Improvisation with a broken wrist

Ooh, a lady for whom I worked...
😉

A lady I worked for who had a paralysed arm due to a stroke used to wear a pinny, so she could put things in the pockets for moving them around.

If your arm is in a sling every couple of hours take it out and hold it if necessary to straighten it fully and bend fully. My friend was not given instructions after she had surgery and was discharged so she now has a fixed flexion deformity of that arm- she cannot fully bend or straighten it. I did not want to interfere because I did not know exactly what surgery she had.

That's brilliant, annodomini! I do very little ironing anyway, so that won't be a problem. At least my OH can help out with some things which involve carrying, it's just if he is out somewhere. It's things like cutting fingernails which you don't normally think .about, but he helped with a broken nail this morning which I couldn't manage 😅

When I'd had shoulder surgery, I improvised a pulley system from the landing with a large supermarket bag attached to strong cord, tied to the banister, which I lowered to the hall and pulled up when the clothes were ready to put away. I had a good excuse not to do much ironing.

Thank you, Granny 23 and Gwyllt. I wasn't actually given any instructions on doing physiotherapy exercises for the shoulders and fingers, so have now googled this and have started to get a bit more mobility in the arm. Found good instructions on NHS site. Appalling really that I wasn't told this on leaving A&E. Didn't feel like doing any on first day anyway! Thanks for all the tips.

Don’t be a martyr and try to do too much
I wish I had given myself that advice six years ago. Apart from rehabbing wrist i pulled my posture out of alignment and that took a long time to correct
Remember to do your finger exercises along with those for shoulder and elbow
Take care

I had a friend who was an amputee. After I broke my arm and later my wrist she gave me loads of helpful hints and tips. e.g. pull on bras, My favourite was the "How to open tight jars and cans by jamming them in the corner of a drawer, leaning against the drawer to keep them held, then using the good hand to unlock them.Same tactic for opening packets = jam them and cut open with scissors. Holding the top of a zip in my teeth while using the working hand to pull it up or down, avoiding small buttons by wearing elasticated waists and pull on tops,using a foot to hold down a dustpan while brushing into it.Using some sellotape to hold a small thing (eg hearing aid) in position while I changed the battery. I never mastered hanging out washing, so I used the tumble dryer or my trusty clothes horse. Hung my handbag or shopping on the door handle to push it down ready for locking.
Best to treat it as a bit of a game and give yourself credit for imaginative solutions.

Thanks silverlining and others for saying not to overdo it. I'm normally fit and active and would usually go to a keep fit class on a Monday, so if I have been sitting for an hour or so, I get really stiff and uncomfortable. I've only done really simple things, and have spent most of the day resting. My OH can cook simple stuff, so he will be doing that later. Unfortunately he relies a lot on me, particularly lately with his memory problems (awaiting a diagnosis). He'll have to do a bit more than normal. I'm quite happy to be lazy for as long as it takes to heal.

Why are you doing this, please don’t risk another accident.
If your partner won’t clean then leave it or get a cleaner in.
You are only two days post breaking it, you really need to rest.

Well, going back upstairs with the washed and dried clothes is not as easy. I dry them either on the line or the horse and then fold them into an IKEA bag and drag the bag up, step by step. My dear old friend about 84 at that time used to have a pulley contraption with a basket , on her very steep stairs. Super d.i.y. Invention.

Thankfully, I have not broken anything, but like someone upthread, I just throw the dirty clothes from the top of the stairs and then come down, gather the clothes and take it to the washing machine - simple !

If I broke my wrist I would probably get my cleaner to do a lot more than he currently does. For those without a cleaner it would appear to be a perfect excuse to leave housework for a few weeks. The place isnt going to fall down.

I live on my own and when my arm was in a plaster, I washed my hair by sticking my head under the kitchen mixer tap. There was plenty of room. I am fortunate- I write with my right hand but as my parents were both left-handed I learned to do a lot using each hand. I learned to knit using my left hand as my mother taught me.

I bought a stool for the shower and have used one ever since. I find it safer.

Clothes and towels all fitted around my neck when going upstairs.

Plastic jug next to sink you can fill with water and then use to fill a kettle, coffee maker or saucepan.
Folded damp cloth to put on work top and use to hold a bowl of cup still so you can mix or stir.
Those cloth bags with long handles are great for carrying things around the house and up and down stairs. They go on your shoulder and leave your one hand free. One at top and one at bottom of stairs so you can drop things in and take them with you when you go up or down.
Try to think of some more. It's a long time since I broke my wrist. I remember a nurse telling me how much easier children adapted to using one arm (which didn't really help)
Good luck

i assumed you lived alone.
why are you struggling with laundry if you have an OH.
was about to suggest throwing it down the stairs, and in future not taking it up there.
but OH can do it.
don't over-exert yourself.
there is no virtue in unnecessary suffering, or in taking further risk.
good luck.

I would agree with Silverlining, feet up and give your self a break! You need to mend.

Early days, watch out for swelling and don’t overdo things, at least for a week or two. Hope you heal soon.

I second the Limbo waterproof arm cover.
Comfrey oil too if you can access your poor wrist. Its common name is knitbone and it really helps.

Accept all help you can and don't even try to perform all the usual tasks.

I have twice broken mine and after the initial pain and frustration I gave myself permission to spend hours in the library and caught up with my family history.

I hope you heal quickly.

Thanks for the tip, Labradora, I already have a Limbo waterproof cover on order after another friend recommended it. OH will have to assist with showering and hair-washing, so that will be interesting

Be sure to get yourself a plastic arm cover for the shower to keep your plaster cast dry(if you haven't already obvs).Indispensable for maintaining your self-confidence and agency of course.
I did mine about six years ago after spraying lanolin furniture polish on an already laminated floor and then slipping on it.
Yes... seriously ....that stupid.
I think I ended up using the plaster- cast arm as a sort-of paw to secure things so I felt I had one and a half arms. The OH did everything I couldn't so don't forget to ask for help . Couldn't walk the dog though because I needed to hands to manage him.
Bon Courage as they say here.

Thank you both. Yes, I was considering just throwing the lot down the stairs first too. As Chestnut rightly says you do just adapt to any situation, and I'm grateful that mine is temporary.

I now have a stairlift, but before, I used to throw clothes, bedding, etc., for the washing machine downstairs and then came down independently. It worked and was safer for me.

I can't offer any particular advice, but I think anyone with an injury or disability which limits their movements just naturally finds ways to deal with it. Necessity is the mother of invention as the saying goes. I have mobility issues and have to find ways of doing things, so good luck with your attempts to carry on. At least it's only temporary, which is great.