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?

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

put a towel around the crutches and rap it with athletic tape it will help. good luck

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. :-)

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!

HELLO,
THE KEY TO PROPERLY USING THE CRUTCHES IS TO PLACE MOST OF YOUR BODY WEIGHT ON THE HANDLE PARTS. THE ARMPIT SECTIONS ARE THERE TO STEADY THE CRUTCH, BUT ARE NOT MEANT FOR THE FULL LOAD OF YOUR WEIGHT.
PROPER USE WILL TAKE SOME PRACTICE.

dont put all your weight on to your underarms, because this can cause irritation and pain to the bone. take it easy, use ur hands to propel you rather than ur upper arm strength.

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

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.

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!

I know where you're coming from.I was on crutches for a month,and my bedroom is downstairs.I also had to deal with getting around school.

Specific Tips:

1. For stairs,when you're going up,crutches go up first,then you do,and when you're going down,crutches go down.
2. While it may be annoying to do this,it really helps to go up and down the stairs so that you get practice.It'll make things easier in the long run.
3. Getting in the car...Crutch up as close as you can,put your butt on the seat and scooch yourself in.
4. Getting out of the car is easier than getting in,all you have to do is turn your body and slide out onto your good foot.

General Tips:

1. Make sure that the crutches are adjusted right.They should be about 2-3 inches under your armpits,and when you put your arms at your sides,the hand grips should be even with your wrists.
2. Take breaks often.After a couple weeks you'll need to take them less and less,but until you build up your arm muscles,you'll need them.
3. Don't try to move too far in one step.If you do,you'll probably end up falling.Once you're more used to crutches you can move more in one step,and also faster,but for now go slow and small.
4. Buy some gauze rolls and wrap them around the armpit pads and the handles.To prevent them from fraying,put some medical tape over it (the paper kind).You'll have to change these every couple of weeks,but they make it really comfy.
5. Make sure to keep your hands moisturized!This helps prevent the rubbing on them.
6. If your hands are really hurting,consider investing in a pair of cycling gloves.They make it more comfortable,and create less friction of your hands.
7. Sit down as much as you can.
8. Ice often,and ice everything.Since you're in a cast,you can't really ice that ankle/foot,but ice the "good" one.
9. Invest in a pair of arch supports/orthotic insoles to put in the shoe of your good foot.It will make things more comfortable,and also make it less likely that you injure that side.
10.Carry around a water bottle with you (a Nalgene type,you know,with the looped handle).This will become one of your favorite things because it allows you to get drinks fairly easily and not have to worry about doing it while only holding one crutch in your hand and squeezing the other (yes,it can be done,that is how I always got food).
11.Small bags with handles are also great for carrying things around.

Hope that helps!

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.

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.