One Crutch or Two - upon release

With two crutches, I would have to "crab walk" between the bed and the chest of drawers, with the door to the en suite on the other side of the c. o.d!  Might be able to manage it straight on, but turning around and disposing of the crutches safely so that they do not either trip me or fall, is going to be a further issue.  

However, where there is a will, there is always a way!  

I am sure that physio along with Social Services can give some pointers.  I trained in ergonomics when I was in Interior Design, so that may be of some help.

It is all getting rather cumbersome, I feel!

You can always leave one crutch at the door to the bedroom and use the wall or furniture as a second crutch within the bedroom.  I discarded one crutch in the kitchen very quickly (within the first couple of days) because it got in the way and used furniture if necessary.   

Hi there:

That makes sense.  What puzzles me is the requirement to be able to use the stairs with two crutches!  Surely not.  It would make more sense to hold one crutch in one hand and use the stair rail for support, otherwsie, using two crutches to go up or down, could result in over balance and a fall.  Fortunately, on the ground floor I don't have that worry.  

I have been looking at kitchen trolleys to wheel things around, but again it would crate congestion my mbedroom.  The bed is an antique French Baroque and the wardrobe is massive, three doors, and the chest of drawers to two up two down.  And then, I have the bedside chest, and a butler's tray on the other side of the bed.  

These new builds are ridiculous, and putting an en suite into a smallish bedroom, when the main bathroom is just across the hall is builder madness.  Same mentality as the so called "van den plas" cars!  Everyone wants an "en suite!"  Necessary or not.  My wardrobe would have been far better off in the space occupied by the en suite.

I was discharged with 3 crutches in actual fact one at top of stairs to make the pair for upstairs, one downstairs ditto. The technique if that is not possible is to hold your spare crutch as you go up and down

I am finding that there are tremendous variations in what happens at the time of release.  I do  not have stairs, so no issues there, until strictly necessary.

When i had ops on my knees i used one stick up the stairs on oppisite side to banister and got someone to hold the other one whilst walking up behind me

You are asked if your stairs have banisters or not.  If yes, you are taught to use one crutch and the bannister, if no banisters then you are taught to use 2 crutches.  Like many others I have 3 crutches, so I only use 1 on the stairs but have 2 at both top and bottom.  I have needed to use 2 crutches on stairs when I have been away from home.

When i was in hospita l, i was shown by the physio, to hold a crutch and use one.

Do not have stairs, so I have been told that that is not necessary.  Surprised about the two crutches.  That is going to create major mobility and storage problems in my bedroom.  Will have to address this with the GP, physio and consultant at the appropriate time.

They always give to as its safer and better for your recovery