Introducing Goodbye Crutches

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Guest Blog by Goodbye Crutches

Need relief from the pain and limitations of crutches?  If you can’t bear weight and can’t bear crutches, you’ve found the right place.  Introducing Goodbye Crutches…

When you see someone who has a cast on his or her leg, you usually see them hobbling around on crutches. Whether you are facing surgery or you’ve experienced an unexpected injury and your doctor tells you that you have to stay off one leg for a few weeks or longer, you might assume that you will be one of those people trying to get from place to place on crutches.  Crutches are helpful devices that can be of service to a non-weight bearing individual. However, they can also be very cumbersome and limiting.

Goodbye Crutches is a company that allows you a choice in terms of your mobility for the duration of your recovery.  You may choose to get around on crutches or you may opt for one of three devices Goodbye Crutches has to offer, which will allow you to resume most of your normal activities.

  1.  The Hands Free Crutch straps to your bad leg and makes you look like youhave a peg leg.  You bend your bad foot behind you and put your weight on your knee, as you walk.  With the Hands Free Crutch, you have the use of both of your hands at all times.  You can walk much like normal, go up and down stairs with ease, and do many of the things you used to enjoy

    CastCoverz! customer, Jessica, with her Legz! cast cover and using the Knee Scooter

    without a second thought.

  2.  The Knee Scooter is a device on wheels that allows you to scoot yourself from place to place.  You put the knee of your bad leg on the padded area and use your good leg to propel the device wherever you need to go.  You don’t have to worry about balance and you can even strap a basket to the front of the scooter to help you carry everything you need.
  3. The Seated Scooter works in the same manner as the Knee Scooter, only you sit and scoot yourself around.  This device is great for those who cannot put too much pressure on their knees and it can really help you save your energy, as you recover.

Take a look at each device and think about which one would fit into your lifestyle and the type of recovery you have to undergo.  While you examine your options, here’s what you need to know about working with Goodbye Crutches:

  • Free delivery within 1-2 days
  • All rental fees will be applied toward purchase price (if you decide to buy)
  • Most importantly, your satisfaction is guaranteed

Goodbye Crutches has other products to help you through your recovery period, too, such as toe warmers, shower benches, and other such items.  If you are facing a non-weight bearing time, visit Goodbye Crutches to make your recovery as easy and comfortable as possible!

Top 5 Cast Care Tips

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Having a broken bone and wearing a cast is just NO fun, but if you treat your cast well, it will treat you well, which means a speedier recovery!

Here are our Top 5 Cast Care Tips: 

  1. Keep it dry – Try DryPro or CastShield waterproof cast covers
  2. Never place anything inside your cast
  3. Wiggle toes or fingers to improve circulation
  4. Call your doctor immediately if you experience any increase in pain, redness, or swelling
  5. To prevent scratching, snagging, and to keep your cast clean and dry, cover it with CastCoverz! products
For other helpful cast care links, click HERE!  

We know your pain, frustration, and inconvenience.  CastCoverz! provides fun, functional, and waterproof products that comfort orthopedic patients.

Different Types of Bone Fractures

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Broken bones (also known as fractured bones) are common for both children and adults.  A broken bone occurs when a force exerted against the bone is stronger than it can structurally withstand.  Most fractures are usually due to a fall, athletic activity, or car accident.  The wrist, ankle, and hip are the most common sites for bone fractures and treatments include setting the broken bone in a cast or surgically pinning the bones back together.

There are many different types of bone fractures, but they are generally placed into one of four different categories:  Displaced, non-displaced, open, and closed.

Here are several different types of common bone fractures…

  • Torus fracture (or buckle fracture) – commonly seen in children due to softer bones, a torus fracture occurs when one side of the bone may buckle upon itself without disrupting the other side, also known as an incomplete fracture
  • Greenstick fracture – a small, slender crack in the bone, which is more common in children because of their flexible bones
  • Open or compound fracture – the broken bone breaks through the skin
  • Closed or simple fracture – the broken bone has not pierced through the skin
  • Displaced fracture – the bone snaps in two or more parts and are no longer aligned
  • Non-displaced fracture – the bone cracks partly or completely but maintains proper alignment
  • Hairline fracture (or stress fracture) – often occurs from repetitive stress to the same bone
  • Single fracture – a single break in one bone
  • Segmental fracture – a fracture in two parts of the same bone
  • Comminuted fracture – the bone is shattered into multiple small pieces

Although no one ever plans on suffering a broken bone, CastCoverz! is here to help you Feel Better, so you Heal Better!  CastCoverz! provides fun and functional products that comfort orthopedic patients; from cast, brace, and walking boot covers to colored crutches, crutch covers, and waterproof cast protectors, we’ve got you covered!

How to Know if a Bone is Broken in Adults

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Did you know you are born with over 270 bones?  But, many of these fuse together as you grow, leaving a total of 206 separate bones in an adult!  Broken bones (also known as fractured bones) are common for both children and adults.  In our previous post, “How to Know if a Bone is Broken in Children“, we learned that most fractures are usually due to a fall, athletic activity, or car accident.  In addition, some people can be more prone to breaks because of genetic conditions or bone disease that weakens bones.

An X-ray image of a fractured radius showing the characteristic Colles’ fracture with displacement and angulation of the distal end of the radius.

Adults most commonly fracture leg and ankle bones, along with forearms.  One-sixth of all fractures treated among adults are known as Colles’ fractures.  A Colles’ fracture is a fracture of the distal radius in the forearm with dorsal (posterior) displacement of the wrist and hand (commonly referred to as a “dinner-fork” or “bayonet” fracture.) They are most common in the elderly and often seen in people with osteoporosis.

A doctor may suspect a fractured bone simply based on the appearance of the injured area.  Following is a list of signs and symptoms you can use to help determine whether or not a bone is broken in an adult.

How to know if a bone is broken in adults:

  • Is the area swollen and bruised?
  • Is the limb hanging at a funny angle or look out of place?
  • Is the bone sticking out through the skin?
  • Did the injured person feel or hear anything crack?
  • Can they move the injured area?
  • Does it hurt when touched?
  • Most importantly, consult a doctor.  X-rays of the injured area will usually confirm the diagnosis of a broken bone, although stress or hairline fractures can be difficult to detect on an x-ray.  If the x-ray does not show a fracture, but after 7-10 days, there is still pain or something just doesn’t feel quite right, do not hesitate to ask for another.  By that time, calcium “ribbons” will be visible.  Calcium ribbons occur only when a bone has broken or suffered a Greenstick fracture (a mild bone fracture or bone bend.)

If you suspect a broken bone, do your very best to keep the injured area still, until you know for sure what type of orthopedic injury you are dealing with.  Once you know you’re dealing with a fracture and have been casted, you’ll definitely want to visit CastCoverz!  CastCoverz! provides fun and functional products that comfort orthopedic patients, from cast covers and walking boot covers, to colored crutches and CrutchWear crutch accessories, we’ve got you covered!  OH, and don’t forget you’ll need to keep that cast DRY with DryPro waterproof cast protector, and for some much needed relief from that itchy, stinky cast, try CastCooler!

Feel Better, Heal Better, and be sure to check out our previous post, “How to Know if a Bone is Broken in Children.”