I didn't realize crutches would be so annoying- I tried to go to target and just finding the right aisle was like running a marathon and thank god my husband was there to help me carry stuff and put it in the cart.

I was sweating when I left- how do people walk on crutches for long periods of time? I can't even drive!!! AGHHHH... just needed to vent... :eek:

Use the electric wheelchairs the bigger stores like Target provide. They've been a lifesaver since I broke my foot.

Absolutely!!! I had so much fun with those. :-) There was one day when I went to the store and they didn't have any free, and that was awful. I was alone, so I ended up putting one crutch into the cart and walking along using the cart and one crutch. It was very slow going, and I was totally covered in sweat when I finished. It was amazing that nobody even offered to help me or tried to stay out of my way. I almost got pushed over!

Crutches are definitely tough. I had a little pouch on mine for carrying small stuff like a water bottle or pencil. Then my main strategy was just to not walk very far. I drove everywhere (even from my unit to the pool in the complex) and used my handicap pass to park as close as I could. At school I got a ride from disability resources between buildings. In the stores I used the electric carts. For stairs in my house, I usually crawled up them, because that was the only way I could carry in groceries or do my laundry.

Do be careful with the carts, though. They can be tricky to operate. I think I took out one or two of those big store displays...

Just hang in there!

Oh, a few more things... Take short steps. It takes longer, but uses less energy. And don't be afraid to take a break. If you get tired, find someplace to sit down and rest for a few minutes. I always made sure to carry a water bottle because long trips were hard work. Just try to accept the fact that getting anywhere and doing anything will take twice as long as usual for a while.

I'm not looking forward to being on crutches again either :(

Last year after I had my surgery, I couldn't (was too nervous) to use them. So I had to use one of those walkers. That wasn't fun either. Eventually I got up enough nerve and started to get around on the crutches. It was better than using the walker but still horrible.

Now I have to have surgery again and I am absolutely dreading using the crutches.

I'm a single foster parent mom with a nine year old and a nine month old and this isn't going to be fun!

I still haven't mastered using the stairs on the crutches. I'm way too clumsy for that.

Wow.. I can't imagine having kids on crutches. I hope your 9 year old is willing to help out. Perhaps if you had a rolling office chair with a back and armrests, you could move the kid around that way? I'm sure you'll figure something out. And to think, I was feeling sorry for myself having to take out the trash on my own!

Yeah she is a real trooper (the nine year old) Our laundry facility is in the bottom of our building and yesterday I taught her how to do the laundry. She's actually excited about that.

I've been practicing trying to cart the nine month old around. So far I came up with carrying her in a snuggly (the body harness thing that hold the baby in front of you). I practiced today with the crutches, and it wasn't that bad since I was just around the house.

I'll have plenty of help though when we have to finally venture outside. I have no poblem using the motorized carts. I was really embarrassed at first though.

hi all,
I've been on my crutches for over five months now. I broke my heel back in April and have had two surgeries. I'm finally WB as of about 2 weeks ago. I can even walk w/o a few steps around the house. I try to use just one at other times but go to both if I'm going far or have overdone it. I can't wait to be done with these things! Even if I could just go to a cane that would be much better. I haven't started PT yet, hopefully soon. Of course, that will probably bring lots of pain so I'll have to use the crutches again. Hopefully, not all the time though. I'm hoping to be totally unassisted by Christmas. Our perspective on what we want changes a lot after something like this. I hope you all are on your way to once again being a biped.
Take care,
roads

Okay, being on crutches twice this year, I can help you with some tips!

First of all, every day whenever it occurs to you, STRETCH YOUR OPPOSITE HIP. This is very important. With my first foot, my left, I had no clue, and my right hip STILL doesn't have the flexibility it used to. Your good side is taking all of the weight, and the pain get be pretty bad if you're not stretching and listening to it.

*Lie on your back and cross your good foot over your other knee. Try and open your hip as much as you can - place your hands behind your knee (your affected side) and pull toward you, stretching your hip. Do the other side too. It's easier on your bad foot if you have an exercise ball; that way you can roll it toward you for a few seconds, then away, and repeat it a few times.

*Stairs: "Up with the good, Down with the bad." Repeat this over and over again! Put one crutch down and use a single crutch and the handrail as your crutches. Press down with your hands, and make them your legs. Your good foot goes up and "brings" the bad leg up to it, and your bad foot goes down and your good foot "comes" down to meet it.

Take your time, and always plan out your route. Look at the ground, at the floor, etc. for any imperfections -- if the ground is uneven or if there's a bunched up rug, avoid it! Stretch your arms, chest, and most importantly, your opposite hip!

Good luck!

In the last two years i've been on crutches twice, each time for 14 weeks. It's just not fun. I had to travel a lot and found in hotels they always have a desk chair on wheels. It was easier to rest a knee on the chair and wheel around then it was to use the crutches. So I found a couple of chairs like those for the house. Even if you have to sit on one and push with the good foot it let's you carry some things and get a little break from the crutches. Good luck.