[Blindtlk] How do you use crutches?

Wed Aug 31 01:21:38 UTC 2011

Hey Julie,

Thanks so much for that information. It was very helpful. I am having a 
sighted friend come over tonight to try to explain it to me as well, because 
I just feel like I am putting weight on my foot too much. My Podiatrist says 
after a couple days, I can put my full weight on that foot...And even today 
I could if I had to go to the bathroom or walk somewhere quickly, like to 
another room of the house.

What do you do when you have to use them to get up, say if you are sitting 
in a chair and you want to stand.

I too have a wheelchair and have thought about wheeling around the house in 
that too. I've heard of those scooter "thing o mobobs" that you mentioned. 
They have them at this wheelchair type store, and they are $200. I would 
definitely invest in one if I needed it long term, but I just can't see 
getting it for three weeks and then using it again for just another three 
weeks when I have to have the other foot done sometime soon. May I ask what 
caused you to have to have foot surgery? I have Plantar Fasciitis and Tarsal 
Tunnel Syndrome. He did not do the Tarsal tunnel surgery today. He said many 
folks who have Tarsal Tunnel do just fine after Plantar Fasciitis surgery. 
He also said my left foot might come around on its own. Sometimes, after one 
foot is done, the other comes around. He injected it with Cortisone. So 
we'll see what happens. I was kind of relieved that he didn't do the Tarsal 
Tunnel surgery, because this past weekend when I did several hours of 
research about it, I learned that the success rate isn't very good, and many 
people have actually become disabled after the surgery because of all the 
complications they faced. He wants to see me back in 3 weeks to remove the 
cast. I hope you heal quickly as well and thanks again for all the advice. 
It's been very helpful and you did great at describing how it's done.
Chasity
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Julie J." <julielj at neb.rr.com>
To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 30, 2011 7:08 PM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] How do you use crutches?

> 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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>
>
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