Crutches - help or hindrance?

dreamdaisy

My last pair (in blue) cost me £36, I am VAT free as I have both PA and OA. The Clatterator (from the same place) was £65. I know East Anglia is a cheaper area than some but keep looking, yes? I bought mine at our local Co-op disability store, is there one near you? I certainly hope so. DD

bubbles

I popped into the local physio department, only a small one, like a Nissan hut. Anyway, I said, the crutches you gave me, the hand grips are splitting my hands to pieces, (showed the nice lady, who said "ouch" they are sore). She opened one of the cupboards and there was a spaghetti of crutches and sticks. She said we can order a pair, with shaped hand grips, that put more weight onto the heel of your hand and are shaped to fit. Sorry, I don't think we have any, just wait a moment.
Look what I found - self same crutches, with moulded hand grips - they are fab u lous. Off I went, all sorted and well pleased. The old ones could not be set at my correct height, so I was stooping, the new ones are spot on, so my back is more upright.
Wonderful lady, full praise, no messing with new referrals etc.

hileena111

Oh That is fantastic.........thumbs up for your physio dept.
You'll be so much more comfortable now

Love
Hileena

Wonkylegs

just logged on to see just how long ago it was I first rang them up about the crutches.

:roll: :roll: :roll:

seems I have to hit the phones again tomorrow - no call back from either department before Christmas, nothing so far this year and since I don't have any Crutches at all, can't even utilise bubbles' excellent method

fed up.

frustrated.

wonky as heck. (wrists, knee, hips and back all joining the party)

hate arthur, fibro and much more besides.

oh, and no MTX last week, unlikely to get it tomorrow, and had the infusion last Friday so feel shift into the bargain. (is it really normal to feel so thirsty that I need to drink more than a litre of water each night? :shock: :roll: :roll: )

and they say a new year brings a new start :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

hope you understand if I'm not round a lot - the last thing most peeps on here need is to be dragged further under by me.

hugs to you all and hoping you all have a happy and healthier 2012

wonky xxxx

dreamdaisy

You are wrong wonky my lovely: the FIRST thing we need is to hear from you so we can support. I have been thinking of you and hoping you were by now clattering about with some better support and I feel so disappointed (if not frustrated) that you are not. I have some spare ergonomic sticks: PM me your address and I'll send 'em to you. I mean it. DD

stickywicket

Wonkylegs wrote:

hope you understand if I'm not round a lot - the last thing most peeps on here need is to be dragged further under by me.

Oh Wonky, that is very wonky thinking. It qualifies you for the Ostrich Club. I pride myself as being founder member but, in my less ostrichy days, I know it's a stupid idea. (Does that alter anything? Not a bit :oops:)

What I am seeing is the usual Wonky smilies and emoticons. What I'm reading, between the lines, is unrelenting, unremitting pain.

I don't know about the excessive drinking. I've been doing that too but not water :oops: . Seriously, I tend to swallow a lot of tea and water and fruit juice during the day but, if what you're drinking is excessive for you, then get it checked out. And kick some **** down at OT or wherever those crutches are supposed to come from.

And, most importantly, keep talking to us. Else we'll come and get you.

elnafinn

Wonkylegs wrote:

hope you understand if I'm not round a lot - the last thing most peeps on here need is to be dragged further under by me.

Dear Wonky

I can feel your, frustration, despondency and anguish on reading your posting and I so feel for you. As if you do not have enough to put up with and add to that the inefficiencies that occur time and time again, it does all appear very gloomy indeed. As you say a new year, new start, but it is not always a good start, as you, I and many others, know only too well. I am only 4 days into 2012 and hope that it will already get better.

I too shall not be around too much but for different reasons. I used to find the forum a good place to spend time but lately, unfortunately I am not finding that. I am not abandonning the site totally, but feel for the moment, it is best to widen my horizons. I am being purely selfish.

I so hope things start to look up for you Wonky. You are a truly, lovely person.

Love
Elna x

stickywicket

Hi Wonky. How are you doing? I've been thinking about you and hoping stuff's not too bad.

skezier

Hi Wonky,

Just amazed they still haven't helped you! They are out of order for sure and I so hoe you will hear something soon. Leaving him to bite them into coming up with a pair for you and a ((((( ))))) with a side dish of hopes. Cris xxx

roses1

Hi Wonky,

You are not bringing anyone down! thats what we are here for to help each other through this shift! WE are the only ones who fully understand and can help pull each other up from this constant up and down crap!

So come on Wonky let it rip!!!

