Crutches!!!!! AGHHH - Foot Problems Message Board

gimpy123 · 09-25-2005, 01:20 PM

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...

Mysticism · 09-25-2005, 02:15 PM

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

kehorner · 09-25-2005, 05:50 PM

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.

leahm30 · 09-25-2005, 08:07 PM

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.

kehorner · 09-25-2005, 09:35 PM

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!