Experience with crutches for an extended period

[Lobouspo]

So Friday I had surgery on my right knee and the doctor did a medial meniscus repair. On crutches for six weeks, no weightbearing. I really dont mean to sound like a crybaby but this effing sucks!...Cant work, cant drive, cant work out.....etc....Anyone else that has been in this situation, I would appreciate any advice. How did you cope, any little tricks to get around better?

[Pyro]

I haven't personally been in crutches but quite the opposite in regards to the working out. Carrying yourself will build some muscle.

 

A friend of mine has been in crutches his whole life (I believe) and his forearms are insanely strong.

[skydiveaddict]

How did you cope, any little tricks to get around better?

 

It's easy. You'll adapt. One tip: It's a lot easier to go down stairs by sliding on your backside than trying to "one crutch" it.

Also (at first anyway), don't try carrying anything while using crutches. That is a more advanced technique for dopes like me that have logged a lot of crutch time.

After a while though, you will be able to "steer" the crutch supporting your good leg without even holding on to it, simply by pinching it under your arm. Like anything else, it just takes a little practice.

Edited October 24, 2012 by skydiveaddict

[Ninjainpajamas]

Crutches suck pretty bad at first but you get used to them they just get tiring, but make sure once you are doing physical therapy that you push very hard and don't let the weird feelings or pain stop you, It's for the best for the future...I've had 4 knee surgeries...ACL, MCL, meniscus repairs....on both knees.

 

I lower my crutches a bit and don't keep them underneath my armpit but a little under it, so i can swing around and maneuver, you'll learn to also make giant strides and twists and turns. It depends on how much upper body strength you have but you can get used to it, also it sucks to have your leg down.

 

After that you'll do this like tippy toe skip thing with the bad leg since you can't bear a lot of weight...you'll use one crutch or none at all eventually. I always tend to push it myself, just have something you can hold onto and balance yourself, If you got a pimp cane you might wanna try that too.

 

As for boredom...just stay cracked out on your vicodin/hydrocodone and fascinate over the marvels of your fingers.

[freestyle]

I did a little over a month on crutches, back in high school--

 

(basketball injury)

 

You will get used to them--if I recall correctly, I got really fast on them, and kinda chuckled at leaving people in my dust.

 

(served them right for calling me , "Gimpy")

 

Best wishes for a speedy recovery, L. I'm sorry you had to go through this.

[Lobouspo]

Thanks guys....being immobile and dependent on others is the hard part. I just hope the meniscus heals properly and all this is worth it.

[fremonde]

focus on doing upper body workouts, you can bench, and use back machines, and curl sitting on a bench. if you dont feel good enough to do it today, your knee will be a bit more healed in a week, try it again.