Crutches part ll

Foot care
1

Morning fellow ankle sufferers, I've just got back from my GP apt and he's given me some stronger anti-inflammatory gel to put on my wrists to ease the pain whilst using crutches.  He said it was some kind of 'itis, can't remember which.  I've asked for physio since it's an ongoing problem that has been aggrevated by use of crutches.  

I was hoping for some extra support on the wrists, I forgot to ask, not sure if I should contact the fracture clinic again.  

I hope you're all doing well on this frosty morning, not really the day to be venturing out there on crutches.  

2

Hi Denise

I hope the new antinlammatory gel works,........let me know if it does and the name of itwink

Can I suggest something....anytime you go to the consultants....make a list of questions and take it......if I dont I'm sure to come out thinking Oh Why didnt I ask that?????   $$

Also ask to be copied into letters.....so you get the information that he sends to anyone else like your GP.......that would tell you what kind of itis it was   cheesygrin

Oh yes........just come in from collecting the Avon Books and Peter said.....do you want to go to Boundary Mills this afternoon   LOL   LOL  after the talking we had been doing about it.

Love

Eileen     UK

3

LOL...........that is funny, we're back over there today to the great outdoors, we go there every christmas break to pick up some new walking items.  Not sure I'll be doing much walking this year though..:-(

Hubby thinks the doctor said tenosynovitis and the gel is called Volatern Emulgel, it seems to help a little.  He's also told me to start taking my pain meds during the day again, even if I only take one codeine or half a codeine, and to keep the paracetamol topped up so that I keep the dosage topped up in my blood stream.

We might see you over there then don't forget the free wheelchair useage...:-D

4

Hi Denise

Like we said on the other thread its a small world  LOL

Peter always goes to the out door place but for me on crutches permanently it has no interest so I just stay in Boundary Mills...there is more there for me to look at than Peter.

We bought a door mat......how interesting  LOL

Thanks for the name of the gel

Do the wheelchairs with the large wheels still need somewone to push them?

Eileen  UK

5

Hi Eileen, I only saw one type of wheelchair.

Was your husband in great outdoors today?

I bought a new bra yesterday from boundary mill and trousers from great outdoors today. Not much but I didn't feel like a proper shop.

6

Hi Denise

I saw 2 types as you go in......one with  small wheels, one with 2 large wheels? but i know nothing about wheelchairs.

Yes Peter was in great outdoors.

I wish I could have bought something today but didnt have a lot of time.....Peter was back before I had time to look around properly and although he would have waited I can never shop while he is waiting  LOL

Love

Eileen

7

I got chatting to a guy in there whilst my husband was buying my trousers for me. He commented on how I wouldn't be doing any walking anytime soon as I was looking through the walking books. How weird would it be if that was Peter.... Haha

8

Hi

No it wouldnt be Peter......I did ask him......and apart from anything else he would know better than to say something like thatcheesygrin Especially with having me.

Although I am going to be on crutches.....I want to go back to Venice sometime.......No cars/trains/trams/mobility scooters/wheelchairs {at least the wheel chairs wern't allowed the last time I was there} are allowed.....so nothing motorised.

There are boats that you use as a bus or you walk......but everytime you need to cross a road its cross a bridge.......not like our flat bridges.....large, humped ones

But I'm determined to get back sometime.

Love

Eileen

 

9

LOL.....whoever he was wasn't being mean, just striking up conversation and perhaps empathising with me a little...:-)

Venice sounds amazing, I want to go one day...:-)

Yes I remember the walkers now, I didn't really look at them, just the wheelchair as my wrists were getting quite painful by the time we had got there.  

I'm exhausted tonight, I may just get myself off to bed early tonight.  speak tomorrow....:-)

10

Hi Denise

I'm shattered as well

Ready for bed and its only 9pm

Love

Eileen

11

Good morning Denise -Here in Australia it is! Lovely warm day after lots of tropical rain.  

