Sunday, February 15, 2015

MOVING AROUND ON EGG SHELLS

I am seriously unbalanced on crutches, be they arm clasping ones or the under arm variety.  I was slightly better on the second type much to my surprise. They are meant to be cupped more into the upper body than pinned under armpits, which made all the difference, albeit a slight one. "Strictly no weight bearing for six weeks" landed me in the crutches predicament. Plan B was to keep me in hospital for an extra night, in the forlorn hope that I would suddenly develop Olympic hopping strength with one leg that would take me up and down stairs like a happy bunny. The whole procedure made me pretty nervous when I felt myself wobble backwards and go in directions I hadn't planned for.  I felt faint.  My  blood pressure quite low up till then, bumped up to a more respectable level - though not an ideal level - and I was given a break for an hour or so.

Going up and down steps, nothing like the ones at home, was still pathetic, descending was a little better. As I said, the steps were nothing like the ones at home, whichever way you were tackling them. Ours were higher for one thing.  On the flat I could use a four-footed aluminium walking frame that had two wheels at the front, to hop around with for short distances.....but what to do about stairs and steps. I did go home with crutches and the frame, with the risk being mine.

We never gave 'convenient' parking a thought. I struggled out of the car gratefully grabbing the walking frame near to me.  I wouldn't have had to potter round the back end of the car and do a lot of extra hopping on hard ground with my untrained leg if the car had been facing the other way. Reverse parking would have made the world of difference. And then those steps up........ It was scary and not an exercise I am keen to repeat. I haven't yet mastered the art of ascending a few narrow tread carpeted stairs, I wonder if I shall.

It's early days and it is already like moving around on egg shells, when I try to.




8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Goodness what have you done, or had done, to warrant such problems.
My sympathies and I hope that you improve soon, and don't come to further grief. Flighty xx

ZACL said...

Hi Mr F,
I have had elective surgery. The surprise was the no weight bearing for 6 weeks. I was under the misapprehension that I would be able to do a bit of heel walking, just like some of the other people were able, who were 'done' the same day. Horses for courses comes to mind.

Thanks for your kind thoughts. xx

Jennytc said...

Oh dear! Hope the 6 weeks go by quickly and you stay safe.

ZACL said...

Hello Jennyta,

How lovely to hear from you. I have been thinking about you. How are you?

I hope for the same as you. Thank you for your kind wishes. xxx

Snowbird said...

I can imagine how hard it must be to walk on crutches, I've never had too, but when hubs broke his leg a few years ago he struggled with the things.
I can imagine stairs must be a nightmare, I'm afraid your hubs shall have to carry you up and down them!
I'm glad the op went ok, and do hope the crutches get easier, please take care, here's to your speedy recovery!xxx

ZACL said...

Hi Snowbird,

Experiences of hubs carrying/lifting me and experiences for him carryng me have already been attempted. I can verify that you either have to be at peak of fitness and/or a good gym weight lifter, depending which side of the fence you sit.

Confidence in other methods of mobility is not very great, in fact, I would say it continues to be totally wobbly. It lets me know it :(

Thanks for your good wishes.
Xxxxxx

Anonymous said...

Being in such a dependent position can make us feel very vulnerable. I hope that you soon find ways of making things work for you, although the stairs do sound something of a challenge. If they are 'older' stairs, steep and with narrow treads, they can be difficult at the best of times.

I hope you heal quickly and without setbacks.

ZACL said...

Thanks GillyK, i do hope your holiday has perked up.

There have been a couple of accidents which gave us a fright, one not on stairs and one trying to work round stairs. I had a sore back added to the post op sensitivity. It is real trial and error.

:)