Showering with three sprains

July 22, 2018 5:14 PM

(Not a medical question, it’s an activities of daily living question.) I sprained my knee, ankle and wrist and would like to shower or at least get clean. My bathtub is deep and it’s hard for me to step into it.

I can handle bearing weight on the (R) ankle and the (R) wrist isn’t too bad, the (L) knee’s really the thing to work around.

The shower isn’t one of those ones with an extendable hose or what have you.

I’d rather not have to buy anything if possible.

posted by cotton dress sock to Home & Garden (8 answers total)

Best answer: Take some ibuprofen and some Tylenol. They work synergistically, though the ibuprofen is a bit better, mechanistically, for sprain. Then get in your tub and take a bath.
posted by killdevil at 5:19 PM on July 22, 2018 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Hopefully some physical or occupational therapists will weigh in, but rather than stepping in, can you lower yourself to the tub edge relying principally on your right leg and arm and then swivel around on your butt, avoiding doing more than just steadying yourself with your left side? Could a family member or friend help steady you, perhaps while you were wearing a towell if modesty is a factor? If you have $20 to throw at this problem, you can also get a safety bar/handle that attaches via adhesive or suction; to get a reliable one, go to a home medical store. Sponge baths aren't the greatest, but if the alternative is risking further injury then it's the better choice. I hope your recovery goes well.
posted by carmicha at 5:38 PM on July 22, 2018 [1 favorite]

Yes, I was also going to suggest a plastic lawn chair of some sort. Preferably one with a low center of gravity and wide legs that won’t skid on wet surfaces, although laying a towel down at the bottom of the tub and then placing the chair should work to help stop it from skidding.
posted by Automocar at 5:50 PM on July 22, 2018 [2 favorites]

If none of this does the trick for you, there are no-rinse cleansing cloths and dry shampoo available on Amazon for fairly cheap.
posted by The Almighty Mommy Goddess at 8:46 PM on July 22, 2018 [1 favorite]

I hopped around a lot with pins in his ankle for six months, and spent a lot of time making friends with an upside-down mop-bucket and large plastic storage bin in lieu of actual shower chairs.
posted by rokusan at 9:24 PM on July 22, 2018 [2 favorites]

If you happen to be near the Silicon Valley, I could set you up with a transfer bench - having one makes getting into and out of the tub much easier and safer. I have an extra one.
posted by rw at 9:39 PM on July 22, 2018 [2 favorites]

Instead of a "shower chair", you might want to consider what is often called a "shower bench" or "shower tub board" -- which sits across the edges of the tub and had large screw-type tighteners to keep it from shifting. You can place it in almost any section across the tub, so that it can be right under the spray, even if you don't have a shower hose.

I have one of these shower bench boards, and it is *so* much comfier, and safer feeling than my previous 2 shower chairs, as well as being easier to plunk into place and remove for when my partner needs to use the shower.

Even my non-disabled friend who was visiting gave it a try, and she said it was much more relaxing to be able to sit in the shower, and easier to shave her legs! So you'll still be able to get use out of it after your sprain is healed.

Check to see if there are any medical organizations who might be able to lend or rent you one. Otherwise, they are not that terribly expensive -- especially compared to the cost of the shower chairs. There are several models available through Amazon.
posted by Jade Dragon at 12:12 AM on July 23, 2018 [1 favorite]

In addition to the above, you could also go over yourself with a wet towel. It's not the same as a bath but it does get you clean.
posted by Ziggy500 at 4:26 AM on July 23, 2018 [1 favorite]