I took a med called Panadol Oesteo every 4 hours up until a few weeks ago, even if not in pain, my GP said the idea is NOT to be in pain, stop it before it begins.  I have tried the gel, over here it's called voltaren an over the counter medication, slight relief only.  

Enjoy your outing and the use of the wheelchair!  We travelled to Sydney a few weeks ago (a function we just had to attend) and the wheelchair at the airport was great, could not have done it otherwise.  Must say I never thought I'd be using this mode of transport and a big shoe.  Ho hum, how things can change! Stay focused and smile - I never thought a few weeks ago that I'd be doing as much as I am now and you will experience this too.

Warm regards, Gail 

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Sounds positive Gail thank you, the pain was immense at the beginning, even on codeine, I tried to wean off, but my wrists started to become really painful, so I'm back on it now.  

I've never heard of Panadol osteo before, I'm taking paracetamol and codeine and the gel is an anti inflammatory, I struggle with oral anti's, they upset my stomach. 

another lucky person in Aussie, so jealous....:-D

13

Hello Denise,

I use crutches on a permanent basis and over the years my wrists and thumbs have gotten quite painful,  tried various supports to no avail until I found a brand called ' FUTURO'   they are very comfortable to wear even with the metal strip inserted.  They also help with the arm pain I have started to experience.  The fabric stays cool, unlike others I have tried which are made from neopreane, same as divers wet suits.

They are a little on the expensive side but so worth it.   Comfortable to sleep in as well if needed,      I do hope your ankle is soon healed and you return to a crutch free life.

Warm regards

Jessie

14

Hi Jessie

Its worth looking round when you use them all the time {not just for 6 weeks or so} I use mine all the time]

I found an thing called flexie foot.....they go on the bottom of your crutches {ferrule} they are shock absorber thingeys  cheesygrin sory thats the only way I can explain them

Instead of a flat ferrule going down on the ground this goes down and bend as you move which takes a lot of pressure of different parts of your body

Google them and you'll get an idea what I mean.....I'm not very good at explaining them

If we have to use them permanently we might as well be comfortable

Love

Eileen   UK

15

Hello Eileen,

funny you should say that lol,  it was reading your replies that took me to denise's crutches part ll,  which further took me to google and the 'flexyfeet' !   From reading about them I found a comment from someone saying they are hard to fit into the crutch,  seems reasonable, I have no one I could ask to do this for me - have problems with my hands as it is with everyday things.   

Will keep them in mind though,   may mention them to the local disability shop in the hopes he may decide to stock them and might also fit them - don't know till you ask !

Thankyou for the reply Eileen.

Warm regards

Jessie x

16

Hi Jessie

That was funny  lol

When you get them you have to saw a bit of the crutches {I couldnt do that} because they are higher than an ordinary ferrule

Apart from that all you have to do is pull the original one off and push the flexi foot on.

I could do that but not the sawing bit  LOL

Love

Eileen

17

Thanks Jessie

The crutches question seems to have evoked quite a few comments....:-D  If I remain on crutches for months rather than weeks, and the wrist pain doesn't improve, I shall definitely look into it.  I have arm pain too, it seems to start in the wrists and fingers and works it's way up to the elbow, sometimes it creeps past the elbow too.  I already suffer from these pains anyway, the use of the crutches just seems to make it worse.

