Guest guest Posted June 8, 2004 Report Share Posted June 8, 2004 Laurie, Thanks for the advice! We had scheduled the PT consult, because between my mom, my doctor and myself we weren't sure which would work better. I am hoping he will have some I can try. Have you tried the quad canes? Someone else told me that they were harder on their wrists than the forearm crutches. I do have wrist muscles that fatigue easy(like so many other things, hehe). Have you found that the forearm crutches are easy on your wrist muscles? Anyone else had experience with forearm crutches and quad canes? The one thing I am concerned about with the crutches is balance. Have you found them easy to balance with? I am very excited to get going on this. I found forearm crutches for $89 a pair, Walk Easy brand and they come in purple (which is of COURSE one of my requirements for medical equipment! hehe). Thanks for the help! Keep Smiling, Nikki > Nikki > > I am pleased to hear you are able to be off the vent and walking some. I > would recommend the forearm crutches. I feel you can manuver better with > them and your hands can be free to pay for something and still lean on them > for balance. Just my opinion. > > laurie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 9, 2004 Report Share Posted June 9, 2004 Nikki I tried a single quad cane and didn't care for it. It is really hard to get through small spaces. Two would make that even more of a problem. I usually only use one of my forearm crutches, since my surgery on my shoulder, but have used two at times. I use them for balance and find them fine. I can't say that they are easier on the wrists, but you can bend your elbow when standing and just lean on the arm part, and let go of the handles. I don't know if you would be using them to go places, but the forearm crutches are easier to get in and out of the car. My parents had quad canes, so I do have experience with them in that situation. laurie > > Reply-To: > Date: Wed, 09 Jun 2004 02:32:59 -0000 > To: > Subject: forearm crutches > > Laurie, > Thanks for the advice! We had scheduled the PT consult, because > between my mom, my doctor and myself we weren't sure which would work > better. I am hoping he will have some I can try. Have you tried the > quad canes? Someone else told me that they were harder on their > wrists than the forearm crutches. I do have wrist muscles that > fatigue easy(like so many other things, hehe). Have you found that > the forearm crutches are easy on your wrist muscles? Anyone else had > experience with forearm crutches and quad canes? The one thing I am > concerned about with the crutches is balance. Have you found them > easy to balance with? I am very excited to get going on this. I found > forearm crutches for $89 a pair, Walk Easy brand and they come in > purple (which is of COURSE one of my requirements for medical > equipment! hehe). Thanks for the help! > > Keep Smiling, > Nikki > >> Nikki >> >> I am pleased to hear you are able to be off the vent and walking > some. I >> would recommend the forearm crutches. I feel you can manuver better > with >> them and your hands can be free to pay for something and still lean > on them >> for balance. Just my opinion. >> >> laurie > > > > > Medical advice, information, opinions, data and statements contained herein > are not necessarily those of the list moderators. The author of this e mail is > entirely responsible for its content. List members are reminded of their > responsibility to evaluate the content of the postings and consult with their > physicians regarding changes in their own treatment. > > Personal attacks are not permitted on the list and anyone who sends one is > automatically moderated or removed depending on the severity of the attack. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 9, 2004 Report Share Posted June 9, 2004 Nikki, I've been using forearm crutches for almost a decade now. I find they are much more stable than any cane I've ever used, and provide better mobility than a walker. Even when I only use one, I find that it's not hard on my wrist muscles. I've had five wrist fractures in the last ten years, and a reconstructive surgery, and even my " bad " wrist is okay with the forearm crutches. I've had no problems with balance using the forearm crutches, other than my usual " extra gravity " problems. I fall a lot, but I've never fallen with these crutches. I hope you find them as helpful for you as I have. For me, they're indispensable. Theresa > > Nikki > > > > I am pleased to hear you are able to be off the vent and walking > some. I > > would recommend the forearm crutches. I feel you can manuver better > with > > them and your hands can be free to pay for something and still lean > on them > > for balance. Just my opinion. > > > > laurie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 9, 2004 Report Share Posted June 9, 2004 Dear Nikki, I am so happy to hear that your mobility is increasing! I use one forearm crutch, since 1999. The rehab doc at Columbia prescribed it. If I use a regular cane I get awful tennis elbow, which really can be very painful. I also have carpal tunnel syndrome, which a cane can worsen. I cannot get around a mall, or walk around New York City without my forearm crutch (of course, I have to use taxis in the city, too). It has prevented at least six falls. In the past, I dislocated my elbow and broke my wrist twice in six months from falls. Once I fell in the street right outside Bloomingdale's, and my purse went flying. However, very nice New Yorkers helped me,,,,,I used to attribute all of this to my bad right knee, but I know now that my balance is often bad. One of the good things about forearm crutches is that it will leave your hands free when you come to a checkout, for example. Its use has not prevented all falls, but most. Last year I was walking along a street in New York City with my daughter, and this lady stopped me, said she was a physical therapist, and said she just had to say how much better a forearm crutch is than a cane. The quad canes look to me to be very cumbersome. Ah, the joys of mito! Good luck, Nikki, and keep sending the good news. Take care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 9, 2004 Report Share Posted June 9, 2004 Thank you Laurie, Theresa and . You gave me some great advice I will only be using the forearm crutches around the house, not in public. I have never walked in stores or anything, but just around the house. Right now I am using a Rollater walker, so the forearm crutch/quad cane would be the next step. The quad canes do a look a little bulky to me and like they would be hard to keep moving. I am thinking that the feature of being able to balance on my forearms with the crutch with my hands free would be great for getting stuff out of cabinets or water, etc. I will keep that in mind. Thanks again for all your help! The goal is to get from the walker to two crutches to one crutch to independant walking. I am really looking forward to the PT appointment so I can get going on this! I hope all is well with everyone Thanks again, Nikki > Dear Nikki, > I am so happy to hear that your mobility is increasing! > I use one forearm crutch, since 1999. The rehab doc at Columbia > prescribed it. If I use a regular cane I get awful tennis elbow, which > really can be very painful. I also have carpal tunnel syndrome, which a > cane can worsen. > I cannot get around a mall, or walk around New York City without my > forearm crutch > (of course, I have to use taxis in the city, too). It has prevented at > least six falls. > In the past, I dislocated my elbow and broke my wrist twice in six > months from falls. Once I fell in the street right outside > Bloomingdale's, and my purse went flying. However, very nice New Yorkers > helped me,,,,,I used to attribute all of this to my bad right knee, but > I know now that my balance is often bad. > One of the good things about forearm crutches is that it will leave your > hands free when you come to a checkout, for example. Its use has not > prevented all falls, but most. > Last year I was walking along a street in New York City with my > daughter, and this lady stopped me, said she was a physical therapist, > and said she just had to say how much better a forearm crutch is than a > cane. The quad canes look to me to be very cumbersome. > Ah, the joys of mito! > Good luck, Nikki, and keep sending the good news. > Take care. > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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