Need reality check: how helpless is someone with a broken ankle?

[Anonymous]

H just broke his ankle, is in cast and on crutches.
It does look pretty bad and I do feel sorry for him, but he is lazy and likes to feel sorry fir himself, so he is already starting to act like he is dying and can only sit on the couch, asking me to bring him all kinds of things, trying to avoid any childcare that involves minimum effort (like fixing a simple meal, etc)- basically he makes it look like he can only play a little with the kid.
How true is that? And how well can he take care of himself? Is he capable of fixing a simple meal for us as a family or at least for himself?
Thanks.

[Anonymous]

If it's just broken it probably still hurts.

[Anonymous]

I think it will be difficult to cook a meal while on crutches

Probably not supposed to bear any weight at this point

[Anonymous]

How soon is "just" broke his ankle? Did he do it today, and get it cast today?

If so, I'd cut him some slack and tell him "fine, you get tonight off. But tomorrow, you pick up the pace a little bit. Deal?

Hobbling around the kitchen mixing and cleaning things would suck, but he sure as hell can warm leftovers in the microwave.

However, if he's been nursing sympathy for a week, then that tolerance ends right now.

[Anonymous]

With a freshly broken ankle , casted and on crutches, there's no excuse for him to not prepare a meal for you. Wait a minute... Who is the lazy one?

[Anonymous]

Obviously you have never broken a bone. It is very painful. It needs to be elevated to reduce swelling and iced. If he is on crutches and a cast how is he supposed to stand to cook or even get around. You need your hands to use crutches so how can he cook?

From your tone you obviously have issues with your husband that started well before this injury.

[Anonymous]

0P, I think you need to have more sympathy for him. He is supposed to stay off his ankle.

[Anonymous]

Try spending an entire day on crutches while making sure that 1 of your feet never touches the ground or bumps any object or person. Wrap up the ankle that is off the ground with a bandage filled with broken glass. Make sure that the bandage is tight enough to almost cut off the circulation.

Now, try cooking dinner.

[Anonymous]

this has to be fake. Nobody is this insensitive, are they?

[Anonymous]

I dunno. Depends on how recently he broke it. My H sprained his ankle pretty badly earlier this year. No cast or crutches, but it was painful and he did use a cane for a month or more. I definitely get where the OP is coming from. I felt bad for H because he was legitimately injured, but when I noted that his injury didn't seem to prevent him from doing things he thought were fun (met up with friends for happy hour), I stopped being willing to wait on his injured self hand and foot. If you're well enough to go to a bar and drink a beer, you're well enough to get your own glass of water.

[Anonymous]

It hurts *really* bad for the first week, especially if they had to set it. There is also probably not a good position that is pain free. Also if he is on any painkillers he doesn't want to play with the kid. I don't want to play or care for my kids on painkillers, which is why I didn't take any after my last c-section I had to look after them.

Broken bones hurt really, really bad OP. He isn't faking. Having broke my arm (bones broke through my skin) and had 2 c-sections, I think a broken arm hurt far, far worse! A pain like no other.

[Anonymous]

A broken bone is exquisitely painful.

[Anonymous]

I always wonder about people who don't believe others when they say they're sick or in pain. Do the suspicious ones fake illnesses and thus think others do as well? It makes me think the person must be dishonest herself.

[Anonymous]

My friend broke her ankle. She was pretty much out of commission for a week. Then used crutches. Then used a scooter. She out one leg up, leaning on the knee. And use the other leg to propel her. That lasted weeks. I don't think it would be easy to get around a kitchen. And from personal experience, those crutches can start hurting under your armpits after a while.

[Anonymous]

Crutches are not as easy as you think. And, unless you are in phenomenal shape going in, your arms get very, very sore. And then, the other leg starts to hurt sometimes from all the extra pressure and strain from walking in a lopsided way.

He should be gratious when he asks for things, but he probably is pretty helpless for a bit.