Thanks for the response, it seems a popular thread....:-D

Denise

18

Hello Eileen,

Saw !!   a bit off me NHS classic crutches !!!    ohhh lawdy that would not do at all lol,   I did notice they sell crutches complete with the flexy foot, same prob raises it's head... should that be foot !  when they wear out tho,  I do tend to wear then out,  a visit to physio is called for to get new ones fitted, due a visit about now actually,  will 'grow' again lol,   it's amazing what new ferrules do to the way you walk with them,  have you noticed that??     Truth be told Eileen I use the right one mostly and have a shopping trolley in my left hand - much easier for me,  my left leg  wanders/swings off on it's own sweet way using the two so the trolley helps solve this,   just a big handbag really   and wow the stuff I carry around in it - am  sure I get called the 'bag lady' here abouts lol,  rarly seen without me trolley, ohh and I have a stool attached to it via a rucksack carrier strap, fishermans stool, 18 inches high so easy riseing on the ole knees,  I can pull up and park when the notion comes over me - do try to avoid street corners though rolleyes.    Seriously it ( the stool)  is a ticket to freedom for me,  didn't get far before I got it - not that many walls around to sit down on  but with the stool,  ohhh I get to have whole days out lol,   bottle of water and a snack in me 'handbag'   spare rain jacket for if rain comes on,  spare shoes for if feet start ... etc etc  .. you get the picture  and I love it,   the trolley is approved by physio people, even got heightt set up for me,  it is an aid for walking for us folk with OA and the like,  can't drive anymore because of the left leg - dies on me  and an automatic would be no good because of other probs,  bit of an ole wreck I am but with me trolley... hey I am good to go,  can even get it on the bus if...IF ...   another story lol.   So long as I am on my feet I am happy enough.

I have rambled....    

Thanks for the info Eileen

Warm regards

Jessie x

19

Hello Denise,

you have indeed started a good thread here with the crutches,  well done.  I guess most folk will be on them for a short while so they are not given much attention,   when you are dependant on them permanent they become a real issue,   and other problems arise as arms are not built to take the full weight of the body as hips and knees and ankles... ohhh   and hands / arms certainly feel the strain.    I have a dodgy left shoulder   injured and can't be repaired a long time ago,  also have a double 'S'  spine,  all these things add up to keeping mobile a bit of challenge at times, but hey   you do what you can to avoid the wheel chair.   The FUTURO splints/supports have a metal bar in them which I thought would be a problem with the crutch and handles - I have the 'Fischer' handles on mine, shaped for your palm instead of being a round bar to grip, but unlike other supports I have tried these ones are fine to use and really do help with the pain in wrists hands and arms.

I hope your use of the crutches stays at weeks,  but having said that if you have pain in your arms and wrists you might like to think about using a support at night,  just to give them a rest,  I often wear these new ones through the night,  they are comfy enough and the pain relief is good.

I hope your ankle is mending well and will soon be back to full strength, in time for summer when you will be wanting to be out and about more. you look after it well over these winter months and I wish you all the best  with being able to discard the crutches sooner rather than later.

Warm regards

Jessie x

20

Hi Jessie

You sound as if you are well sorted out LOL

Ther crutches that I sawed {or my husband sawed} were my crutches that I had bought.

Yes I noticed they sold the full crutch but I had bought mine by then so didnt pay much attention.....are they coloured? or grey like NHS ones?

The flexifoot just pulls off and you put the ordinary one back on if necessary or a new one.

I havent had new ones yet apart from the flexifoot which is completely different anyway so I dont know about new ones.

Whats the shopping trolley like...do you push or pull it? Has it a square shape top?

I dont think I could balance for very long with just one and pulling a trolly but you are doing well.....I would love to be able to have something that i could put things in.....even my  wheel walker which I used to use before it fractured what good.....small basket, put things in bags and hang them on the handles but I dont seem to be able to use it now.

I've tried but it doesnt give me enough support for the fracture {which is never going to heal}

I def. need a "big handbag"   LoL most females do I think biggrin

I can still drive so thats OK.

You havent rambled.......its very interesting

Thats my problem.....2 crutches and one back pack and it doesnt provide much space for things

Any suggestions are welcome  lol

My one good thing is I have adapted a pouch that I used to have for the gym, to carry my locker key and some money in it.

I've got a cable tie around the crutch just above the handle, and a clip that clips onto the cable tie....in that little pouch is my mobile, lipstick, small mirror, cash card, startbucks coffee car, costa card Boots card Superdrug card, sweetner for coffeeand paracetamol......thats all easy to get at especially my mobile if it rings....dont have to stop and prop the crutches up get the back pack off and search for mobile or other things.

But its not great...just the best I can do

So Like I say...all suggestions are welcomewink

Love

Eileen  UK