External Fixator Anyone??(And A Little Family History)

[ayabrea38]

Hello everyone and welcome to the next instalment of our family!!
Here is a little history (hope these links work or I will look stupid)
Remember this
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/ChatterBank/Question1218112.html
and this
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/ChatterBank/Question1173292.html
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Body-and-Soul/Question1201967.html
and of course this
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/ChatterBank/Question989970.html
Well here is an update in brief
OH now has illeostomy bag,thanks to C Diff.Nasty big op last year and is just getting used to the ups and downs of getting the bag just right.
Master and Miss Aya have just finished their first year in collage and are awaiting results.All is good with them.
But yesterday I had my appointment with the reconstruction unit and I am glad to say I have been offered reconstruction.Amputation was available if I wanted it,but this seems much better.
So now I have to learn how to get about on crutches properly.I can use them for 'normal' walking,but I have to learn how to use them to walk in the way you keep one foot off the ground,non weight bearing and I just cannot do it!!
I cannot swim or ride a bike,I have tried,but my brain just wont let me.Its the same with crutches,my brain just wont let me have all the weight going through the crutches,specially when it comes to stairs.The physio have decided to go right back to basics and have started me off on just trying to walk with them instead of the rollator I use at home.We are taking it step by step.
I will have one type of fixator on for about 6 weeks,the one that cannot have any weight going through it,then another for about 8 months,but I will be able to weight bear through that one.
Any tips?Please?? :)

Also,I have to give up smoking :(
I am no too biothered about that thanks to electronic cigarettes.I have been using one at night in bed for ages now and know they will help.

Its the crutches I am worried about.

I mean,if I cannot master stairs,are they going to keep me in hospital all the time I cannot weight bear?I have to be able to do stairs as we only have an upstairs loo and I just cannot see me being confident enough to do them.OH can do then easy so thinks I should be able to just do it,but its easy to tell someone that when you can!!

If anyone can help or has been in the same situation I would love to hear how you got on.

Sorry for the sooooo long post,but I know a lot of you where wondering how we all where getting on.

[SlackAlice]

Hi, as far as the crutches go, I can see where your coming from. A long time ago I had to use crutches when I had a broken leg and I used the crutches that came up into the armpit. No problem with them. A year later and I had to have another operation and they gave me the 'newer' type that came with the clips around the arms and not so high.
I had a few problems with these and found them not so easy to use.
Going up and down stairs I only used one crutch and the handrail.

Ask the Physio about different types of crutches and explain your concerns to him/her.

Congratulations on your decision to quit smoking, your making it sound very easy ☺☺☺

[ayabrea38]

Thanks SlackAlice,I am having lessons from the physio's,they are so patient!!They have given me crutches with larger than normal handles so my neuropothy problem in my hands issnt a problem.

As for making giving up smoking sound easy,I think my typo (biothered??? spell checker obviously having some time off) says where my nerves are at the moment and I have yet to declare when I turn in to a smoke free zone :)
Thanks for answering
Aya and Co

[bednobs]

when i broke my leg, i couldn't use crutches in the manner you describe either - i just did not have the ability to take all the weight thru my wrists and hands (probably not helped by the fact my weight was considerable and my arms were puny) anyway, i ended up with a standing frame that worked mich better for me

[ayabrea38]

I do have a standing frame,and would be much happier with that,BUT as always the problem is the stairs.
It was bad enough when I last came out of hossie and had to 'bum' my way up and down,had to book my pee 10 minutes in advance ;)

Pity I cannot do that this time,I got it down to a fine,yet absolutely unbelievably hard art!

[bednobs]

could you live downstairs for a bit?

[ayabrea38]

And pee where.......let alone the other :)

[bednobs]

pee in a jug during the day and put it down the sink. Or get a commode.