Community Chat

[Yardlie]

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@gardenman wrote:

I've used crutches off and on since I was two. There's a lot of debate on the best adjustments for crutches. Me, I like a taller crutch. That works better for me and it's what I'm used to. The Big key is to take your time, relax, focus on using the crutches together. You stand on your good leg, swing both crutches forward a bit, plant them, give a little hop off your good leg, roll over the top of the crutches landing on your good leg again and repeat the process. It's very much a rhythmic process.

As for carrying things, I use a staging approach where I move things from spot to spot as I move. I have about a six foot reach from arm to arm and there's something within six feet of me wherever I go in the house. To move a plate from the kitchen to the living room, it'll start out on the kitchen table. I'll then move towards the door leading from the kitchen, reach back to the table and transfer the plate from the table to the counter by the doorway. I'll then go through the doorway, stop again, reach back to the counter and move the plate from the counter to the top of the newel post. Then take another step forward and transfer the plate from the newel post to the top of the fish tank. Then another step let's me move it from the fish tank to the desk, then another step and a transfer from the desk to an end table and I'm there. It's faster to do than explain. If you find a spot where you don't have a place to set things, you can set up a TV tray there for while you're on crutches. It's not so hard.

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@gardenman ... Thanks for all the great advice direct from the voice of experience! You make crutches sound very "user friendly" ... once you get the hang of it. Well...I needed to build up my upper body strength and kept putting it off, so I guess my subconscience took over and decided to force me to do it in this manner. LOL! Who knows!

[Yardlie]

@sidsmom ... I've seen those knee scooters! My dentist used one when he fractured his leg. It looked easy and like fun in a way. Kind of pricey though for just six weeks or so. Guess I'll just hop and hobble along trying to use the crutches...or cheat and use my heel when DH is not looking.

[spent2much]

I'm copying and pasting all of your replies, folks.  I'm having knee replacement surgery Oct. 3 and I'm sure I'll need crutches.  

[meallen616]

I hope you,

[sidsmom]

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@Brinklii wrote:

@sidsmom ... I've seen those knee scooters! My dentist used one when he fractured his leg. It looked easy and like fun in a way. Kind of pricey though for just six weeks or so. Guess I'll just hop and hobble along trying to use the crutches...or cheat and use my heel when DH is not looking.

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@Yardlie

Yeah, that's the downfall..$$.

Maybe a Medical Rental place?

Craigs List or eBay?

I bet a friend of a friend of yours probably has one tucked away in a garage!

Weird to say....how about asking your Dentist who had one...maybe he's trying to get rid of it??  Just a thought.

[Imadickens]

I never did get hang of them! I went slowly...put my good foot down, leaned on crutches while "hopping" to put good foot down again. If you are in an air cast they must be letting you put some weight on it! Go lightly, you'll be fine. Just an FYI...check bottom of foot. If there is a large bruise, call ortho immediately! I was misdiagnosed as a bad sprain when I had a bad fracture! A large bruise on the bottom of the foot indicates a Lisfranc fracture. It's easily missed! Good luck! p.s.  I'd see a sleep specialist, too!

[Yahooey]

I couldn't swing my bad leg forward - my bandaged leg was from yayya to my ankle after a knee operation in 86. I walked liked a crab - dragging my bad leg.

After the bandage came off - I was still on crutches for months. This is how I showered, I brought a chair to the BR - I would sit on the chair and pivot and swing my legs in to the tub/shower. I had to rest on the chair after showering - it is different for everyone.

It took forever to do the simplest things. Just take your time and do what you can slowly. Don't aggravate your injury.

Good luck.

[Montana]

Hopefully, with practice you will be able to get around more easily. I was on crutches a few years ago.  Somehow I got a thigh/groin muscle pull in my right leg.  I don't remember falling or straining  anything, so have no idea how it happened. I did not have a cast, but could not put any weight on that leg.

Using the method @gardenman so clearly explained, I learned to move around with no problem.  Eventually,  I was even able to go up and down the stairs.

I was on crutches many months, and they became second nature to me. I still have them.

[glb613]

Use a walker , it's easier.  You can put a tray table on the front or basket to carry things.  Hopping on one foot is the worst thing you can do. 

[Jordan2]

I fell and went to the ER. I fractured the fourth metatarsal (I broke the fifth on the same foot years ago, I'm working my way down the whole foot) on my right foot.  I had to use crutches, I was miserable. I went to a foot specialist and got a boot (like a Herman Munster shoe). I walked funny but I was so happy to get rid of those crutches!