My mum fractured her femur so they decided to pin it said that was the best thing. She has been in hospital now for four weeks still won’t let her weight bear on it, I have tried to get her into a rehabilitation on NHS but the hospital states they won’t take her has she is not weight bearing. The physio is useless all he is doing is getting her to transfer herself to a wheel chair from the bed on a banana board, but states she isn’t allowed to bear any weight yet. The hospital now wants to send her home with still no weight bearing with carers four times a day. My concern is when can she weight bear and is this correct? Before she was walking with a walker getting around, my concern is the longer they don’t let her weight bear her muscles are deteriorating. Help.
I'd hardly say the physio sounds useless. Don't you think being able to transfer is a good thing? How is she going manage anywhere if the can't transfer?
You sound as though you must have a great deal of medical training, since you appear to believe she should be weight bearing already. May I ask what you base this observation on? Previous experience with femur breaks of your own or others in your family? Professional experience?
I might add that you should count yourself lucky you're in the UK. In the US, she would have been discharged home after two days in the hospital little no assistance provided at home.
How did she come to break her leg?
I know that happened with me. I had to wait two months before I could start any type of Rehab, and Rehab took me 3-4 months after x-rays gave me the go ahead. And my injury was a broken arm, so I can just imagine how long it would take for a broken leg.
I'm not a medical person, but I assume part of the precaution is that an unhealed break isn't strong enough yet to be weight bearing. Is it subject to a second fracture? I don't know; that's a medical call. But it certainly is a factor.
I see this as good care, not to be challenged, but applauded.
I would ask the same question as Barb, in that I'm wondering what the basis of your concern is that she's not yet weight bearing. Did someone explain the issue to you while showing you x-rays of the break?
On the other hand, you're wise to address the return home, w/o any therapy. I assume from the use of the word "Mum" that you're in the UK? Isn't there a step down level of treatment, i.e., to a skilled nursing facility at which rehab is provided? This would be the protocol in the US, and I'm thinking it would be similar in the UK.
You're a thoughtful daughter to be so concerned, so perhaps channel that concern into finding a stepdown facility where she can get more PT and segue into weight bearing exercise for an eventual return home.
And definitely ask the doctors and social worker WHY they aren't considering PT and care at a facility where she can improve more before she goes home; otherwise, she's unprepared now.
I don’t know if there are step down units where you are. There are still exercises your mom can do while non weighbearing. She can do ankle pumps and other isometric exercises while in bed. Ask her therapist for a list.
If they do send her home, assure that she will have caregivers. It must be so frustrating for her to remember not to put any weight on the leg. I know I would probably forget.
Good luck!
I was charge nurse of an osteopaedic surgery floor in a hospital in New Orleans. Mixed in on that floor were cancer patients.