I hate this year already ..

[OzJavelin]

Two days ago I went to investigate what the wife was going around the veranda, then started to return to the shed and misjudged the last step and stumbled. Consequentially I have apparently broken something in my foot and was contacted by my doctor this evening (who'd just got the X-ray results) to come in to have my foot plastered.

So much for driving V8s and riding motorbikes .. Being at home is dangerous! The Govt should do something to protect us? ;)

Anyway I'm 43yo and never broken anything in my life. I've now been on crutches for a whole afternoon/evening and I'm sick of it already. I can't see how I'll cope for 6weeks!

I suppose I'll work it out, but how the hell do you carry anything? Eg get up to go to the fridge .. Can't carry a drink back? I'm thinking of all the little things I can't do easily and this will drive me nuts.

I'm lucky that theoretically I can work from home most of the time, but not being able to drive (right foot) will drive me stir crazy.

Anyway, that's my rant. It not really a big problem in the scheme of things but a shock for an older bloke who's never been this reliant on others (wife) before.

[The Monty]

I have one piece of advice for you. I have been on crutches many times, and have had many broken bones. If it is the crutches that go under your arms, wrap some soft padding around them. Like wrap a tea towel or two around the tops, youll be gratefull that you did.

[wrongwaynorris]

Originally Posted by The Monty

I have one piece of advice for you. I have been on crutches many times, and have had many broken bones. If it is the crutches that go under your arms, wrap some soft padding around them. Like wrap a tea towel or two around the tops, youll be gratefull that you did.

And adjust them so you bear all the weight on your wrists using the undearm part purely for guidance . Sadly I have had way too much experience on these things .

[wrongwaynorris]

" Can't carry a drink back? "

Two words , BEER HAT

[ebxr8240]

Originally Posted by wrongwaynorris

" Can't carry a drink back? "

Two words , BEER HAT

Let the Mrs out of the kitchen to bring a drink. Lol..

[Peuty]

When I was on crutches I used to just put whatever I wanted to carry down my pants.

[revcore]

I was on crutches for a few months when I broke my right knee in 3 places while I was playing indoor cricket (I took a fall on the polished timber stadium floor).
The worst part about being on crutches is having to rely on others, Especially when we are so independant.

[Spudz27]

I will make you feel better about your broken foot. I have been jobless more than a year, sick almost weekly since my last surgery, 3 weeks before christmas I was diagnosed with a superbug, antibiotics did not work, so christmas day I was very sick again. I am just finishing another course now and they have not worked either. I have to see a neurologist, urologist, have my 4 wisdom teeth removed, see my cardiologist and potentially have my 5th open heart surgery this year. So chin up man it could be worse lol.

[fat4D]

Go and grab the other type of crutches where you use your arm muscles not jamming the crap crutches in your under arm.


I know what you mean about this year thou. Broke my arm 2 days ago

[OzJavelin]

Originally Posted by Spudz27

I will make you feel better about your broken foot. I have been jobless more than a year, sick almost weekly since my last surgery, 3 weeks before christmas I was diagnosed with a superbug, antibiotics did not work, so christmas day I was very sick again. I am just finishing another course now and they have not worked either. I have to see a neurologist, urologist, have my 4 wisdom teeth removed, see my cardiologist and potentially have my 5th open heart surgery this year. So chin up man it could be worse lol.

Sorry mate, I wasn't trying to make out my problems were the end of the world .. Its just a shock for me as Ive managed to make it though life this far with not major issues .. And this isn't a major one by anyone's standards .. especially yours. :(

[Spudz27]

It is all good mate hence the lol on the end of my post. I was more trying to lighten my mood up. I know about casts and how restricting they can be. Just sit back, relax and enjoy the meds lol.

[290v]

Zip tie a stubby holder to the Crutches problem solved

[Maka]

Originally Posted by Peuty

When I was on crutches I used to just put whatever I wanted to carry down my pants.

image

Did you have plenty of room Peuty? What could you stuff down there?

cheers, Maka

[2011G6E]

And if it's a broken bone in your foot, do exactly as recommended by the doctor in regards to letting it heal...keeping weight off it, sitting around bored out of your skull doing nothing, etc.

Trust me...the last thing you want is an improperly healed bone somewhere in your foot. That leads to all sorts of problems later on that will be even harder to fix.

[xisled]

1 thing I found when I broke my back, was how frustrating it is to not be able to do simple things. 1 think that really got me was picking up stuff from the floor, I dropped a pen and could not pick it up and got angry because you feel bad.

