Walker Vs Crutches - Foot Problems Message Board

cuvanni · 06-29-2004, 08:18 AM

After a bunion osteotomy and hammertoe surgery I am now able to bear some weight after 6 weeks. I have been using a wheelchair as I found I was not very stable on crutches. I do have a walker that I have used a little to try and put some weight on the foot. My question is, Has anyone used a walker instead of crutches? Would I be better off using the crutches? Also, the times I have put my surgery foot on the ground it swells right away and I feel like I'm stepping on a big wad of cotton.

CrazyCatLady · 06-30-2004, 03:47 PM

Hi,

On May 25th, I had an Achilles tendon lengthening, subtalar fusion, calcaneocuboid fusion, and had two bones that had fused together shattered and reconstructed with a spacer put in to make sure they wouldn't fuse together again.

I've been using a walker almost exclusively since. I do have crutches and have tried to use them, but I'm extremely unstable on them. Just over the past few days, I've been able to make it slowly across my room with the crutches.

I think a walker is better so far for a few reasons. First, I feel safer using it. I don't have to be fully awake to use it (it can take a lot of weight and there's more leeway than with crutches) whereas with crutches, I really have to concentrate and get my balance first. With the walker, I can be off balance a bit and it doesn't matter. I also feel like the walker is easier to take places. I'm 5' 10" and my crutches are really long and hard to carry around, but my walker folds up nice and small, so it's easy to take with me. Finally, I think it's easier to carry stuff when using the walker. The crutches leave too much room for falling over if I'm trying to carry something. I don't seem to have that problem with the walker.

The only downside to the walker is that I'm 20 years old and I feel like such an old lady using it.

That's probably the worst part.

As for the swelling, I'm just over five weeks post-op and my foot swells up immediately upon pointing it down to the ground (I'm still nonweightbearing).

Good luck with your recovery!

kehorner · 06-30-2004, 10:38 PM

Definitely use whichever you feel more stable with. There really isn't any difference between the two. I'm assuming that the walker you have doesn't have any wheels on it? As long as there are no wheels on the walker, you can use it the same way you use crutches--you can put all of your weight on the walker or start partial weight bearing with it. But your comfort level and safety are most important. You don't want to fall and hurt yourself!

katkuntz · 07-02-2004, 06:18 AM

I have used a walker for both my knee surgery and my foot surgery!! I am less than graceful to begin with, and add narcotics to the mix? Me on crutches would be a disaster waiting to happen!! I used them like crutches..as in..they were my stability for a one legged hop, but I was so much more stable! By the way, I am 27, and poopoo on anyone who thought I looked like a granny!