Observations after breaking a leg

850 Views 43 Replies 19 Participants Last post by Danaus29, 6 d ago

Alice In TX/MO

Discussion Starter · 8 d ago

It has been ten days since I broke the small bone in my right leg, and this is quite the learning curve journey.

Here are a few things that I have learned:

1. Do not break your leg for the first time at age 68.
2. EVERYTHING else hurts while adjusting to the changes in how you move, hop, slide, pull yourself into the truck, etc.
3. Get one of those long handle grabber things. I call them Granny Grabbers. I just googled that name and discovered that they come in different lengths, mechanism designs, and colors. Who knew?!?
4. Stock up on pain meds before you break your leg. They don't hand out good drugs anymore. (somewhat joking)
5. Befriend your mail delivery person. He will bring your mail to the house.
6. If you have a Roomba floor cleaner, it will reduce the stress of stuff, dust, particles, etc. accumulating on the floor.
7. Pick up bath mats, throw rugs, etc. They catch your crutch tips, knee scooter wheels, and walker wheels.
8. Friends brought crutches, a knee scooter, two walkers with a seat, and an electric mobility scooter. Learn which works where.
9. Step down with the non-broken leg first when going down steps on crutches. (I only use one going down stairs. The other hand is on the railing.)
10. More later!

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Alice In TX/MO

Discussion Starter · #2 · 8 d ago

10. Make sure your seat equipped walker has brakes. Use them when sitting down and any other time that you need to be SURE it doesn't roll.
11. You can use a walker with a seat as a single foot propelled scooter. It also works backwards with you sitting on the seat, but it's difficult to steer.
12. Stock up on easy to fix meals. You don't want to be standing in the kitchen much.
13. I wish that I hadn't been truthful with the doctor about my willingness to take a splint off as necessary when I wanted to shower. That's why she put me in a cast.
14. They make plastic and silicone leg cast covers so that you can shower.
15. A friend loaned me a shower chair. I now officially feel OLD.
16. Shop at local feed stores, etc. to establish relationships before you break a bone. They are happy to load my hay bales. A neighbor unloads them into the feed room.

Reactions: 5

robin416

· #3 · 8 d ago

No doubt there will be more. And there they are.

I laughed out loud at 13. Sometimes full honesty gets us in trouble.

Reactions: 2

Alice In TX/MO

Discussion Starter · #4 · 8 d ago

17. Your knee roller or walker needs pockets, a basket, a cup holder, and a couple of hooks to hang things on. Perhaps even a plate/bowl sized shelf for navigating supper from the kitchen to the table or living room chair.
18. Elevate your leg more than you think necessary.

Reactions: 5

hiddensprings

· #5 · 8 d ago

You've gotten quite the education and thanks for sharing your insight. It does help to prepare for something happening in the future. I broke my right wrist a few years ago and it was amazing what simple task I had such difficulty with. For example: putting my hair in a ponytail, using my left hand to put the car in gear, I didn't even try to carry bags of feed. I did stand 5 cords of firewood...took me a good deal of time.

I hope you are doing well. I've been thinking about you!

Reactions: 4

Redlands Okie

· #6 · 8 d ago

It’s good to hear that your managing to get through the situation. Seems to be quite a list of good ideas. Hope things get a little easier for you.

Thankfully it does not seem to have affected your typing ability

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painterswife

· #7 · 8 d ago

Get a shower boot cover. Just being able to shower properly is the best medicine to feeling better.

Reactions: 4

painterswife

· #8 · 8 d ago

When you do get the cast off, get a good soft brush to use to take off the dead skin.

Also do that first soak and brushing when you are alone. Hubby could not believe the sounds I was making because yes, it was that good.

Reactions: 5

Alice In TX/MO

Discussion Starter · #9 · 8 d ago

LOL at painterswife. I have that to look forward to.

The long plastic leg cover with a silicone seal came yesterday, and I just got out of the shower. YES YES YES
A good shower is a miracle of modern society.

I think the next thing is one of those suction-cup-to-the-wall safety bars. Dangit.

The plants that I purchased just before the break were planted on Sunday by the Oblivious Dude. Yesterday, I texted asking him to water them this morning. He texted back at 6:38 am asking to do it in the afternoon. At 4:00 pm, I hadn't heard anything or seen him. I went out with the seated walker and got two hoses set up on timers with sprinklers. I didn't fall, but had one close call. Then, I texted him that the watering project was done and not to come by my house. ALL of the plants that survive will have to be replanted after I'm out of the cast.

