Crutch Hacks 101

1) Take your time! Be patient with yourself. Everything takes longer on crutches. Allow yourself that time. Go slow. Be safe. Don't try any crazy circus stunts to reach something or to try to do something you know you shouldn't. Not worth it. Use extra caution in the bathroom and getting in and out of the car. 

2) Proper fit. I am a nurse. I've taught thousands of kids how to use crutches. When I walked into PT the first time, the PT pointed out that mine weren't adjusted correctly. Embarrassing. Have your PT look at yours the first time you go. Ignore the height measurement on the crutches. Also, you may need to adjust for shoes vs. barefoot walking. 

3) Crutch bags. You can buy these on amazon.com. Mine are from Crutcheze. Buy one for each crutch. If you do nothing else, do this. 

4) Crutch pads. You'll see these on Amazon when you search for crutch bags. Here's my thought- if your crutches fit properly, you should never need these. There should be two fingers of space between your armpit and the crutch. You bear weight with your hands, not your shoulders. 

5) Mason jar. I love this one! Get a jar with a tight-fitting, one-piece lid. Like a glass peanut butter jar, for example. You can now pour yourself a cocktail or glass of wine and stick it in your little crutch bag. You can use this for any cold beverages, cereal, cut fruit... It's great!

6) Thermal to go mug. Find one that fits in your crutch bag and doesn't leak. Coffee and tea are now possible!

7) Food. Nutrient-dense, protein-rich, minimally processed foods are what you need to optimize healing and stave off muscle and weight loss. Easier said than done with crutches. Cooking and cleaning is tough. It's a little pricy, but look for individually packaged foods. If you have some of the foods below on hand, you can throw them in a small ziploc (stock up on those) and carry them in your crutch bag or backpack. 

• Natural cheese sticks or string cheese. 
• Bananas, apples, pears, oranges, grapes or pre-cut melon and pineapple. 
• Individual containers of hummus, cottage cheese, peanut/almond butter, and yogurt. 
• Good quality canned salmon and tuna. 
• Bags of greens. Add some canned salmon, cheese, fruit, nuts, dressing- whatever you like- and eat your salad right out of the bag. 
• Celery and carrot sticks. 
• Nuts, dried fruit, or trail mix. Watch quantities here as they are calorie-dense. 
• Organic or natural beef or turkey jerky. 
• Microwave popcorn. 
• Pretzels. 
• Minimally processed granola or fruit bars. 
• 16 oz water bottles. Stay hydrated! 

8) Plastic grocery bags. Use these for garbage. Keep some closeby your CPM machine, your bed, and in the kitchen. You can easily carry them to the trash can. 

9) Backpack. Get a cheapie, lightweight backpack and carry it with the pouch in front. Use it to carry things from room to room- ice packs, an iPad, a book...the uses are endless. 

10) Pockets. Not a fan. Some people recommend pajamas or robes with pockets. My experience is that they get in the way of the crutches and increase your risk of an accident. 

11) Hand weights or exercise bands. If you're like me and exercise is an integral part of your mental health, use these to do a little upper body workout. Put them somewhere you can access them easily and safely. Mine are right under the couch.
12) Chair. Put a chair in the kitchen so you can heat up food and eat off an actual plate. You won't be able to carry a plate from room to room, so if you're by yourself, this is your best bet.
13) Paper plates and utensils. Though not environmentally friendly, I recommend temporarily using plastic/paper plates and utensils. You really need to minimize the strain on your hips and good knee when you are non or partial weight bearing. Doing dishes is just an unnecessary effort until you're a little more independent. 

Getting Ready for Knee Surgery

Oh the things they don't tell you... There are some pretty simple things you can do BEFORE surgery to make your postoperative experience smoother.  I figured out some of this before surgery and some of it after. Since sharing is caring, I'm passing it on:

1) Elevated Toilet Seat. Ok, you can make it without this one, but it sure makes life easier. I am 6'2" so it's a long way down to the toilet and a long way back up. More than anything, this reduces the strain on my good knee. These things aren't exactly made like cadillacs, so buy the best one you can.
2) Shower Chair. I got a bench without a back. It saved me. You can't bear full weight for 6 weeks or more. Get a real, medical-grade, sturdy one. Practice getting in and out of the shower before surgery to find the best position for it. Get a non-slip mat for the shower/bathtub.
3) Shower Nozzle. Consider getting a shower nozzle with a hose. This way you can sit on your shower bench and wash your hair, etc.
4) Clothes. Get yourself a bunch of loose pajama shorts or boxers and comfy t-shirts. Old Navy and I became well acquainted. Short nightgowns work too if you're into that. Anything tight or long isn't going to work. Do your laundry before surgery. I put all my "post-op" clothes in neat piles on the bed in our second bedroom so I wouldn't have to go in and out of drawers and closets. Until you're really used to crutch walking, it's best to keep things simple.
5) Toiletries. Place everything you use within arm's reach. Bed, Bath, & Beyond sells some great little shower shelves and hooks with suction cups. I have a shelf with my toiletries right next to me in the shower and a hook for my washcloth. Put away things you don't use. Make sure you stock up on things you use and like. You won't be shopping for a little bit. Buy some baby wipes. You won't shower for 3 days and these things just come in handy. Trust me.
6) Crutch Bags. You'll thank me for this one. You can order these on Amazon. The ones I bought are from "Crutcheze". Buy one for each crutch. They are INVALUABLE for carrying water bottles, keys, cell phone, snacks...these are a must.
7) Ice. Your doc will likely order a cryosleeve. There are some that are self-cooling and are typically provided by a DME company. If your insurance doesn't cover it, these can run around $150/week. There are some that require ice and must be replenished with ice several times a day. My hospital sent me home with the second type to keep. Your ice maker cannot possibly make enough ice to feed this monster. It requires a daily ice run to the store. Also, you will need someone to refill it for you. It's a major pain for the poor person helping you. It is also critical for your pain control and recovery! Nothing feels better than getting that thing cooled down. Really stay on top of it for 72 hours and continue to use it as long as you can. Stock up on ice before the surgery. Consider buying a cooler (if you don't have one) to store extra ice.
8) Pillows. I'm a fan. You can't be too rich, too thin, or have too many pillows. Period. I am partial to king-sized, down. Use them to keep that leg elevated! And they really help with getting comfortable to sleep. If you're not used to sleeping on your back, it's an adjustment made easier by copious pillows.
9) Bandages. Ask your doctor's office what bandages you may need post op. Probably you will need 4x4 gauze, rolled 4-6" gauze (Kerlix), waterproof bandages, and a couple of extra 6" ace wraps. Stock up before surgery.
10) Food. Saltines, graham crackers, ginger ale, and soup were my stand by's for a day or two. I'm going to talk more about nutrition and crutch-friendly foods in a later post, but for now, stock up on easy to digest foods. Avoid heavy or rich meals and alcohol for a couple of days. Narcotics lead to constipation, so if you like prunes, grab some of those. Either way, make sure to stay tanked up on fluids. It will help prevent constipation, promote tissue healing, and make you feel better all around.
11) Prescriptions. Ask your doc to give you your post op prescriptions before surgery so you can get them filled. If you're a puker like me, ask for a couple of days worth of nausea medication. Stock up on Tylenol and Motrin. If you take regular prescription drugs, get them refilled before surgery.
12) Clear a Path. Take any bath mats or rugs out of your bathroom. They are mortal enemies with crutches. In the same vein, think like you are already on crutches and get rid of any obstacles you can.
13) Backpack. First, you must temporarily bury your sense of style. Don't worry, a resurrection will come. In the interim, get yourself a small, light backpack that you can carry around backwards (pouch in front). I'm using a freebie, cheapo, nylon one from my employer. I won't enumerate the myriad uses for this thing. You will find your own to be sure. The boyfriend gets credit for this one. Smart guy, I have. 
14) A Person. You will need an actual living, breathing person for several days. No way around it. You will need help getting to and from the bathroom for a couple of days while you're on narcotics and learning your way around crutches. You will need help changing your bandage. You will need help showering the first couple of times. You simply need a second set of hands and feet. And for your mental health, you need a little company from someone who cares about you. It's truly a tremendous amount of work for the person helping you. Parent, spouse, child, sibling, friend...find yourself a "person". I'm now going to take a moment to recognize that my guy has been a prince through all of this. He's taken care of me in the most tender and loving ways. Heaven sent, really. I wish you this blessing!