As for crutches well i have those so called ergonomic handles that are supposed to be comfy :roll: as i suffer with a lot of pain in wrists and hands they dont really help and can make it worse but sometimes i do use them with splints/ gloves to help ease the pain. its the lesser of the 2 evils isn't it. if that makes sense?
My physio gave me the crutches so make an appointment with the physio tell them its urgent and explain how you rang etc before xmas. When you get the app dont struggle walking/hobbling ( like i did) use wheelchair ( sorry dont know if you already do)

Good luck with it and keep us posted we do care!

((((((hugs)))))
fellow fibro, arthur and much more sufferererererr
Rose xx

hileena111

Aww Wonky
You are not pulling us down......you would be one of the first people to tell someone else that its OK to come on here and have a moan so dont you dare disappear. :x

Love Hileena

Wonkylegs

Thanks everyone - for telling me what I should know by now

and encouraging me to fight ..... even though today I almost lost the will to fight again :roll: :roll: :roll:

Waited all morning for the phone call from physio my GP was promised I'd get on Wednesday and for a response to my answerphone message left yesterday.

When I took littlelegs out for her walk (she says it's more of a stagger lately :roll: ) I really struggled. I'm not ashamed to say that I cried my way round the block. The two missed MTX doses are starting to tell, the achilles problem gets no better and the fibro is pulling me down this week too. I thought I was ok till my meds delivery came and I could hardly walk to the door :eek: and am a walking disaster area really

I pulled myself together enough to ring Physio and got the same receptionist I've spoken to each time (I think maybe she's the only one at the local hospital) and to be honest I feel sorry for her, but only a little - she's requested the boss to look into the matter twice (both before Christmas) and it seems he's not bothered. However he's not in this week, so she's asked three different physios this week to contact me. Not one has. Apparently there was only 1 physio out of 7 in the building today, and they were fully booked all day. Even so, I do wonder why she couldn't have rung me earlier and said this - at least I'd have known I wasn't being ignored!

I must admit I cried on the phone - I asked for a referral to the specialist Rheumatology physio at the main hospital, but she said that they don't deal with her :shock: :shock: and that was the final straw. I said to forget it and I'd buy my own, cos I needed them last week not next Christmas. However, she said she needed to get an answer whatever I did so that she would know herself another time whether they supply them (the comfy handled crutches) there or not!

So ..... been doing detective work on the computer. Local shops were going to charge me in excess of £100 for what I've found on the web for £30. SO, early next week I should be receiving two crutches, a crutch pod for my water bottle, a set of crutch locks so they stand together easily when not being used, and as a bonus buy cos I'm getting a new laptop I've treated myself to a wooden bed tray so I can use the laptop in bed if I need to

All that cost less than the local shop wanted me to pay for 2 crutches, so I can't wait for them to be delivered


but I do despair of a 'National' Health service which would rather hand out something that could cost them more in the long run to put things right, rather than something costing a few pounds more which could avoid future problems.

I'll let you know how I get on adjusting them - that's my only worry, but then again I have a plan - if they can't supply them surely they can jolly well adjust them for me

thanks everyone, and I'll hopefully be able to be on a bit more once I get the laptop, voice recognition software and wireless internet sorted out. Funds are now making that possible so when I have the energy I'm gradually sorting things out.

hugs to you all
Wonky xxxxx

valval

wow girl when you get going there is no stopping you is there so glad you got something sorted shame they did not do it for you val

skezier

Hi Wonky,

I am disgusted you have had to get your own sorted! Even I can get crutches!

Glad you sorted it and did you go for the moulded ones? They are easier to be honest but the ordinary ones will still support and help you.

You know things will get easier and you will find you fight but for now if you nee it borrow mine. It works better for other people than it does for me

I also find some days a real struggle as you know. I have sat here and just wandered what is the point of life but if you look around you will see the point...... Mine comes through a belt of very loud terance music and the pregabs

Tears my friend are often a daily thing as well but you will find it gets easier once you have the bit of help to walk... they really should have helped you!

I think a lot of us have cried down the phone.... we get a mix of frustration and hurt at being 'ignored'. I feel a bit like doing an impersonation of the Elephant man and yell at them I am a human being..... wonder if it would make any difference though :roll:

With my lot I think not......

You give Little legs a cuddle and rememberer the better days are really just round the corner.

If you don't.... Miss L Legs will turn into her very best make mummy better costume and call on her friends to help nurse you and this I know you don't want Never forget they still have Maddie and rubber gloves to say nothing of that thermoniter.....(sorry Wonky the spell check and I just ain't getting on :roll: )

Anyay he is putting his whte coat n and she has emailed onthe new lap top ( well done getting that) an thwey are all lines up for her inspection so just give her a cuddle and let all that stress go cus tis lot, Maddie and Miss L Legs are on stand by

Talkig of white coats.... I need estuary mud

Hang in there my friend and you will find the adjustment bit easy cus you get them to the height that helps you. one of mine is shorter than the other but that's what is comfortable to use.

