I'm going to be on crutches for four months any tips?!
Question: I'm going to be on crutches for four months any tips!?
Having foot/ankle surgery and will not be able to put any pressure on it!. So if anyone has any tips it would be greatly appreciated!. Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
I am still getting through knee & ankle surgery (in Feb) and won't be "back to normal" for several more months!. My injuries were the result of an accident - it sounds like you might be able to "plan ahead" before the surgery - if that's the case here are some ideas:
You might want to ask for a wheelchair (usually you can rent and insurance will cover if the dr approves)!. Depending on the layout/age of your house, you might not be able to get into every room with the wheelchair, but it'll make things easier (plus- you can raise the leg thing on it to keep your foot elevated when you're not camped out on the couch, in a recliner or in bed)!.
Hand-Problems - get some pipe insulation from the hardware store (it's a dense kind of styrofoam) and put that on the places where you put your hands on the crutches or walker!. IT WILL WORK MUCH BETTER than the foam that some physical therapists give you because!. You can get 12 feet for like $3 and as it loose's it's "give" just cut some new stuff and change it out!.
Get as much "stuff" off of the floor as possible - I mean EVERYTHING! Throw rugs, shoes, waste baskets, magazine racks, dirty clothes, etc!.!.!. CRUTCHES ARE DANGEROUS!! Personally, as much as I hated to use it, a walker is better - you'll be more stable and you can hop on one foot while leaning on the walker and get just about anywhere!.
(this one isn't pretty but!.!.!.!.) In the bathroom!.!.!. getting on/off the toilet will be a challenge - you can use 1 crutch to help you lift/get down and try to pull yourself up hanging onto something STABLE (like the bathtub)!. If you pull/put too much pressure on the toilet or sink, they can come loose and you don't want to have to deal with that mess while you're rehabbing!. And while we're on that topic - get some "personal wipes"!. It's not as easy to stay clean and these will help - just don't flush, despite what the box says, they can clog pipes so wrap them up in a Kleenex and throw away in the trash!.
If you have people in the house - PREPARE THEM - you'll be better able to take care of yourself if things in the kitchen/ bathroom are on the counters instead of in cabinets/ on shelves!. Yes, it will look messy, but would they rather wait on you hand & foot or deal with keeping some glasses and misc snacks, soaps, personal care stuff on the countertops!?
Set up a "camp" and keep things that you use very close!. I set up on my couch and keep my laptop on the coffee table, and have a giant plastic bin next to the couch with magazines, files (to pay my bills, etc!.!.), cards (the ones people have sent to me and blank notecards so I can send thank-you notes), a trash can, a paper shredder (for when I pay my bills), crackers, dental floss, nail polish, nail files, pain meds, vitamins all within hands reach, but still stuffed in a corner so they are out of the way!.
I can't tell how old you are or what your home situation is like!. I live alone so I've had people come in once a month to clean the house!. It's not that expensive - I only have them do the kitchen, bathroom then vacuum/dust the other rooms so they are only here for less than 2 hours!.
Laundry - you won't be able to use stairs for a while - and my washer/dryer are in the basement so I've had to do A LOT of hand-washing!. Plan to wear a few items and wash them out in the sink every couple of days so you don't have piles of stuff to clean!. Be careful with the bleach - I'm going to have to throw a lot of stuff out once I'm back on my feet again - but to wear around the house or even to physcials therapy - it's not too bad!. If you can find a friend or laundry service to do your sheets & towels - it'll help A LOT!
Driving - I couldn't drive for several months and needed help from friends to get groceries, prescriptions, etc!.!.!.!. Try to keep a running list of what you need so you're not caught off guard when someone calls you and says that they are at the store - do you need anything!? If you can drive - go to the BMV/DMV and get a handicapped placard for your rearview mirror (your dr has to sign it so either ask the dr to give you the signed form or print the form from the internet and take it to the dr to sign)!.
