Tips for Crutches

I had never used crutches before I broke my leg, and I've learned a lot. I'm on quite a bit of Oxycodone at the moment, but I wanted to write this before I forgot the desperation someone might be feeling if they stumble upon this. Feel free to share!

Three weeks ago, I broke my fibula (smaller bone in calf) and got crutches. On Wednesday, I had surgery to get a plate and some pins, maybe a screw, really not sure. Here are my tips for crutches and broken legs when your pain is low and when your pain is high.

High Pain

1. When I first broke my leg, I was only in high pain for two days before I could stop taking Hydrocodone and just hit normal Advil. This surgery has been a game-changer. I am still in high pain, though I'm hoping it will start to ease this weekend. If you are in high pain, pay very close attention to taking your meds on time. I was shocked that 10 mg of Oxycodone was not enough, but I called the pharmacist and my doc and they all said it was fine to also take Tylenol or Advil. I'm not exceeding the max dose per day of either so I will need to sub in some Advil for Tylenol today. If you're in high pain, don't move. Keep the leg up way high, drink water, ice the back of your knee if you can't feel it through a splint or cast and sleep. You're just sucking resources right now. You can make up for it later.

Low Pain

1. Be in decent shape to begin with. I'm no Olympic athlete, but I could raise myself from sitting to standing on one leg before I hurt myself. HUGE. As we get older, stuff starts to go. Don't neglect your muscle strength. You never know when you'll go ass over elephant and need to be able to balance on one leg for 20 minutes.

2. Don't use your armpits. My doc told me there are a lot of nerves in there. Set the crutches so you can fit 3-4 fingers between your armpit and the top of the crutch and put your weight on your hands as you swing out. Use your core/abs to swing yourself forward.

3. When planting your crutches on a new surface, give them a little half-turn to make sure it isn't slick.

4. Indoor stairs are best taken on your ass like a toddler dragging your crutches along with you, up or down. Much, much safer.

5. Outdoor steps are crutches first. Going down is easy. Going up can require a big old one-legged hop. If you can get someone heavier than you to give you an arm to pull on, even better.

6. Get a child-sized backpack. Put your meds, tissues, any normal medications you take, grippy slippers or socks, lotion, chapstick, extra glasses, purell and your wallet in there. Don't go anywhere without it. If you need to carry most things from room to room, you can stick them in your backpack. I've even transported drinks by first carrying the glass to the recliner in my backpack then going back for the drink container, pouring it, and taking the juice back to the fridge in my backpack.

7. Use your surfaces. My kitchen countertops wrap from the stove to a breakfast bar. I slide plates and cups from one end to the other and can make meals that way.

8. Embrace a low center of gravity. In a haze of fury the day I found out I definitely had to have surgery, I cleaned three bathrooms and my library wood floor by putting cleaning supplies in my backpack and crab walking around spraying and wiping. Crab walking is also great for getting dressed, putting away laundry and folding blankets.

9. If you go shopping with family, use the store Rascal. I was getting weird looks until I stuck my crutches in the basket. Those things are easy to use but they top out at the speed of a lazy lap dog, so don't bother thinking this will go quickly.

10. Keep in mind you can do almost anything on crutches if you think through the task, use your backpack, take rest breaks and remember there are legless people the world over who rock their lives like a boss.

11. Exercise. I got a chair workout video and already had a floor barre video. I was doing them daily until surgery and will get back to them when I can. When I asked my doc about them, he encouraged me to do them as long as I put no weight on the broken leg. He also said keeping my legs as strong as possible will make physical therapy go much smoother. At first I worried about losing cardio fitness and I'm sure I will, but walking on crutches is HARD. When I feel good and can go along on errands, I feel
like I've run three miles after crutching for the same amount of time.

12. Shower stool. Shower stool. Shower stool. You're at your greatest risk when wet and soapy. Don't be a hero. Also only shower if you're in low pain, because it actually requires a ton of energy with a broken leg. Which is why I haven't showered since my surgery. High hopes for tomorrow. This is the longest I've gone w/out a shower in my adult life, ugh!

Anything I missed?