Love, slurps, a cameo from Maddie with her gloves and so many buckets of hope and care that you could never need more. Cris xxx

stickywicket

Wonky, I’m proud of you. I know how low you were feeling, not to mention tired and in pain, and in that situation it’s extremely hard to force oneself to insist on what others should have done for you long before now.

They certainly should adjust them for you. And make sure they're suitable for you. And give you a pair of their own if not.

If they are so short on physios it could explain – but by no means excuse – the delay. Personally I think you should lodge a complaint. Your local PALS would help. This is a ridiculous situation, not only for you but for anyone else in your area needing a physio.

Hey, well done though!

hileena111

Hi Wonky
Thats great......that you got moving and got them yourself.
I bet it makes you feel a bit better.......a feeling of satisfaction.
Is it easy to get to your physio to get them to adjust them.
The other thing is .....are there any disability shops closer.....they are trained to adjust them as well.
I got a rollator a while back and bought it from a disability shop.....they sorted it......told me what height it shoudl be so that my arms were in the right position and did it for me. Gave me loads of advice as well.
Its a 4 wheel one with a seat and what a difference it makes......for intemediate journeys.....not long ones....still need the scooter for that.
It really helps the scoliosis.
Love
Hileena

Wonkylegs

OH heck you should see who just turned up at the door :eek: :shock: :shock: ......... all I can remember is a blur of white coats, some rather strange looking rubber gloves ........ and a thermometer that I'm sure must be designed for an elephant and not a human :shock: before I was bundled up the stairs and pinned onto the bed by a curiously furry set of legs ..... I'm sure there were more legs than there should have been, and the white coated visitors seemed to have rather gruff voices!

I seem to have been plied with more pills than I can remember, tho I do know tramadol and amitriptyline were mentioned ....... so maybe this won't be making sense to you all as I do feel a little odd

thanks again everyone, and Mr Wonky and I are feeling rather pleased with ourselves for turning the day around, and having a laugh when we ventured into town using Wonky's wonky wheelchair we only ran over one set of toes :oops: and they were attached to a very understanding person (phew!)

hugs WOnky xxxx

Wonkylegs

Forgot to say - they are the ones with the comfy grips

if you do a search online for 'Coopers Elbow Crutches with Comfy Handle' you'll see what I'm getting.

Wonky xxx

skezier

Hi Wonky,

That was quite a visit you had there then... eventful and you don;t happen to know who has the thermonitor do you?!

Maddie has never explained what shies going to do with those gloves.... I managed to dodge them and hope you can't enlighten us

He is back with his charges and a call for more help tomorrow I think in his top pocket..... i hate being a snitch but just the same.....

Hey they look ok and at least you will have them though it is wrong you have had to get them this way. Let us know how they are for you and I so hope they will give you that extra bit of stability and really make things easier for you. Love, hugs and slurps Cris xxx

hileena111

Hi Wonky
RESULT!!!!!!
Let us know how you get on with them......I'm so pleased for you
Love
Hileena

Wonkylegs

have got them

2 hours after they were delivered, I received a phone call from the Physo service - returning my call of early December :shock: :shock: :roll:

anyway, the short version of the long conversation is .....

him ..... I've been very busy you know.

me .... I've been in a lot of pain and terribly frustrated.

him ..... I've never heard of 'comfy crutches'

me ...... the OT used that term! I had to describe them and then he said 'oh do they call them that?! we have those sometimes!

him .... I can't understand why you weren't just given an appointment with your physio.

me ...... me neither!!! Can I please have one now so that I know they are set up right and that I can use them safely?


I go on Tuesday afternoon for my lesson

what a faffle!!!

Wonky xxxxx

stickywicket

Getting there at last, Wonky! It’s been a long haul so enjoy it.

Wonkylegs

Tried them out on a short walk on Friday night and discovered that crutches don't have anti-shock like my walking poles do :shock:

ouch!!!!

Been better today when we went into town and I wore my working splints as well as using the crutches. not quite so sore.

Still wish there was anti-shock on the crutches tho I want a lot for my money don't I?

WOnky xxx

dreamdaisy

Have crutches ever had anti-shock? Walking poles are for the healthy, crutches are for those who aren't and I reckon the assumption is that if you are on crutches and so won't be walking that fast. :sad: How true. :sad: I've never found the lack of anti-shock a problem but then I am more used to them than you - you may have found a gap in the crutch market so exploit it, yes? Go make your millions! I hope they are helping. DD

frogmorton

Hi Wonky

l have sent you a pm with a link for some crutches which do have shock-absorbers.

Love

and hugs

Toni xxx