Broke my wrist, struggling!

Liz3yy

I broke my right wrist on Friday, I'm right handed, and am already struggling. Does anyone have any tips on keeping clean, tidy and generally in good spirits?

ellielovesem

You poor thing! I have a small tip related to having a shower.

Get yourself one of those long bags that rolls of wrapping paper come in along with an elastic band. You can secure that on and it keeps the plaster nice and dry.

Can't think of anything else at the moment, it was a few years ago when I broke mine!

Desperate_Housewife_2-2

Could you get the hospital to change it to a scotchflex plaster if it is a plaster of paris as it doesnt matter if you get them wet.

Plastic bag over the pot witll prevent it getting wet when you are getting washed.

Down to basics...keep plastic bags next to the toilet, put one over your pot before you wipe your btm, chuck it in the bin and wash you haands as best you can without getting the pot wet. Check your fingers to make sure there is no swelling and remove any rings, dont stick anything down the pot (esp knitting needles) if it gets itchy as you may do damage.

As for keeping up your spirits, keep to a routine and remember it will come off eventually. Try to be as independant as you can and look on the bright side..at least its only your arm and not your leg, spine etc...

Sorry to sound harsh. Thats all I can think of for now, I really hope you get better and have a nice xmas, it wont be long before its off so take care. ((hugs))

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

A thick bin liner over the arm up to the elbow is handy for showers. If your shower is rubbish, a jug of water tipped over your head is more effective at rinsing your hair.

A key ring is handy for doing up zips. Pull on clothes are much easier.

Johnsons baby wipes are good for gently cleaning between your fingers and your palm as well as the top of the cast.

If you itch DON'T GET A KNITTING NEEDLE OUT. Rinse your good hand and wrist under the cold tap to cool you down a bit and wipe your hands instead.

Don't use carrier bags - you'll assume 'it's only one bag' without realising that you can't get your keys out/hold your bus pass/open the front door. A shopping trolley is much better because it stands up by itself whilst you do that kind of thing.

Reduce your baggage to keys, phone and a small amount of cash in your left hand pockets. The grief I had trying to get stuff out of my pockets with the good arm on the opposite side....

Flat shoes are essential. Anything affecting the weight of your arm affects your balance. The last thing you need is a matching ankle.

Electric toothbrushes are a godsend.

Many things can be held in the crook of your elbow whilst you fumble to undo them with the other hand.

Pain doesn't have to be endured. Ask for help from your GP if you need it.

If your fingers go blue or you lose feeling in them SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE.


Plan your remobilising now - you could lose a lot of strength from it in 6 weeks, so you will need to build up movement and strength. And tools to help open jars and tins are a very good idea.


Chin up! This is a temporary inconvenience!


ETA: was typing as the last post came in - nice to see we agree on so much!

Savvy_Sue

I know the title is unpromising, but there are a few one-handed tips here.

See my signature: thankfully I've done in my left arm and I'm right-handed. and the left hand is still functioning, just close to my chest (literally!)

A friend who had a fairly catastrophic wrist break last year said she struggled to get toothpaste onto the brush. we have a pump dispenser: I hold toothbrush in left hand and use pump in right, put pump down and swap brush to right hand.

she also couldn't pull loo paper off in sensible quantities without the roll escaping across the floor, so her friend tore off piles for her where she could reach them. a box of single sheets were no use either!

before I did this, she told me a hysterical story of getting 'dressed up' in smart trousers before going out for a meal. went to the loo (as you do) and realised she wasn't going to be able to zip herself up! had to ask a random stranger who came in for help. :rotfl: then, her group walked past this random stranger telling companion what had happened.

I can't dress top half without help, and big is beautiful! can manage bottom half, but have only attempted elasticated waists, no zips, although the keyring tip might help - but main problem on my cardigan is keeping the teeth together rather than pulling up IYSWIM.

I can reach my right armpit with my right hand, what I can't do is wash the left 'pit as well as I'd like. my thread about that is here. my deo wipes have not arrived yet, but no-one moved away from me at church this morning.

MIL gave me the most splendid pink backscrubber, no idea where it came from but it seems to be longer than most, and it has that sort of netting finish. so I can now shower: DH takes the arm out of the contraption and puts a cloth sling on to support the arm, assists me into the shower, washes my right arm, squeezes conditioner onto my hand and helps me out. but I can wash my hair and body one handed! thanks to the pump dispensers for shampoo and showergel mentioned in that first link.

finally, MILK IT! if someone offers help, accept! if they offer something you don't need, ask for what you do need! if you don't need help now but you do next week, say so!

we were 'fortunate' in that we were meant to be on leave for 2 weeks just after I did this. DH chose to work a few hours each day rather than his usual stupid hours, he'll get that back as leave next year. but he would get me dressed before going out and be back for lunch (mostly provided by friends!)

offers of food are drying up now but the boys are home from uni so they can cook and wash up! what I'll need when they go back is company, can't go out on my own in this weather!

Savvy_Sue

as for keeping in good spirits, btw, my own tips:

1. remember it WILL get better - and is getting better
2. TAKE THE PAINKILLERS: it's easier to nip a small pain in the bud than it is to tackle screaming agony so don't tough it out in the early days. if what you have isn't hitting the spot, see your GP, there will be others!
3. it could be worse - in my case I could have done in the other arm too / a leg as well (bruise on knee is still visible after 5 weeks!) / been on my own or outdoors / not been found / had some serious reason for the trip like a stroke and so on and so on ...
4. the NHS seems to respond to 'trauma' quite fast and well
5. the NHS is free!
6. it's obvious I'm injured so although I have to tell complete strangers that recycling can seriously damage your shoulder we can laugh about the idiocy of tripping over a box which has plenty of space to walk past
7. I'm slowly catching up on all the films and other programmes I've recorded over the last year ...
8. I've lost a stone, at least, by eating 3 meals a day at regular times and very few snacks. no, I couldn't recommend it as a weight loss method, and I did wonder if our scales had broken, but it seems not.
9. work now know what I do all day, because I'm not there to do it.
10. no washing up, no veg prep, no heavy shopping.

[Deleted User]

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

as for keeping in good spirits, btw, my own tips:

...I've lost a stone, at least...

Hello,

I sympathise as I am bedbound at the moment. I have ruptured my left calf muscle and even with crutches I can only just get to the bathroom. Doctors told me I would have been better to have broken my leg. I am going to be out of action at least until February and being looked after by my husband (who will also be cooking Xmas dinner ).

Funny thing is that I have also lost a stone in weight (in two weeks!) through being to ill to eat and loss of appetite. Not a very healthy way to do it though.

Get well soon.

Savvy_Sue

well, ouches all round!

anyway, a tip for Liz3zy from a good friend: moving food to your mouth with the injured arm is therapeutic exercise. domestic chores are dangerous over exertion!

my arm is now allowed out for exercises, but now the forearm hurts, as you'd expect when it's been bent for 5 weeks.

one boy has wrapped lots of presents for me. DH is doing boy presents now. not a lot in them this year: they all had big spends earlier in the year, but I know if I'd been out and about I'd have got them more bits. stockings are done: again not as much in them as usual. I have warned them that the lack of decorations does NOT set a precedent! :rotfl:

absolutebounder

Think of it as a great chance to learn to be ambidextrous.