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Halloween Tips for the Injured

Guest post by Goodbye Crutches

Happy Halloween

Halloween is such a fun time of the year. You get to dress up in costume…go house to house and gather candy…and just have an all around good time with friends. When you injure yourself, you may think the fun has come to an abrupt halt. But, that doesn’t have to be the case. There are still things you can do to enjoy Halloween despite, or perhaps even because, of your injury. Here are a few tips to help the holiday remain enjoyable.

Tip#1: Find the Perfect Costume
Creating a costume for yourself on crutches is a new challenge, but there are plenty of ideas out there. You could be an injured soldier; for example, or perhaps a sports person who got injured during play. You could include your crutches by transforming them into wings and going as a bird or you could even do the old-fashioned mummy costume and use the crutches to support the theme. There are plenty of ways to dress around your crutches and even ways to include them.

Tip#2: Stay Safe
You will want to make sure that safety is your highest goal on Halloween. When you are injured, safety is more important than ever. You will want to choose a costume that allows you to move unhindered and one that will not trip you up. You will also want to make sure your flashlight has fresh batteries so you can see your path at all times.

Tip#3: Grab a Different Mobility Device
If you really want to enjoy the day, consider getting a mobility device other than crutches.
Goodbye Crutches has plenty to offer and each device has its advantages on HalloweenGoodbye Crutches Knee Scooter and beyond. The Hands Free Crutch, for example, is easy to walk in and allows you the use of both of your hands at all times. It also makes a great peg leg on a pirate costume! The Knee Scooter allows you to zoom around the neighborhood quickly, and with ease, and the Seated Scooter gives you a place to sit and rest throughout the evening. Any of the devices can be a lot easier on your recovery process on Halloween or any other day.

Tip#4: Consider Fashion
Halloween colorsIf you’ve found the perfect costume, the last thing you want is for your cast to stick out and not blend in. Check out CastCoverz! for covers for all orthopedic devices, such as a cast, brace, walking boot, or crutches, and see if you can find something that will fit the costume perfectly. There are enough fabric choices and options that you should be able to find the perfect cover and fit, and then think about getting a few other options for the rest of the season!

Tip#5: Have Fun
It might take a little more planning this year, but you can still enjoy Halloween and have fun, even in a non-weight bearing status. Plan ahead, and make some adjustments, so you can get the rest you need and enjoy the day!

Introducing a New Form of Mobility During Recovery!

Guest post by Goodbye Crutches

There are many tools on the market to help you through the recovery process, in addition to a number of comfort and care products. The Comfy Cozy Toe Cover and Shower Stool,  from Goodbye Crutches, help with your comfort and care, while cast, brace, walking boot, and crutch covers, along with waterproof cast protectors and the CastCooler, from CastCoverz!, offer style and comfort. But, no one item is more important than your mobility aid! Many people use crutches and do okay on them, but there are devices out there that can help you get around easier, faster, and even help you speed up the recovery process.

The iWALKFree Hands Free Crutch was exactly that type of mobility device. Many people used and loved the Hands Free Crutch. But, now there’s an even better device…the iWALK2.0! This device is similar to the Hands Free Crutch with a few key improvements. Take a look…

iWALK 2.0The iWALK2.0 is…

-Easier to take off and put on
There are three adjustable straps that cinch around your leg in three spots to help you stand and walk with ease. All you have to do is put your knee on the padded platform and cinch the straps in the right places and you are good to go. With a few tugs on each strap, you can undo the device and sit down with ease.

-Less expensive
The Hands Free Crutch was quite affordable at $399 and available for rent. But the iWALK2.0 is even better at just $149. The new version of the Hands Free Crutch is no longer available to rent because it is priced so low that renting would not be to the advantage of any customer.

-Lightweight
The 2.0 version of the Hands Free Crutch is even lighter than before. You can move quickly, easily, and even faster than ever. The light weight also helps you lift and store the 2.0 crutch, when you aren’t using it. You won’t have to worry about lugging a heavy mobility device with you wherever you go.

-Adjustable
The past version of the Hands Free Crutch was adjustable, but it was complicated. The iWALK2.0 is easy to adjust for height. It requires no tools and no cutting. You can even adjust it day-to-day, based on the shoe you wear on the other foot!

-Easy to learn
The iWALK2.0 is simple to learn, though it may take a few hours or more to figure out how to operate it properly. Once you learn how it works and how to operate it, you will be off and running.

When it comes to mobility, you’re the only one who knows what works best for you. Take a look at the iWALK2.0 and think about whether or not it will fit into your lifestyle and recovery needs. If you want to have your hands free for other uses while you get around as fast as you used to, it might be a good option for you! Goodbye Crutches has the iWALK2.0 available for you to inspect, as well as several other mobility devices, like the Seated Scooter and Knee Scooter.

5 Tips for Going Back to School on Crutches

Guest Post by Goodbye Crutches

Back to school on crutchesGoing back to school can be exciting and challenging all at the same time. When your child is on crutches, it’s a whole new ball game with plenty of new rules thrown into the mix. Here are five tips to help you prepare your child for going back to school on crutches and helping the experience go as smoothly as possible.