Food - people are going to tell you to get frozen dinners and they will think that's "the solution"!. Well, that's wrong!. Yes, you can microwave the dinners, but HOW DO YOU CARRY THEM ANYWHERE once they are hot and you are on crutches or using a walker!?!!?! If you can tied some kind of bag (like the kind that you get at the grocery store) onto the crutches or walker, then a better solution is to get deli meat and bread/rolls!. Make sandwiches, put them in baggies and then in the bag on your crutches/walker and S-L-O-W-L-Y work your way to the table or some place to sit!. If you do want hot food, make sure that you have a chair in the kitchen that is halfway between the fridge/sink/trash/stove!. You can sit in the chair when your are just too tired to get to the other side (or are waiting for the microwave to heat something up) and then put the hot food on the chair and push the chair a couple of feet, then hop a couple of feet and then push the chair, etc!.!.!. until you get the chair/food to where you want it!. You can also use the chair when get something out of the fridge, put it on the chair, then get yourself over to the counter or sink and leanWww@Answer-Health@Com
You might want to ask for a wheelchair (usually you can rent and insurance will cover if the dr approves)!. Depending on the layout/age of your house, you might not be able to get into every room with the wheelchair, but it'll make things easier (plus- you can raise the leg thing on it to keep your foot elevated when you're not camped out on the couch, in a recliner or in bed)!.
Hand-Problems - get some pipe insulation from the hardware store (it's a dense kind of styrofoam) and put that on the places where you put your hands on the crutches or walker!. IT WILL WORK MUCH BETTER than the foam that some physical therapists give you because!. You can get 12 feet for like $3 and as it loose's it's "give" just cut some new stuff and change it out!.
Get as much "stuff" off of the floor as possible - I mean EVERYTHING! Throw rugs, shoes, waste baskets, magazine racks, dirty clothes, etc!.!.!. CRUTCHES ARE DANGEROUS!! Personally, as much as I hated to use it, a walker is better - you'll be more stable and you can hop on one foot while leaning on the walker and get just about anywhere!.
(this one isn't pretty but!.!.!.!.) In the bathroom!.!.!. getting on/off the toilet will be a challenge - you can use 1 crutch to help you lift/get down and try to pull yourself up hanging onto something STABLE (like the bathtub)!. If you pull/put too much pressure on the toilet or sink, they can come loose and you don't want to have to deal with that mess while you're rehabbing!. And while we're on that topic - get some "personal wipes"!. It's not as easy to stay clean and these will help - just don't flush, despite what the box says, they can clog pipes so wrap them up in a Kleenex and throw away in the trash!.
If you have people in the house - PREPARE THEM - you'll be better able to take care of yourself if things in the kitchen/ bathroom are on the counters instead of in cabinets/ on shelves!. Yes, it will look messy, but would they rather wait on you hand & foot or deal with keeping some glasses and misc snacks, soaps, personal care stuff on the countertops!?
Set up a "camp" and keep things that you use very close!. I set up on my couch and keep my laptop on the coffee table, and have a giant plastic bin next to the couch with magazines, files (to pay my bills, etc!.!.), cards (the ones people have sent to me and blank notecards so I can send thank-you notes), a trash can, a paper shredder (for when I pay my bills), crackers, dental floss, nail polish, nail files, pain meds, vitamins all within hands reach, but still stuffed in a corner so they are out of the way!.
I can't tell how old you are or what your home situation is like!. I live alone so I've had people come in once a month to clean the house!. It's not that expensive - I only have them do the kitchen, bathroom then vacuum/dust the other rooms so they are only here for less than 2 hours!.
Laundry - you won't be able to use stairs for a while - and my washer/dryer are in the basement so I've had to do A LOT of hand-washing!. Plan to wear a few items and wash them out in the sink every couple of days so you don't have piles of stuff to clean!. Be careful with the bleach - I'm going to have to throw a lot of stuff out once I'm back on my feet again - but to wear around the house or even to physcials therapy - it's not too bad!. If you can find a friend or laundry service to do your sheets & towels - it'll help A LOT!
Driving - I couldn't drive for several months and needed help from friends to get groceries, prescriptions, etc!.!.!.!. Try to keep a running list of what you need so you're not caught off guard when someone calls you and says that they are at the store - do you need anything!? If you can drive - go to the BMV/DMV and get a handicapped placard for your rearview mirror (your dr has to sign it so either ask the dr to give you the signed form or print the form from the internet and take it to the dr to sign)!.
