Anyone here used hands free crutches?

[NicoAndTheNiners]

I've got to be non weight bearing for 2-4 weeks and am worried how I will manage. I can get signed off work but just worried about being house bound.

Even in the house not being able to carry a mug of coffee, etc if I'm on normal crutches will be a pita. But I guess I could just drink bottles of water for a month! I am married so evenings will be ok but just in the day when dh at work. No kids to worry about.

I've been looking at the iwalk hands free crutch and wondered if anyone had used one. Is it something which realistically I could walk to the shops on? Catch a bus into town and meet friends for a coffee, etc?

Or even would it be worth it just for being more mobile round the house? It's £160 so not cheap.

Sorry, 4-6 weeks non weight bearing.

Bad idea, honestly.

I’ve been non weight bearing for 8 week chunks and it’s exhausting. With no hands crutches you run a pretty high risk of losing your balance and ding yourself some damage.

To manage with crutches there are some strategies that help a lot.

Cross body soft cloth bag to carry stuff from a to b, insulated mug with lid that will sit in the bag to carry to a comfy seat etc.

There is no way I would risk a bus a second non weight bearing. Madness, honestly. There is a certain amount of sucking it up and putting up with the limitations for the short time that you have to out up with it. Less than ideal, yes, but a lot better than breaking yourself trying to do stuff that’s risky.

Sorry!

Typos everywhere. Soz!

I’ve not used one bit it doesn’t look safe to me, either from a balance point of view or in protecting your injury.

Could you use a flask for coffee, have lunch ready. A good supply of books and netflicks? I’m not sure you have much choice but to give in to it.

Hire a wheelchair if you can. It does make life much easier. Crutches are exhausting. I kept working and was able to get about in the chair as crutches were just so tiring. (On the plus side I lost a dress size!) 😄 put a bag on the back that you can put crutches into and then you're off.

Hmmm, I suspect you're all right.

A wheelchair isn't really an option or even of any benefit. The house is too small for one and to get into town/work I would need to take a bus or train which I still couldn't do in a wheelchair.

I don't have a fracture btw but am having planned surgery so maybe not quite as worried about knocking my leg.....but I still am probably been daft and you're right should give in to a major Netflix marathon.

We don't have a downstairs toilet. Will I be able to manage the stairs going up and down on my bum while dragging the crutches along for use upstairs? Or will I be stranded upstairs? Guess I could move the kettle and toaster onto my bedside table and get dh to leave me bread and peanut butter and some of those cappuccino sachets

Is it surgery above or below the knee, or the actual knee? Below the knee you will find easier to get about, up and down stairs on your backside,etc.
Actual knee slightly more difficult but doable.
When I’ve been on crutches (knee injuries), I used two initially but after a few weeks, was able to move to one crutch which made it a bit easier to get about. Although depending on what I was doing, I sometimes switched back to two for extra support.
It’s also possible to use a single crutch to go up and down stairs, the nurse or physio should be able to show you how.
Maybe spend the first couple of days upstairs if you’re worried about being able to get back to the loo in time!
Hope it goes well

A friend of mine used a knee scooter for a few weeks after surgery on her ACL. I think they are more common in the US than here. It gave her better balance than crutches

Ankle tendon.

Thanks, am currently adding stuff to my Netflix list.

I could see the scooter would be good to maybe get to the local shop. But realistically it's 2doors away so I'm hoping after a few days I might even be able to get there on crutches if I needed to. But I could make sure dh has bought me everything I need chocolate before he goes to work.

I read a review that the knee scooters are heavy so again not sure I could carry one onto a bus or train, plus I need the crutches to get up the steps and I can't be on crutches and carrying a heavy scooter. If I lived in a town/city I think I'd get one so I could travel a bit further but my village isn't big enough to need one.

I’ve got one of those!
I don’t feel unbalanced using it however I haven’t used it much because I couldn’t spend more than a few mins without having my foot elevated due to swelling.
If the swelling hadn’t have been such a problem then I would certainly have used it more.
It’s also worth mentioning that it is really tricky to use the loo with it on!
I’m putting mine on eBay tomorrow as I’m starting to try to put some weight on it.

I thibk that thing looks like a danger, liable to topple over any second and injuring you further, not to mention being scalded by the coffee cup you are carrying.

