Tips for coping with crutches

My Husband had an operation on his foot last year and like you he was non weight bearing. He also found using crutches difficult on his shoulders and hands. For him a frame was much easier but I realize that may not be for everyone. Have a word with the Physiotherapist at the hospital we found ours to be extremely helpful. He or She will show you the correct way to use crutches and may also come up with some other adaptations that could be of help. Hang on in there it will get better in time.

Probably costly, but a knee walker is a possibility.

www.upliftingmobility.com/knee-walkers-vs-crutches/

What kind of crutches? Standard issue, try wrapping the hand holds. Consider getting the kind with moulded hand holds.
Get the physio to check that you have everything at the right height and are using the correct technique for all movement.

You can hire knee trolleys - this is what I did when I was in plaster for months. www.wheelfreedom.com/products/?sortorder=price&page=1&keywords=knee%20trolley&typefilters=&attrfilters=

Knee trolley helps prevent pain in shoulders, hands, elbows.

You can also by velcro-on pads for the hand grips; and a sort of plastic pot that fixes on the crutches so you can carry small things about.

A shoulder bag is helpful as it is so annoying when you cannot carry anything.

And be careful when you park the crutches - e.g. against the kitchen working surface when you need free hands - it is very easy to trip on them!!!

Make sure they're the right height for you - different shoes may affect this! Pad the handles if you can, but that never worked for me, nor did the moulded grip ones. There is a little gadget you can buy (forgotten the name) that stops the crutches escaping when you prop them against something

It's been said but the physio at the hospital needs to show you. I was given 2 crutches (after hip replacement) whilst still in hospital. Physio's first instruction with them was how to hold and walk with them. On flat and up and downstairs. No soreness anywhere. They adjusted to my height was well again all done by physio.

Stepson smashed his heel last November. Like you he was in plaster for 6 weeks and crutches. Physio at same hospital sort out crutch and how to use them.

Are you due for a hospital check up soon? Hope so. Good luck with the mend.

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.

Thanks everyone. Still sore but much better. 1 week down, hopefully only 3 to go!

WE used to call the waterproof leg plaster cover the Giant Condom!

I think costly is the best. check the bolg knee scooters vs crutches. I think it's help out bulid your ideas. Thnaks

scooterlay.com/knee-scooters-vs-crutches/

Be careful, i tripped on my crutch and broke my wrist! Hired a knee scooter, much better!

I never mastered them. Bum shuffled and a wheelchair for six weeks and then a walking frame.

It is possible to use a frame on which one can rest one's arms. They are very old fashioned so may not be around any more.

I found it almost impossible and I was 13 years younger when I was in that position.

The physio should also teach you to "shadow" walk. One uses the crutches normally but one's injured leg is on the ground as normal but absolutely no weight is going through that leg.

I couldn’t manage my crutches at all, had no instruction at the hospital and just didn’t have the upper body strength. Every time I see someone swinging along on them I am full of admiration. I ended up with a wheelchair.

I switched from crutches to a knee scooter which enabled me to walk my dog albeit slowly.