 

Tip#1:  Talk to the School

You will want to let the school know about your child’s condition. He might need to take medications or have a few extra minutes between classes to get around. He might also need to be excused from gym class or have extra help at lunch. Arrange as much as you can in advance with the school, so there are no surprises for him or the school on the first day.

Tip#2:  Arrange Help with Friends

Find out which of your child’s friends are in his classes and talk to them before school starts. Ask if they wouldn’t mind helping carry his books, lunch tray, and anything else he might need help with. Most friends will be more than willing to help, but you could offer a special ice cream treat or a movie adventure at the end of the recovery period as a thank you.

Tip#3:  Look into Alternatives to Crutches

boy_scooter_thumb-resized-600If your child struggles on crutches at home, surely he will have even more trouble at school. One of the best things you can do for him is to look into another mobility device that will help him get around easier. Goodbye Crutches has three options including the Knee Scooter, Seated Scooter and Hands Free Crutch. Look at the details on each and see which would fit your child’s activity level and lifestyle the best. Goodbye Crutches has a number of other products that can help your child with his recovery, as well, both at school and at home.

Tip#4:  Think about Style

PrintsCombo__65624.1366341893.1280.1280If your child would like to add some personality to his cast or would prefer concealing it, CastCoverz! cast covers slip on easily over the cast and come in a wide variety of colors and stylish fabrics. Not only do cast covers help your child stand out or blend in, depending on his personality, they keep the cast clean and snag-free! Who wants to look at an ugly, dirty cast or have his favorite clothing and furniture snagged from the rough casting material? CastCoverz! provides many other fun and functional products that comfort orthopedic patients; such as, designer color crutches, CastCooler for relief from itchy, stinky casts, the CastShield waterproof cast protector for bathing, and DryPro waterproof cover for swimming and going to the beach. Style and comfort help orthopedic patients feel better, so they heal better.

Tip#5:  Pamper Him at Home

Once your child gets home from school, he will be extremely tired from the long day of getting around on crutches. Pamper him as much as possible by bringing his snack to him on the couch and letting him lounge around more than usual, so he can store up as much energy as possible for the next day.

Going back to school always has its challenges. But, when you’re on crutches, it can be even more challenging. We hope these 5 tips will help you prepare in advance and help your child get through his orthopedic recovery experience while going to school.

how-to-stay-cool-during-the-summer-on-crutches

How to Stay Cool During the Summer on Crutches

The summer heat can make anyone miserable, but if you have to spend it on crutches, you are worse off than ever before. Having your injured foot or ankle in a walking boot or cast will only make that area sweat even more. Not to mention itch! There are ways you can stay cool during the summer months, even if you have a non-weight bearing injury. Here are some ideas to help you out.

Utilize the CastCooler for Comfort and Relief
girlwcast_261One of the best things you can do for yourself, while in a cast, is invest in a CastCooler. The CastCooler is a great device you simply wrap around your cast, attach to a standard vacuum cleaner hose, turn the vacuum on, and voila, the air removes moisture from the lining under your cast. It will leave you with a cool, fresh feeling that will help you from getting itchy in places you can’t access and keep your cast dry. When your injured area feels cool and fresh, the rest of you will feel cool as well.

Get an Alternative to Crutches
Goodbye Crutches Knee ScooterCrutches take a lot of work and when you’re moving around in the summer heat, you’re going to get hot fast. With the Hands Free Crutch, you can walk much like normal and get around very quickly. The Knee Scooter is easy to use and when you scoot yourself fast enough, you can even make your own breeze. The Seated Scooter allows you to sit and move around so you can rest and keep the sweating to a minimum.

Stay Inside
When the weather predictors are telling you about heat warnings and the danger of a high heat index, you should stay inside and keep cool. Your health is a priority during the recovery process and if you have to spoil yourself a little by staying in the cool air conditioning, then do so.

Drink More Water
One of the ways to help yourself feel cooler on the outside is by keeping your insides hydrated. Drink cool water continuously while you are out in the heat. You will feel better and the water will help keep you cool. You can also put the cool bottle on the back of your neck, forehead, or wherever else is feeling hot to give you some temporary relief.

Submerge in Water with DryPro
DryPro customer

If you have a cast on your foot, you can’t just jump into a pool, unless you have the DryPro Waterproof Cast Protector.  But, that doesn’t mean you can’t at least put one foot in the water. Use your kid’s little blow up pool and sink one foot into the cool water while you watch them play. You might even ask the kids to squirt you with their squirt guns this year!

CastCoverz!

Group Photo with CCZ products and AdGIn order to feel a different kind of cool, take a look at the variety of CastCoverz! you can purchase to hide or jazz up your plain, boring cast, while keeping it clean and snag-free! CastCoverz! provides FUNctional and fashionable orthopedic accessories such as cast covers, walking boot covers, designer color crutches & crutch pads, in addition to comfort and care products. Take the attention off your injury and put it onto your fun and fashionable cast cover instead!

Staying cool during the hot summer months can be a challenge, especially with a non-weight bearing injury. But with a little planning and the above tips, you can ward off a little bit of the misery!