Reactions: 5

ladytoysdream

· #10 · 8 d ago

Hope you feel better soon.
Make sure you eat good food. It helps you heal faster.

Reactions: 1

Alice In TX/MO

Discussion Starter · #11 · 8 d ago

I have been eating primarily meat, eggs, goat cheese, nut, and vegetables.

I am making various herbal teas that I hope help.

Reactions: 5

wr

· #12 · 8 d ago

I found a laundry basket (with a bit of twine tied to it) to be extremely useful, which I used to drag groceries, folded laundry or food from fridge or cupboards to the counter for food prep. It saved steps when I was on crutches for several months.

My other favorite was an office chair in the kitchen. I could scoot from fridge, sink, counters and stove and the height is adjustable.

I really hope you mend quickly because it's awful when an active person finds themselves somewhat dependent on others.

Reactions: 5

Ruralman

· #13 · 8 d ago

Do what the doc tells ya and don't overstress...Luck...

Reactions: 3

nchobbyfarm

· #14 · 8 d ago

@Alice In TX/MO

I hope you heal quickly.

2 gallon buckets with a 1/8th inch hole drilled as close to the bottom as possible works great for new plants. Set a bucket at each plant and just fill the bucket daily/every other day whatever needed for watering.

Heartbroken

· #15 · 8 d ago

Definite yes on the office chair in the kitchen! I was able to do dishes and cook when my leg was in a cast. Also discovered that laying on the sofa with the knee bent and the cast up on the back of the sofa was the most comfortable way to elevate it.
Also to learn before the break - driving with the other foot. Took a bit to rewire my brain to hit the gas and brake with the left foot while my right was encased in plaster.
Hope you heal quickly!

Reactions: 3

househunter

· #16 · 8 d ago

Alice In TX/MO said:
10. Make sure your seat equipped walker has brakes. Use them when sitting down and any other time that you need to be SURE it doesn't roll.
11. You can use a walker with a seat as a single foot propelled scooter. It also works backwards with you sitting on the seat, but it's difficult to steer.
12. Stock up on easy to fix meals. You don't want to be standing in the kitchen much.
13. I wish that I hadn't been truthful with the doctor about my willingness to take a splint off as necessary when I wanted to shower. That's why she put me in a cast.
14. They make plastic and silicone leg cast covers so that you can shower.
15. A friend loaned me a shower chair. I now officially feel OLD.
16. Shop at local feed stores, etc. to establish relationships before you break a bone. They are happy to load my hay bales. A neighbor unloads them into the feed room.

Done and done. I am offically where you are but mine is from sciaticia. Keep plugging away.

Reactions: 4

Danaus29

· #17 · 8 d ago

Alice In TX/MO said:
15. A friend loaned me a shower chair. I now officially feel OLD.

Ha! I've had a chair in the shower going on 6 years now. Hubby sure appreciated it after his knee replacement.

The rest are excellent tips. I was fortunate enough to not have a cast on my foot but I wasn't supposed to put any weight on it.

One tip I have is if you are going to use your good plastic gardening stool as a shower chair, make sure there are no monstrously huge spiders hiding in the cracks! I found out it had one when the spider started crawling up my leg! I was in the shower at the time.

I have a bar stool in the kitchen. Hubby had it made for me years ago when I was injured in a bad car accident. It is the right height and has a good foot rest about 18" off the floor.

One thing I learned is that you can grow an awful lot of food in pots in a little front yard. Since our back yard is a kinda steep hill, I was forbidden to go in the back yard without an escort.

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Danaus29

· #18 · 8 d ago

2

More flowers for you @Alice In TX/MO.

See less See more

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robin416

· #19 · 8 d ago

Danaus29 said:
One tip I have is if you are going to use your good plastic gardening stool as a shower chair, make sure there are no monstrously huge spiders hiding in the cracks! I found out it had one when the spider started crawling up my leg! I was in the shower at the time.

This ⬆⬆⬆⬆😱😱😱

Danaus29

· #20 · 7 d ago

Did I mention that I am terrified of monstrously huge spiders crawling up my naked leg while I am in the shower? I am afraid of spiders anyway and have been working on trying to get over my fear. That one set me back 20 years.

Reactions: 4

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