Tips for crutches?

Question

I broke my ankle yesterday and i am having trouble getting around my house, and up and down stairs because my room is upstairs. I also am having trouble getting in and out of the car and i am being rubbed raw by the crutches what do i do?

Answer 1

Its like learning to ride a bike when you get the hang of them you forget the problems. It takes practice thats all

Answer 2

Tips For Using Crutches

Answer 3

When you use crutches the weight is on your hands not your arm pits.
If they are adjusted properly the top will almost touch your arm pit when you are standing upright in a normal walking position, your arms should lock at the elbow with your had on the grip.
Have your crutches adjusted to the correct height for you and you will find no rubbing and they are also much easier to use.

For the car, you need to sit with both legs outside the car first, then turn after you are sitting. Stairs can be tricky, my sister wouldn't even do stairs when she was on crutches. She had a two story house and sat down and went down each step on her butt.

On stairs the crutches are always in front or even with you, never behind you. So you are always leading with the crutches.

Didn't the hospital show you how to properly use crutches. It is best they demonstrate stairs and make sure you can do it before they release you.

Answer 4

Yes i've been on crutches 3 times!!! I know it sucks. Go to your school nurse and she will give you a pass to leave each of your classes 5 minnutes with a friend. Then your friend will carry your books. And if your school has stairs (i think it is a rule that they have to have an elevator too) but if you for some reason have to use stairs BE VERY CAREFUL (i got hurt alot worse falling on stairs on cruthces) And have your crutches about 1-3 inches lower then your arm pits DO NOT PUT YOUR WEIGHT ON YOUR ARM PITS push you weigt on to your hands. and put towles on it because you are going to get extreamly sore after a couple days. And keep your whole leg elevated tell your nurse that and she can write on your pass to have your leg up on a chair and go down there when ever to put ice on it. If your parents write a note you can have a medication like advil or tynlol at school to take like every 4-6 hours. Hope this helps i know how much pain it is!

Answer 5

When I broke my ankle last year, I could have sworn that my underarm was broken from the crutches!

I ended up using a really thick, latex based foam from a Hardware Store and wrapping it around the part that touched me, using duct tape. It helped. After a few days though, you learn to use them a little better without putting all of your weight on them. Try placing your full balance on your hand, rather than your underarm.

I'm afraid that I never got better at getting in and out of the car, suffice to say that I'd just throw the crutches in the back seat and hobble to the drivers seat. Luckily, it was my left ankle and I could still drive.

I hope you get better soon!.. My thoughts are with you!

Answer 6

Yeah, I sprained my ankle reallyy bad and I was on crutches for 4 weeks and i thought i was not going to survive on crutches especially my school is so big and has tons of stairs but the first maybe 3 - 4 days you will have tons of problems like bruises on ur arms ur armpits hurting and everything but once you get used to it you will find it quiet easy and it won't hurt as bad you just have to learn how to even out all the weight you put and once your ankle gets a bit better they prob will tell you that you should start putting a little weight on your broken ankle and then you will have a easier time to.

Answer 7

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Tips for crutches?
I broke my ankle yesterday and i am having trouble getting around my house, and up and down stairs because my room is upstairs. I also am having trouble getting in and out of the car and i am being rubbed raw by the crutches what do i do?

Answer 8

When going up and down the stairs, here's the technique: when going up, use both crutches as a brace to allow you to hop up on your good foot and then move the crutches up as a unit so lead with the good foot by hopping up. When going down, you lead with your crutches, while holding your crutched, put them FIRST on the next step down and then slowly hop down on your good foot. As for the rubbing, use large towels along the rubber handles so you don't rub out your chest. Never lean on the crutches with your armpit cause you can cause nerve damage. All the weight should be on the palms of your hands. Hope this helps!

Answer 9

First of all, arrange to sleep downstairs. Second, get some crutch pads, or wrap the armrests in a towel or something. You might also want to consider forearm crutches. I only discovered them in my last few weeks on crutches, but they made life a lot easier.

Answer 10

Awww. So sorry about the accident. I sprained my ankle a couple of weeks ago and I'm just now starting to move without looking like an old lady!
You should not be putting your underarms on the tops of the crutches, your arms should be lifting your weight and propelling you. You can do great harm if you let your underarms support your weight.
I wish you well and hope you heal quickly. :-)

Answer 11

Both of my kids have used crutches extensively. Everyonoes correct here. The crutches should have about your middle three fingers between your armpit & crutch. Keep the weight on your hands. You can actually cause nerve damage by putting the weight on your armpits.
As far as stairs go. When you go up the physiotherapist says to put your good leg first. When coming down, you put your bad leg first.
Good foot to heaven &
bad foot to hell
That's how to remember it