Living and getting about with crutches

[Celeriacacaca]

I'm on crutches for 6 weeks or so with a half leg cast and after week 1 am still finding it frustratingly hard to get around. I can barely manage a circuit of the garden so the elasticated trousers I'm living in are going to be sorely tested . Any tips for an easier, less clumsy life please?

Watching with interest, I’m wearing an orthopaedic boot due to damaged Achilles’ tendon. Flipping crutches fall down to the floor the minute I leave go of them. I am wearing running tights or 3/4 leggings.
I will never again take being able to walk for granted. Springy springer is fed up of the crutches too. Hope we both are back on our feet soon!

That looks very cosy in front of the fire but poor you and nor will I take any mobility greater than my current ability for granted!
Are you from Wales by chance ("leave go" reference)?

What exactly are you struggling with? Were you shown how to use the crutches from the nurse/physio and had them adjusted to your height?? Do you have older style wooden ones or the ones that only come to the forearm (Canadian crutch)? Have you looked on youtube for instructional videos?

Huge amounts of sympathy OP. I broke my leg on NYE and only just managed to ditch the crutches when lockdown started.

Depending on the flooring in your house, the thing that absolutely saved my sanity was a saddle stool - the kind hairdressers use. It was easy to manoeuvre with my good leg and meant I could make a cuppa and even cook dinner with both hands free. Harder to push on carpet but still possible.

Also the stairs: the rule is ‘good foot to heaven, bad foot to hell’ so going up, always lead with your good foot and going down always lead with the injured one.

Toddler, reins and crutches do not mix.
Toddler had to be trused to be free range...
Good news: he was not a bolter.
Bad news: he was a polish-the-floor type epic tantrumer.

Grabbing sticks were amazing for clearing dinky cars out of the way on the floor.

I have spent many years on crutches! Top tips - make sure they’re the right height. If forearm ones, they should match where your hands naturally fall. They shouldn’t push your shoulders up, but you shouldn’t stoop on them either. Also, if you have this type, It’s really helpful to pad the handles out with pipe insulation and tape to save your hands from sores and blisters.

If the underarm ones, they shouldn’t actually sit in your armpits but should be slightly lower and squeeze in against your rib cage. It’s also helpful to pad the handles out on these ones.

To get around, hold your weight on your crutches (and a little through your bad leg), while you take a step forward with your good leg, and then swing the crutches forward along with your bad leg at the same time. It’s pretty easy really,

To go up the stairs, stop at the bottom of the stairs. Put the crutch that is on the same side as the stair rail in your opposite hand. So you’re holding two crutches in one hand. Grab the stair rail with your empty hand. Good leg up, then bad leg and crutch up.

Also, have a stool in the kitchen so you can sit down while you make yourself a cuppa. If your husband is going out, ask him to make you up a tray of drinks and snacks to leave for you in the lounge and to make sure you have a phone charger and remote control to hand.

If you have a cup holder for a pushchair, the attachment should fit round one crutch as well. Useful for carrying more than just a drink, I always found my subway would fit well in it. I miss subway...

I fractured my pelvis several years ago and was on crutches for months. I had elbow crutches, which were okay but I had to rethink my work bag (bulky briefcase style laptop bag) and clothes, oh my God, as someone who lived in skinny jeans and t-shirts, I had to wear skirts and dresses - in the accident that caused the broken pelvis, I also sustained an open wound on my hip, so had dressings and stitches to consider. Not being able to drive, and relying on public transport, was the worst part. Hobbling along, then feeling guilty at sitting in one of the priority seats, but not being able to move, even if someone had asked me to

I eventually made a full recovery and will never, ever take full mobility for granted again!

Hi celeriacaca,
Yes I’m in wales but not Welsh!
I’m actually sat by the fire right now as it’s raining here. I will be so glad to get this boot off. Thanks to all the posters, some great ideas here.
I had less than 5 minutes with the man who fitted my boot, due to Corona Virus, but I have watched you tube videos. I have developed my own style, and at least the crutches are the right length.
Good luck to other crutch users

Thanks all - some really helpful info there. Like OP I didn't have much intro to using them due to Covid but this will help.