If I were you, I’d put the £160 it costs into a taxi fund to get you to and fro when needed. I wouldn’t risk public transport for a second. I’d also use the tips above, or a backpack for getting stuff from the kitchen etc. Look at setting up your room as best you can to reduce movement so move the microwave, toaster etc if needs be.

You could also ask your medical team about the use of a commode or other portable toilet facility from occupational health.

But otherwise, arrange for your partner to ring every lunchtime to break up the day, get lots of good books, sign up for one of those free online university courses, binge on Netflix, set up online grocery shopping, ask people to visit you etc. it will go by quicker than you think. If you know anyone on maternity leave or retired, they’d be prime candidates for visiting you during office hours!

@houseworkavoider you haven't got a price in mind that you'd like for it have you? Save the eBay fees, etc?

for stairs get a second set of crutches to keep on each floor.

for work oc assessment. can you possibly claim taxi money?

I was thinking about £120 because I’ve only had it on a couple of timed in the house (probably 30mins in total) and I paid 160 from ‘peg leg’ I still have the box and all that stuff.

I recently ruptured my Achilles' tendon and was non weight bearing for the same time. I bought myself a kneeling scooter. I used it in an out of the house. Was great as it had a basket I could put things in and balance plate on. Plus I could sit on it while I cooked.

Now I'm back up and running (walking) I'm going to sell it on.

www.amazon.co.uk/Orthomate-Scooter-feature-pnuematic-Eligible/dp/B072LTS6KX/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?psc=1&keywords=knee+scooter&tag=mumsnetforum-21&ie=UTF8&qid=1550431186&sr=8-1-spons

Not cheap but I figure as it's not been used for that long it'll ha e a decent resale. I think you can rent them too.

Ive just spotted you said they were heavy, mine wasn't too bad but I do live in a ground floor flat so didn't need to get it up stairs. I've seen plenty of people using them on the trains and bus too. And I was great for going to the shops, although I did get a few funny looks in the supermarket..

The physio will teach you how to use the stairs, you usually use the rail with one hand and hold the 2nd crutch at right angles.

Other things that have helped me when on 2 crutches include having a stool in the kitchen that I could perch on for lunch, instead of having to carry it. I also had a tiny backpack to put stuff in and move from room to room.

Extra crutch so you have one up and one down the stairs is really really useful as it saves you holding an extra crutch in the way up and down.

You end up avoiding stairs as much as possible though, because it’s knackering to do.

The OTs will teach you how to do stairs safely, and get up and sit down etc. You should also have a presurgery appointment where you meet an OT to discuss equipment needed like raised toilet seat, grabber for reaching things, perching stool, crutches etc.

One useful thing to do is to add some pipe insulation or bicycle handlebar padding to your crutch hand rests to make them more comfy and less slippery. Electrical tape is good for attaching the padding.

For two to four weeks you will be just fine. It’s not so bad once you get the hang of it and your main job is to get through it without falling over and breaking yourself.

You will be able to manage stairs for the loo but if it worries you at all talk to the OTs about a commode chair or stay where the loo is on the same floor until you’re stronger and braver.

And LOTS of Netflix.

Not used hands free crutches but was on crutches for almost 3 years, I recommend a crutch pod which can hold a travel cup, bottle of water, phone, keys - I used one on each side www.completecareshop.co.uk/mobility-aids/crutch-accessories/buckingham-crutch-pod?gclid=CjwKCAiAqaTjBRAdEiwAOdx9xuuJRC6xfOJ6eFu00at85NNgFYaRuGuL6ZW-frCFINLs-dlo6aPB2xoCnmsQAvD_BwE

Padding on the handgrips is a must - I used foam pipe lagging which I cut to fit and replaced when it got worn looking

I know its planned surgery rather than a fracture but have a look on this link as some useful tips which you can adapt to suit

www.mybrokenleg.com/tips.html

Try your local red cross and see if they have any equipment to loan or put a request up on local free pages for a commode. You can get liners for it if needed to keep it clean and easy disposed of.

I've been mostly bedbound over the last number of years, I use a wheelchair but cant self propel and won't fit the criteria for a power chair until I move house (in coming months) but a commode has been a lifesaver as I often can barely make it to it less than a metre away never mind get as far as the bathroom, that an incontinence pads.

Thanks for that link Smurfy, was interesting.

Maybe I will enjoy a month of lazing about! 😁