My solution was to tie everything to string and do not carry open drink containers. For drinks, get a drink bottle, for items get a bag that you can put onto your crutch. Will you adapt and when you do, you will be off your crutches.

[MercurySilver]

misses got a buldged disc just before xmas
in agony
got given crutches
hated them
so we borrowed my nans walker on wheels
little three wheeler thing, so she shuffled along with that

i ended up zip tying a big basket to it at the front
she'd wheel around with her phone some lollies and even a cup of tea in it

give it 4 weeks and you'll be walking on the cast with no crutches
i hate the things
tore ankle ligaments off the bone in high school
kids used them more than i did

hope you recover quickly mate
chin up

[galaxy xr8]

Who did your plaster mate.. did you get it done up at the Hospital ?.

[supershifty]

I sympathise with you and understand the frustration of not just being able to get up and do things for yourself.

There's always a "someone worse off" story - here's one: I had a motorcycle accident in 2006. Broke both arms, wrists, and one leg.

I did not ask anyone to do it and suffered in silence for 5 weeks - there's a great deal of satisfaction in being able to scratch what your Dad gave you.

Cheers!

Edit: Just re-read my post. I posted with innocence, To clear everything up and not leave things to misinterpretation or ridicule: I'm talking about itchy jewels.

[blueoval]

I know your pain OzJavelin. I broke my left ankle on the steps in the Umpherston sinkhole in Mt Gambier a few years ago, and had to drive back to Adelaide that day. 6 weeks of bagging my leg for a shower, 6 weeks of annoying itchiness, 6 weeks of stinky smells coming from the cast, 6 weeks of annoyingly painful, yet extra padded crutches and not properly being able to drive. Plus I had to attend my sisters wedding on crutches and in a cast. Not good for family photo time. :(

One thing I do now, is learn to watch where I walk that it's become second nature. People think Im drunk when I go down stairs but I am more concerned to not roll an ankle again that I dont care what others think.

[XBROO]

Hey mate the supercheap sale was on today, just grab two jumbo sponges and some duct tape. And tape them to the top off the crutches, not the prettiest looking but can't beat it for comfort. Being pretty active with sports and motorbike riding, that I've had my fair share of time on crutches.

[Franco Cozzo]

http://youtu.be/Ew1EuqsJZrA?t=50s

[MNM96]

Originally Posted by Maka

Did you have plenty of room Peuty? What could you stuff down there?

cheers, Maka

Just his wifes sister! lol

[zilo]

If you want to carry something just put a green shopping bag around your neck.
Works for stubby from the fridge even back out to the shed.

If you want to walk down the street get a straw and the silver lined bag.

See...life isn't all that bad is it?

[XR6_661]

Crutches?

That just means you can get others to do things for you.

[DJR-351]

Cut my heel off on a motorbike once, on crutches for 12 months, trust me you will find away to do most things......Necessity is the mother of invention....

[OzJavelin]

Thanks all .. After my first week it's still a pain in the azz .. But I've been lucky the wife has been home on holidays and has been looking after me.
Gave up on the shower and use the bath.
Got a lovely man-bag to put over my shoulder to carry stuff.
Have a roller chair in the kitchen to sit and carry food and drink.
My cast is already breaking up just from sleeping.
My foot is bruised enough that its down to my toes.

.. And I'm very annoyed that a lot of car and motorbike stuff is happening in the next few weeks and I'll miss it!

.. However I will be fit enough for work :(

[mcnews]

If you can borrow a walking frame they are very handy to get around the house etc. in comparison to crutches. You can also hire a shower chair from the occupational health bods at your local hospital, along with the walking frame etc. Also the hose attachment for the bath is very handy if you prefer the bath method.

[gtfpv]

trials and tribulations make us better people and stronger mate . youll get better . when i fractured 2 vertabrae , broke 2 ribs and punctured my lung . i could not lay down for 7 weeks , and the 1st week i needed to be lifted off the lounge just to stand . i also had to indure going to sleep sitting up whilst air leaked from my lung into my chest cavity everynight , creating a vibrational wheeze .
but you get better mate and it becomes an all distant bad memory .

[OzJavelin]

Originally Posted by gtfpv

trials and tribulations make us better people and stronger mate . youll get better . when i fractured 2 vertabrae , broke 2 ribs and punctured my lung . i could not lay down for 7 weeks , and the 1st week i needed to be lifted off the lounge just to stand . i also had to indure going to sleep sitting up whilst air leaked from my lung into my chest cavity everynight , creating a vibrational wheeze .
but you get better mate and it becomes an all distant bad memory .

Yikes! Ouch!