Chronic Crutches and other life aids...

[EcoMouse]

Just got my first pair.

I have this.
Put simply, pressure (such as walking/ sitting/ bra straps/ door handles/ holding my babies and cuddling ) injure me to a debilitating extent.

The crutches will probably make my hands painful and useless but I currently can't walk because of injuries to the soles of my feet. Trial and error by damage rotation!

Could anyone suggest things (gadgets and likewise) that might help me around the house?

A few injury inducers to start with:

Preparing veg
Opening jars
Writing (have overcome typing by letting my nails grow a bit longer!)
Turning taps
Lifting kettle
Carrying shopping

I've got a memory foam mattress so that's limiting overnight injuries but not enough, any suggestions?

Any tips or suggestions much appreciated

For "preparing veg" read "anything involving knives and other cutlery".

Have you had an appt with your friendly local social services adult team yet. It's just that really an occupational therapist should be able to help with some of these things. You may even be entitled to some sort of care budget.

Sorry to be nosy but are you claiming DLA - you sound like you might qualify.

For starters though, this is what I or other disabled people I know use.

Preparing Veg - pre packed, pre cut stuff/someone else

Other knife situations, I'm afraid i only know about adapted cutlery for joint probs so that probably wouldn't help - but an OT probably would, they are genius.

Opening jars - one touch does a jar opener

Writing - typing or a dictaphone

Turnign taps - new easy turn tops (ss may even provide these but can be got from somewhere like B and Q) - when out use the disabled loo as they always have these and yes in this instance you are disabled - get a radar key from your local council they cost about £5

Lifting Kettle - Kettle tipper, again SS can provide

Carrying shopping - shopping delivery over the net, anywhere from £3.50 - £6.00

Thank you very much Trickle, that's very helpful. I've only just been diagnosed (and didn't think to raise the above at that appointment ) but I'll speak to my doctor about the referrals you mention.

I'm struggling already so I'll look into what you've suggested for some immediate relief, thanks again

Oh, I'll get a shopping trolley! (I will go back to internet shopping but still end up lugging milk x4 children and various other bits and bobs from the local shops & car.)
I'm counting my blessings that the car's an automatic. It only puts one foot out at a time!

If I were you for the DLA I'd get the forms and head straight to the CAB - the forms are a nightmare the first time you do them and the CAB know what they are doing. It's worth doing as it's for personal care or mobility (and sounds like you'd pass the 'cooking test' if someone filled the form out for you) but is supposed to help towards the cost of those extra's ie, preprepared veg.

The OT I saw was through social services - you might want to check out the disabled parents network - lots of people with lots of experience here

Could one or two of your dc's carry the smaller amounts of shopping you will need (I'm thinking shopping trolly will still damage your hands?)

Should have also said - sorry about your dx - though sometimes it's a blessing to know what is going on and have a name to put to it. I think it gets easier as you adapt and learn what your body can cope with - I have a joint thing where I'm always trying to rest one bit of me but that means I injure a different bit so I sympathise very much with the cycle of injuries you can end up with.

Racking my brains to think of a way you can avoid damaging BOTH hands and one foot? Three limbs out of action tends to be a little difficult I have found

How about these ?

These? Those are possibly a bit much - but you never know

Thanks Trickle, I'll try to get the forms today in that case.

I think I'll have to pad the handles and upper cuff too, thanks for the links, if padding doesn't work I might have to look into fore-arm crutches.

3 or 4 limbs out of action is just a tad difficult isn't it? I have found my knees can be utelised for walking on when everything else has failed! The payback on doing that is awful though.

I was thinking with a shopping trolly, similarly it would have a paddable handle IYSWIM?

There's no way to eliminate pressure entirely, so whatever I do there will be injuries. Getting out of the habit of crossing my legs or leaning on an elbow for example are easier said than done! Because it's the delayed variety of PU, I don't know I'm injuring myself at the time

I am relieved to have a DX and thank you for your kind words. I'm sorry to hear you too have a DX. I have very down moments but it's early days and I'm trying to face the limitations it's imposing on me as a challenge. It occupies my mind too