I broke my ankle six weeks ago, was put in a back slab plaster and told non-weight bearing until I had seen the consultant the following week.
Using crutches was such hard work! the strain on the arms, and shoulders not to mention the stomach muscles complaining at every step. I just didn't have the upper body strength to cope with them. As I was having anti-cog. injections given daily by the district nurses I mentioned this to them and they contacted the physiotherapy department and within a day or two they arrived to show me how to use the crutches. However, I still couldn't manage very well, so they also delivered one of those walking frames and this was so much better and safer! Make sure that the height is adjusted correctly as this makes such a difference. I found it easier to go up and down stairs on my bottom.
A shower board and one of those below the leg waterproof cast cover's meant I could at least keep clean.
Six weeks on and I'm hobbling around in a boot but thankfully the plaster is off.