popped it in a cast that the pain would magically disappear?
I know what it's like to break a limb too, I broke my wrist last summer an found the 10 weeks I was in a plastercast to be an utter nightmare. I can't imagine how much worse an out of action leg is as apposed to an arm.
Can I ask you a daft question? Did you, like me, naively believe that once they reset your limb and popped it in a cast that the pain would magically disappear?
Have a word with your local Red Cross and see if there's anything they could hire to you for a few weeks that would make your life a little easier - maybe a lightweight wheelchair, a shower chair or just a few small washing aids (although you might have to buy the latter). They usually have qualified Occupational Therapists on their staff who can advise, or at the very least, properly trained assistants.
Agree with Sexy Jag. The Red Cross are brilliant!
I phoned for help for my mother and they arrived the very same day with the equipment she needed.
Please, please don't attempt to shower whilst you are on your own!
I do feel sorry for you. Having been rather accident prone, I know just how awful you feel. (I have broken two toes, bones in my foot, my elbow and my wrist - fortunately not at the same time).
Best Wishes to you.
I phoned for help for my mother and they arrived the very same day with the equipment she needed.
Please, please don't attempt to shower whilst you are on your own!
I do feel sorry for you. Having been rather accident prone, I know just how awful you feel. (I have broken two toes, bones in my foot, my elbow and my wrist - fortunately not at the same time).
Best Wishes to you.
Thanks guys for all your suggestions. I think the biggest shock was the pain after the operation and the size of the scars - why does no one prepare you for that stuff. Im only 25 and a girl you would expect someone to warn you that your going to have a 4/5 inch scar on the outside of your leg and a 2/3 inch scar on the inside. It was a bit of shock seeing the size of it all. But after 2 days at home I have managed to get a shower - garden chair in the shower, with help from the B/F. I guess you learn to not use it.
The scars may look horrific to you now Greedfly, but be assured they will fade and probably be barely noticeable to anybody else - and you can conceal them quite well.
Good luck, I hope everything goes well for you.
My neighbour had her whole leg in a cage with pins through the bones which attached her leg to the cage. It seemed horrific at the time, but she is bouncing around now as if nothing had happened - and she is in her late 60's.
Good luck, I hope everything goes well for you.
My neighbour had her whole leg in a cage with pins through the bones which attached her leg to the cage. It seemed horrific at the time, but she is bouncing around now as if nothing had happened - and she is in her late 60's.
The Redcross is a good suggestion Greedyfly. We borrowed one (for a donation) and this enabled me to get out. Mr R got quite expert in pushing me around Tesco's lol.
The scars fade so don't worry too much about them.
Are you in plaster still? If you are you can get a cover for it for when you shower, there may be information about it in the Fracture Clinic.
It does get easier to get around after a while, it just takes practice
The swivel chair on castors was a godsend in the kitchen
The scars fade so don't worry too much about them.
Are you in plaster still? If you are you can get a cover for it for when you shower, there may be information about it in the Fracture Clinic.
It does get easier to get around after a while, it just takes practice
The swivel chair on castors was a godsend in the kitchen
I have only just seen this post so I'm sorry if I'm a bit late with the suggestions.
My husband broke his ankle and was not allowed to weight bear for six weeks. However, the hospital lent him a perching stool for sitting in front of the basin, a shower stool which helped enormously and I bought a waterproof leg cover for about �15, which may seem rather excessive for just six weeks but he has had a problem with the wound site and has had to keep the area dry for the best part of a year now, so the waterproof leg has had good use.
He was also loaned a toilet frame and seat to raise the toilet to make it easier for him to use and a wheelchair for outings.
Getting up and down stairs was a problem, but he managed it on his bottom and we put a grab rail at the top to help him get to his feet.
Good luck with the healing, it is no fun being so imobile.
My husband broke his ankle and was not allowed to weight bear for six weeks. However, the hospital lent him a perching stool for sitting in front of the basin, a shower stool which helped enormously and I bought a waterproof leg cover for about �15, which may seem rather excessive for just six weeks but he has had a problem with the wound site and has had to keep the area dry for the best part of a year now, so the waterproof leg has had good use.
He was also loaned a toilet frame and seat to raise the toilet to make it easier for him to use and a wheelchair for outings.
Getting up and down stairs was a problem, but he managed it on his bottom and we put a grab rail at the top to help him get to his feet.
Good luck with the healing, it is no fun being so imobile.
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