Long time crutch use

[maxiesmom]

I have been on crutches going on 4 months now. Found out that I have a torn meniscus, but it doesn't need surgery. Thank goodness! The not so great news is that I will be stuck with these crutches for a while, and they are tearing up my hands. My palms are staring to look like the skin is peeling off in layers. So I'm hoping to get some tips from those who have been there, done that. Do I need to try to find some sort of gloves? What sort of hand lotion have you found helps?

I should add that I am continuing to work, and I do a lot of walking (or crutching!) at work, so I'm sure that isn't helping.

 

[Mrsjvb]

Lightweight weight lifting gloves.

 

[mamabunny]

I have been on crutches going on 4 months now. Found out that I have a torn meniscus, but it doesn't need surgery. Thank goodness! The not so great news is that I will be stuck with these crutches for a while, and they are tearing up my hands. My palms are staring to look like the skin is peeling off in layers. So I'm hoping to get some tips from those who have been there, done that. Do I need to try to find some sort of gloves? What sort of hand lotion have you found helps?

I should add that I am continuing to work, and I do a lot of walking (or crutching!) at work, so I'm sure that isn't helping.

For the moment, skip the lotion - you don't want to make the skin soft - you want to help it get tougher.

Inexpensive golf gloves, bike gloves, or other similar style gloves can be found easily at Walmart, Target, and Amazon. That will give you the most protection.

As soon as you can, moving to a Rollator or walker will help your hands. (Rollators have a built in seat, act like a walker, and typically have storage under the seat - handy!) Obvi, that is dependent on your ortho, and what they say about weight bearing during healing.

Good luck!

 

[katmu]

I'm assuming you already have crutch foam or gel pads for both the underarm and hand grips? Gloves do help though too.

 

[cobright]

I have been on crutches going on 4 months now. Found out that I have a torn meniscus, but it doesn't need surgery. Thank goodness! The not so great news is that I will be stuck with these crutches for a while, and they are tearing up my hands. My palms are staring to look like the skin is peeling off in layers. So I'm hoping to get some tips from those who have been there, done that. Do I need to try to find some sort of gloves? What sort of hand lotion have you found helps?

I should add that I am continuing to work, and I do a lot of walking (or crutching!) at work, so I'm sure that isn't helping.

What style of crutch? If you're using proper forearm (lofstrand ) crutches maybe trying a different gait would help. But axilla crutches (armpit crutch) are the usual prescription in the US and I think they are a bit of a relic for longtime use.

Forearm crutches let you try different step-crutch sequences and I've seen that make all the difference.

 

[ktate82]

I have been on and off crutches several times due to hip surgeries. I used In Motion crutches that are about $120 on Amazon. They are awesome! They have a spring on the end to make them easier to walk with, molded hand grips (so much easier on the hands), and sit so you aren't tempted to use your arm pits to move them. I would so buy them again in a heart beat if I needed to. Also, make sure they are measured correctly so they fit you.