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The leg whoopie and other useful contraptions

Posted , 8 users are following.

Kate53CornUK
Kate53CornUK

In the first two weeks the most useful thing I had was my leg whoopie. It was a thing I made for a friend when she had a knee replacement a couple of months ago. Sliding it under the knee and holding on to the handles made for a 'legal' movement in which I could get off the sofa. I also used it to lift my operated leg into the shower when on the bath board. It is a piece of quilt about 25 inches long with a couple of handles sewn into the ends.

In the first two weeks, apart from the whoopie, these were the things I used most:

My ergonomic crutches with comfy handles

Toilet riser with side bars

Long grabber and short grabber

My across the body bag (also made for purpose - a sack bag to carry my stuff around the house hands free)

A thermal cup with lid for transporting coffee.

A pillow with a kind of solid-ish centre that I dragged everywhere with me.

A hired wheel chair - that I still have for long days out

I wonder what other people have found most useful and what got consigned to the 'send that back to OH' pile - sock aid and long shoe horn.

 

4 likes, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • mic71403
    mic71403 Kate53CornUK

    Posted

    Hiya Kate

    Interesting idea and glad it helped. I guess for me I'd choose not to use the whoopie as keen to start using those muscles asap, but glad it helped you.

    my most useful thing was an M and S 'bag for life' to swivel bum in and out of car!

    my wish was for a coffee cup and/or plate   holder  attached to the crutch!

    hope all is going well as gadgets used less as you grow strong!

    mic

    x

    • Kate53CornUK
      Kate53CornUK mic71403

      Posted

      I used the whoopie for about 10 days as I was sitting illegally on a sofa! It helped to get me moving.

      Apart from one crutch now, when I am out, I don't use anything and got rid of the loo riser asap - I hated it.

      Wuld recommend a thermal cup if there is a next time - you can hook it onto your crutch and at least have some coffee left by the time you get to where you want to go!

      Happy healing to you x

    • mic71403
      mic71403 Kate53CornUK

      Posted

      hiya

      glad you found a coffee cup carrying solution !

      the loo riser I used for about 10 days - it luckily had 3 settings so I gradually decreased the height b4 chucking it....

      I walked 500 meters to local library with ZERO crutches at 3.5 weeks...super feeling!

      can you now go into town and isn't it Macdonalds that do a Whoopie?!

      Mic

      xx

  • attractac
    attractac Kate53CornUK

    Posted

    Someone on here suggested a tea trolley and I got one for 14.99.

    I used it to get stuff to table in early days of two crutches. The wheels did not turn fast so I could move it slowly to table.

    I got a perching stool from OT for washing dishes etc but wasn't much use as couldn't get close enough with cupboards.

    I used widish track bottoms in early days and held them like your whoopie to get leg on bed

  • carole1948
    carole1948 Kate53CornUK

    Posted

    Well, thank you Kate for that as I have just posted asking for info on equipment and you happen to mention this bath bench, which I would like more info on.  Really, how easy is it getting in and out the bath, can it only be done with assistance?.  Would a small step beside the bath help?  I must admit it all seems a bit difficult.
  • renee01952
    renee01952 Kate53CornUK

    Posted

    How neat !!!  Never heard of it ... 

    We are all different ...

    see: I love the toilet raised seat ... unless the British loo's are higher, I find the ones here in Holland, low - I still use it because unoperated leg is so bad now ...

    visitors freak out though - I don;t know why rolleyes -

    also bought one of those remote light switches thingy - one push on the buttons and then there is light -

    I had no use of the chair/bench in shower stall as it was too big - I returned crutches when I was told to get a 4wheel walker (trolley) as I live alone - has a little bench I can put things on ... 

    waiting for my 2nd THR - 

    I love all the tips here ...

    What is a M&S bag for life ?????

    blessings to all

    renee

     

    • mic71403
      mic71403 renee01952

      Posted

      Hi Renee,

      well first congratulations on being a '6 star' contributor -not sure wot the criteria are but maybe i might get there too?!

      yea, i freak out at raised toilet seats - quirky but useful for a bit. Mine had adjustable heights so I used it at highest, medium , lowest b4 dumping it.

      'm and S' bag for life'. Marks and Spencers shops in Uk (elsewhere too?) sell for 50p i think a sturdy fully recycable shopping bag. Sort of adeluxe plastic bag, sturdy and flexible for hippies getting in and out of cars for occasional trips in month post op. Physio said to keep to a minimum, which I did, but the bag on seat for me to swivel round on me bum was v helpful!

      bright blessings,

      mic

      x

    • attractac
      attractac mic71403

      Posted

      My son has an older Honda with leather seats that go way back. It is a dream to get in to but unfortunately he's living away from home and not around to chauffeur me.
  • Georgie11
    Georgie11 Kate53CornUK

    Posted

    Hi Kate,

    I just wore baggy trousers  and pj's so I could grab the material. Loved my grabber and sock aid. My friend who is an OT gave me a trolley with a tray on top for moving things around....like coffee, lunch, even fit a washing basket on to deliver the washing to kids rooms !!

    before th surgery I was more helpless, ever since I have become much more independent, have enjoyed handing things back.

    💌🌈💌🌈

     

    • mic71403
      mic71403 Georgie11

      Posted

      Hi Georgie

      your moving trolley sounds a good idea, tho as I wrote earlier wot I really wanted was a coffee cup cattachment on the crutch!

      did you need an extension to your toe nail brushapplier  so you could easily paint toe nails post op/!

      Mic

      x

    • Georgie11
      Georgie11 mic71403

      Posted

      ha ha no Mic, my toes are very shabby now. Got my girls to trim them....going for pedicure this week 💅

      👍

  • laura85375
    laura85375 Kate53CornUK

    Posted

    Definitely my electric recover armchair has been a blessing.  I have my legs elevated several hours a day and only realised today (8weeks) how useful it's been. I've been busy busy and not sat in it and when I looked down my ankles were swollen.  Now having a break with legs elevated.  

    We live in a three story house with 4 loos so I bought a grabber for each floor and 3 different loo seats.  My favourite was a gift and it is a soft rubberised seat that is somehow comfortable and just the right height. Also need arms to help me up and down.  Not needed sock aid over the summer but used it a lot pre op as I couldn't reach my feet.  Still love all my cushions in the bed as well.  

    X

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