Have you ever needed medical advice, but dreaded spending time in the doctor’s office or urgent care because you’re not sure your illness constitutes the trouble? Techlicious has come up with “The Best Medical Advice Apps” to help you determine if a doctor’s visit is necessarily in order.
Before you download the Urgent Care, Health Tap, or First Aid by American Red Cross apps recommended by Techlicious, check with your insurance carrier to see if they have any of their own nurse hotline apps to assist you, as part of your coverage. And, as always, if it’s an emergency, call 911 or head straight to your emergency room.
Christmas might be a little more complicated this year. And not just because you have to travel, buy gifts, decorate, and do everything you normally do. This year, you’re on crutches, so everything takes longer and will be harder. When it comes to surviving the holidays on one foot, there are ten things you are going to want to add to your own Christmas gift list!
1) Shower Bench: You may have to give up a lot of things because of your crutches, but showering is not one of them! The Shower Bench will help you shower safely and enjoy the warm stream of water instead of having to hurry while balancing on one foot.
2) Comfy Cozy Cast Toe Warmer: Nobody likes cold toes. The Cozy Toe Warmer fits over your foot like a slipper and wraps around the back of your boot or cast with an easily adjustable Velcro. It will keep your toes warm, even outside in the snow, and will even keep them dry!
3) CastCoverz!: Just because you have a cast on your foot doesn’t mean you can’t look good while keeping your cast clean and snag-free. Look through the 18-branded CastCoverz! orthopedic accessories and pick out a few special ones you can enjoy during your recovery.
4) Ice Packs: Drippy Ziploc bags full of ice just won’t cut it. Ask for a few reusable ice packs you can use, and reuse, to keep the swelling down on your injured area.
5) Pillows: Certain pillows work better for elevating your foot. Ask for a small pillow that is more on the firm side and you will find yourself wanting to take it with you everywhere!
6) Rest: This might not be something to put on a gift list, but you do need to put it on your to-do list. No matter how much you need to get done or how much fun you are having at family gatherings and holiday parties, you have to force yourself to get the rest your body needs in order to heal quickly and efficiently.
7) Help: You might want to tell some friends and family members to forego gifts for you this year and offer their help instead. If you need help with errands, ask one of them to do some for you. If you need a ride, someone else can handle that. You might even ask for help preparing holiday meals or even everyday family meals. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. You may even get more than you need!
8) Family: Another thing you can never replace is the family members around you. You can get through any hardship with them by your side. Ask for extra family time and be sure to express your thanks.
9) Alternative to Crutches: If your crutches are really bothering you, you should look into alternative mobility devices and put one at the top of your list. KneeRover® has great options to examine. The Seated Scooter is a wonderful device that allows you to sit and scoot yourself from place to place. It is a great way to tack on a little extra rest, no matter where you go. The Knee Scooter can help you move fast and get through your errands and tasks. As long as you can kneel comfortably, this is a great option for you. Also, the iWALK3.0 Hands Free Crutch gives you the use of your hands, once again. You can strap this device on and walk much as you did before your injury. Choose the option that will suit your lifestyle best and highlight that choice at the very top of your wish list.
10) Waterproof Cast Protector: Ask for DryPro! The DryPro™ Cast Protector is completely watertight, keeping your casts and bandages dry. DryPro offers the only cast protection in the world with the patented vacuum seal to keep you dry. Whether you’re swimming or bathing, DryPro has got you covered!
Don’t forget to have fun with the season, despite your injury. You can sit back, relax, and enjoy the holidays and those around you. They might even make your injury fade into the background. Merry Christmas!
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 Halloween 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 If 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!
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…
-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.
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.
If you’ve found the perfect costume, the last thing you want is for your cast to stick out and not blend in. Check out 
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