[Blindtlk] How do you use crutches?

[Julie J.]

Hey Chasity!

I just had foot surgery two weeks ago and I'm also in a cast.  I can put 
absolutely no weight on the foot though.  Here's what I've figured out 
about mobility options over the past 5 weeks since I initially broke my 
foot.

I was given crutches at the emergency room.  I was also given two 
minutes of instruction on how to use them.  You don't actually put any 
weight on your armpits.  Instead the crutches should rest against your 
side, just below your armpit.  All your weight should be on the hand 
grips when your moving.  The top part resting against your side is more 
for balance and stability than weight bearing.  The way I was shown to 
use the crutches is to keep them wider than your body, moving both 
crutches out ahead of you, then sort of swing your body forward and land 
on the good foot.  Once you get going the momentum of the movement will 
help a lot in keeping you going.  Crutches are a workout!

That's what I was shown, what I have figured out is that if I move one 
crutch ahead at a time and sort of swing it in a mini arc, like I would 
with a white cane, that it helps a lot in making sure that I'm placing 
the crutch exactly where I want it.  This is especially important when 
moving through doorways.    I know of no way to use a white cane and 
crutches together.  When I leave the house with the crutches I have a 
sighted person providing me with verbal directions as well as physically 
helping me with balance when I need to go down a curb.  In that case I 
use one crutch and hold on to the shoulder of the person helping me.

the day after my surgery I had one session with the nice folks from the 
physical therapy department.  Because of my blindness and the 
complicating factor of the pain medication just about eliminating my 
sense of balance, they suggested a walker or this other scooter 
thing-a-mo-bob.  I went with the walker.  It requires much less skill in 
the balance department!  You can use a cane with the walker, although I 
do not.  If you did, you'd have to check out the space ahead, let go of 
the cane, move ahead and repeat the procedure.  If you do use a 
cane+walker you'll need to attach the cane to the walker somehow Maybe a 
bungee cord?  I don't know.  I find that I get enough directional 
information from the walker itself.  For example if I'm trying to go 
through a doorway but I'm not lined up exactly, the walker simply  isn't 
going to roll forward.  I haven't left the house with the walker, so 
can't say how that'd work.

What I have found the absolute best thing to move about with is my desk 
chair.  It is a typical office chair with arm rests and wheels that fan 
out from a center pedestal.   I turn the chair so I am facing it.  I put 
my knee with the broken foot on the front of the seat.  I put my hands 
on the arm rests and push myself with my good foot.  It works great!  
It's also the only way to move or carry things from room to room that 
I've found.  Of course the desk chair option isn't very practical 
outside of the house.

I also have a wheelchair that I borrowed.  According to an O&M 
professional who is also a good friend, it is possible to use a white 
cane from a wheelchair.  I haven't been able to successfully manage this 
though.  I think part of the problem is the wheelchair I am using, which 
isn't the most um mm elaborate model.  It doesn't roll in a straight 
line very well, which makes it very difficult for me to keep myself 
going straight.  I use the wheelchair when I go out of the house, but I 
have a sighted person push me.

I hope you heal quickly!  Best of luck!
Julie







On 8/30/2011 6:27 PM, Chasity Jackson wrote:
> Hi Everyone,
>
> I was just curious if anyone can explain how to use crutches? I know 
> you hold them under your arm and hold the handles down below...But 
> when do you put each one in front of you in conjunction to walking? Do 
> you, for instance, put the right crutch out when you step with your 
> left foot? I just had foot surgery and I am in a cast. Crutches will 
> help me. I asked my Podiatrist and the people at the surgery center to 
> help me, but they said since they weren't technically licensed to do 
> that, they weren't legally allowed to show me. Is it possible to use 
> crutches and a cane? If not, I'm not terribly worried about it. I am 
> mainly planning to use them around the house anyway to keep some of 
> the weight off of my healing foot. Any tips and tricks would be 
> greatly appreciated. Thanks.
> Chasity
>
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