Food - people are going to tell you to get frozen dinners and they will think that's "the solution"!. Well, that's wrong!. Yes, you can microwave the dinners, but HOW DO YOU CARRY THEM ANYWHERE once they are hot and you are on crutches or using a walker!?!!?! If you can tied some kind of bag (like the kind that you get at the grocery store) onto the crutches or walker, then a better solution is to get deli meat and bread/rolls!. Make sandwiches, put them in baggies and then in the bag on your crutches/walker and S-L-O-W-L-Y work your way to the table or some place to sit!. If you do want hot food, make sure that you have a chair in the kitchen that is halfway between the fridge/sink/trash/stove!. You can sit in the chair when your are just too tired to get to the other side (or are waiting for the microwave to heat something up) and then put the hot food on the chair and push the chair a couple of feet, then hop a couple of feet and then push the chair, etc!.!.!. until you get the chair/food to where you want it!. You can also use the chair when get something out of the fridge, put it on the chair, then get yourself over to the counter or sink and leanWww@Answer-Health@Com
My husband just had foot surgery; his doctor prescribed the use of a TLC (Turning Leg Caddy)!.
Husband said it was FAR easier on him than crutches, though crutches are necessary for stairs and all!.
Any medical equipment supply in the area should have them!. Here they rent for about $60 a month, which may be covered by your insurance!.
Www@Answer-Health@Com
Husband said it was FAR easier on him than crutches, though crutches are necessary for stairs and all!.
Any medical equipment supply in the area should have them!. Here they rent for about $60 a month, which may be covered by your insurance!.
Www@Answer-Health@Com
I've been on crutches for over a year, and if used correctly they are not bad!. The medical facility should give instructions on crutch walking, but if not look at the link below!. The most important thing is to use your hands and not shoulders to support your weight!. You should be able to fit two fingers between the top of a crutch and your armpit!. If your crutches do not have pads at the hand grips by all means get them, and for the tops as well!. Hope this helps, feel free to email me with questions!. Good luck!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I've had crutches before!. The crutches should be one or two inches below your armpit standing up, and the things you grip with your hands should be level with your hip!. It will annoy your armpit skin if you let your armpits rest on top of the crutches, so don't do that!. Put most of your weight on the hand grips, not on the armpits!. When going up stairs be careful and always use the handrail!. Good luck, get better soon!Www@Answer-Health@Com
Well!.!.!.!.!.your gonna get real sore under your arms from the crutches, that's for sure!.
I guess, just try and relax and let time pass without walking around too much!. You might want to add some cushening to your crutches!.!.!.!.the part that goes under your arm pits!. That will help a bit!. Wow! Four months! At least the summer is almost over and it will be getting cooler!.
Good Luck!. I hope you feel better!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I guess, just try and relax and let time pass without walking around too much!. You might want to add some cushening to your crutches!.!.!.!.the part that goes under your arm pits!. That will help a bit!. Wow! Four months! At least the summer is almost over and it will be getting cooler!.
Good Luck!. I hope you feel better!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
when you first get you crutches, put some kind of padding on the handles!. foam or thick cloth, because if not you'll get blisters and then its sooo painful to use crutches! other than that!.!. just make sure they're at the right height and that you're relatively comfortable on them!. and stretch/massage your hands when you can because they might get cramped up!.
good luck!Www@Answer-Health@Com
good luck!Www@Answer-Health@Com
wow, thats a long time!. well, the good side to all of this is that your mostly waited on hand and foot!. the bad side to this is that your arms will feel very sore for a while!. stop and rest as much as possible!. Www@Answer-Health@Com
get somesort of comfy pad thing for your armpits and and where you put your hands!.!.!. if your in a cast or something its worse but if your not get some soft socks and put them on!.!.!. also try to stay off it!.!.!. if you dont need to go somewhere!.!.!. dontWww@Answer-Health@Com
switch from a back pack to a bag because it's kinda hard if you have a huge load on your back and it's lame to have your friends walking around like your little slaves, carrying your back pack and such!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I was only on them for like 4 days or something and it killed my armpits and my forearms were pretty sore!.!.!.rest them when you can!. Also, make sure your crutches are set to the right height!. Hope you make a speedy recovery!Www@Answer-Health@Com
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAH!.!.!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
cushion the area where you place your hands, believe me it takes alot of pressure off!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
don't read that message that kid sen't i think you should just try to atleast walk and keep the hard work up!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
sorry, i dont give tips, all I have is a ten!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
prepare to spend allot of time on the pc and GAMING!. i recommend Gears of War and Oblivion Www@Answer-Health@Com