for 6 months i have been using elbow crutches when i go out, and these have saved me from many a tumble. latley i have had some trouble using them, fatigue some times it such a effort to walk with them and will often catch them on the ground as i have not lifted them properly. also i tend to drag my foot slightly if i am tired or stiff.
my mobility seems to be getting slowly worse, i have seen a neurophysio but they dont seem to be able to help any more than they already have.
what i would like to hear is if anyone has had to use a walker and if it helped with walking better than crutches, and if a 3 or 4 wheeled walker was best. i dont want to make a costly mistake so any comments or advise would be helpful.
Hi Lorraine If you ring social services, ask for adult care and make a self referral, they will send an OT out to assess you and provide walking aids, free of charge. They provided me with a walker for the house, Zimmer frame for upstairs, banisters for the stairs, bath lift and shower rails and a wheeled walker with seat for outdoors. Xx
I agree an OT assessment is a good idea. That way you can try out a walker without it impacting your pocket.
I had a 4 wheeled walker provided but subsequently bought my own because it is smaller and lighter but at least I knew that I was doing the right thing.
I personally far prefer a walker to crutches because you can have a little sit if you get tired (4 wheelers) and it is easy to carry things. I use my walker in the house – sit on it to do my hair and it’s great in the kitchen and so helpful to carry stuff (including cups of coffee on a tray.)
I don’t use mine outside (I use my w/chair) but I think it would be great to shop with if you have some mobility. Lots of folk take them on the bus too.
Hi Lorraine,here’s my penneth worth…Ten years ago I broke my left ankle and even though I still had plenty of ‘beef’,I couldnot use the crutches that I was given.As an aside,'cos I started walking on the fracture,they took the cast off two weeks earlier than expected.
Any road up the moral of the story is that crutches are effin’ hard work and I humbly suggest that a roller is a better option.Mrs H and Jane have given you very good advice.
i have tried both. crutches are very hard work! i had to admit that they werent for me. i have 4 wheeled walker with a seat-handy for resting! i got mine through physio-not ot-but def worth asking and trying both before u decide. 3 wheeled walker didnt make me feel safe-risk of toppling-espec with right sided weakness. gp can refer u for assessment.
I was givena three wheeled walker which at first was great but after a couple of months as my right side got weaker and my balance worse I began to feel like the thing was trying to kill me! I was constantly ending up on the floor and having to crawl to the phone for help in getting up. I was then given a zimmer frame which made me feel so much safer. As I’ve egained some of my strength I’ve been on cruches, they’re more work but I’ve not fallen yet
The OT from the social has been brilliant and I’ve been given everything from a shower to a stairlift so you should definitely go that route. What I would say is self referring can take forever, its much quicker to have a health pofessionaldo it for you.
Hi It must depend on your social services department…I’m quite rural, although a huge area to cover…I telephoned and the next day a social work assistant took my referral on the phone and literally less than a week later, an OT visited. I would’ve waited longer for a GP’s appointment !! Xx
Perhaps you could also address the problem of foot dragging, which might be dropped foot. There are several helpful options available, but a fes is my favourite.
