Use of crutches.

Hi Tituscanby,

It is great the way we can share stories and make suggestions to each other through this forum.  It is for the very reasons you state that I am keen to try to get out of this injury with no further damage to my other former bad knee.   I have had numerous operations on that knee and next step is knee replacement. The longer I can put that surgery off the better.  I have been much luckier than you with my ankle breaks given that they are healing well with the only problem being nerve pain.  I really feel for you with the Bakers Cyst and the soft bone slow healing of the ankle fractures.  I agree carrying things is difficult on crutches but a backpack or hanging light bags over the handgrips is getting me by as I want to keep limping to a minimum as I have this real fear that limping is what is going to accelerate problems in the other leg and hip.  I am making sure I almost carry the crutches just touching them to the ground as I walk through them.  I am just hoping I am doing the right thing.  Can only try.   I wish you and your husband the very best for both of you with your recoveries.  It must be so hard both being struck down together.

Thanks. I don't care if I limp in the interim. Least of my worries.

Hard having 2 injured. Very rarely are we both on a high. Its almost like half time. Change ends of the house! Ha

Nerve pain sounds awful. I feel like I have a nerve pain in my Bakers cyst knee. Managed it for two years, like you, old problems come back to haunt me.

I felt old today. Walking into chemist with Walker like a 95 year old. Found myself apologizing to the people looking at me.

Oh well , I'll get over it.

Take care

@(*^*)@

I can well and truely understand why you would be using a walker rather than crutches.  The walker would be spreading the load as much as possible anyway.  You use what works for you and apologise to no one.  It would be so much easier to just give up and feel sorry for yourself.  I did a bit of research and the bakers cyst can indeed cause nerve pain if it is big enough.  Is your surgeon intending to do anything about the bakers cyst or has he put that one in the too hard basket.  Let me know how you get on with it all - life is pretty unfair sometimes in what it deals us, but through it all I detect she haven't completely lost your sense of humour. xx

Waiting for ACC To approve the injury that caused the bakers cyst.

Humour is always left leg in me as long as I'm more than than 25% on the up. Under that I cry. Done a lot of that is n my life. Especially of late. You share the same name as my mother. Nice! {°÷°}

I just replied to Patti, to say that I am just on my way to Phuket from Australia.  Thought when I booked two weeks in the sun  by a swimming pool I would be further on and pain free.........not to be but will still try to enjoy myself as I saw a surgeon yesterday about my cochlear implant and may have to have two surgeries on it when I get back as well as the orthopaedic surgeon is wanting to take out one of my plates and five screws in early September.  Just want to be pain free and mobile again but determined to forget it all for two weeks and just rest and hydrotherapy in the sun.  You help so many people on this forum. Don't let yourself slip below the 25% mark too often, you and your hubby deserve a break too........not bones of course! 

Thanks for the advice Patti,

I am on a big challenge at the moment.  Just waiting for an international flight from Melbourne Australia to Phuket.  Thought I would be miles ahead of where I am with my recovery and so months ago booked this holiday for two weeks to lounge in a very warm climate in a direct pool access room to recover.  If I can just get through the flight about 10 hours without too much swelling and nerve pain pain.  Very pleased already that I opted to bring both crutches as the footpaths will be uneven etc.  don't care if I even leave the hotel though as it is all I dreamt of when I first did the injury.  Plenty of hydrotheraphy my doctor has said!   I struggle with the depression too as I have a cochlear implant that uses an abutment and that is playing up and surgeon wants to operate on that when I get back home, as well as the orthopaedic surgeon wanting to operate to take out one of my plates and 5 screws.  So with 3 more surgeries on the cards in the coming months I just want to be pain free and well again, so holiday one bright spot.  Keep that sense of humour as you are a great contributor on this site inspiring myself and many others.

Hope you are wearing compression socks!

Check out Sand pan bottoms for crutches on amaz....

Look brilliant for all terrains. Get a walker with seat to use when you get there. Hire one?

Enjoy.

(*+*)

What about drinking plenty of fluids and taking pain pills so you can sleep part of the trip? Maybe bring a small pillow to put your leg up on the tray in front of you and compression socks. It will be easier than you think. Maybe ask for a wheelchair to get to the gate, so you don't get too tired. You need this vacation! You will have a great time! Have a tropical drink and think of us when you get there!

Great advice!

Thank you Patti for your sound advice.  I did dose myself up for the plane trip but was unable to elevate my leg much at all as the seats were too close together and I wasn't dexterous enough to use the tray table for that purpose...........I only wish ..........lol. Thankfully the crew must have radioed ahead for me as a wheelchair met the flight and took me through customs etc.  Went to the hotel Spa today who offered a 'rejuvenating spa package' that included a very hot steam treatment,  2 hrs of massage and a facial. Very nice to to be pampered and spoilt for the time.  Nearly asleep lol. Very big day. Will write again to you later. 

 

Such great news! You deserve that!! Did you have that drink for us yet?

Dear Patti,

 indeed I did have that drink for my friends on this forum. I had a Pina Colada.  I am so pleased I brought both my crutches with me.  There are steps everywhere and tiles everywhere at the hotel.  Some are dull in finish and non slippery but many floor tiles are highly polished and smooth and the grips on the bottom of my crutches are slipping on them so much so that I am having to look at the floors the whole time and walking around the shiney ones.  So scared of slipping and falling again.  The Thai staff everywhere are so attentive and helpful and respectful of my temporary disability.  That Thai massage this morning I felt so emotional as I felt myself truely relaxing and letting go of all the tension, frustration, pain and emotion I had been bottling up so tightly for the past 4 and a half months. Yes my ankle still hurts and it  is swelling more than ever but it is so nice to be away and rewarding my husband and giving him a well deserved break from all the caring duties he has done for so many months without a word of complaint.  Wish I could bundle you all up and give you all some well deserved pampering!

I think I speak for the group...it just makes us so happy to hear this!! Be careful if the tiles are wet too. I slipped around with my crutches twice on wet ground. The crutches don't seem to work well with wet ground...at least mine didn't. Get another massage and pina colada for the us!

Yes. Its great to hear!

@(*%*)@

Only brought the crutches with me so will be very careful.  As for another massage and Pina Colada, damn, I guess I will just have to do it for the team haha.  Honestly guys I don't know how I would have got through the last four and a half months without reading your stories and getting advice and understanding from others on this unplanned medical and emotional  journey

Hire a Walker lol. With seat in case you get tipsy!

You can have mine. I don't drink.

@("+")@

Ha ha  I don't drink much either because of the meds and I had had three gins for the first time in months the night I had my fall that broke the ankle.  See what happens when I have a few drinks!😎

Walker no good to me as steps everywhere in the resort😱

 

Sand pan stabilizers on bottom of crutches?

No because I only heard of them a day or so before I left Australia with no time to find them

Look when you get back. Amazon . I don't have them. Won't ship to me. Can get for walking stick too.

Not sure they will ship to me either? Somethings they do other things they don't.  

Yes. NZ too small.

@(*+")@