Before my daughter, Elli, broke her first bone, I really didn’t know anything about casts, let alone how to care for one. But after 12 broken bones, and serving hundreds of thousands of customers, I am a verified expert and I want to pass on what I learned to you. Following are cast newbies most frequent questions and my answers. In short, here’s some basic information about casts: Continue reading
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!
Guest Post by GoodBye Crutches
Spring is on the verge of bursting through the seams of Winter and you can’t enjoy it because you can only bear weight on one foot! Don’t worry, even though the recovery process will still be hard, there are things you can do to put a spring in your step and enjoy the nicer weather, beautiful flowers, and all of the other perks that come along with the new season. Here are just a few things you can do:
-Cover your Cast!
The cast on your foot probably already looks old and gloomy, even if you just got it put on last week. In order to brighten up your attitude and your appearance, browse through the variety of CastCoverz! fun and functional orthopedic accessories available and see what fits your style and your wardrobe. You can get something that would go with everything or a few stand-out selections. Welcome this new season with an update to your cast’s appearance.
-Make Your Mobility Easier
If you have been suffering on crutches all Winter long, there’s only one way to go this
Spring. Choose an alternative to crutches and you will soon find that you can go where you want and do what you want to do. Goodbye Crutches has three options, all of which are easier than crutches. The Hands Free Crutch is a great option for those who want to walk much like normal and retain the use of both hands. The Knee Scooter can help you scoot from place to place even faster than before. And the Seated Scooter allows you to sit and scoot, so you can save your energy for the things you really want to do.
-Get Fresh Air
You’ve likely been cooped up inside all Winter long, nursing your injury, and now that the weather is nicer, it’s time to get out and breathe in the fresh air that Spring brings. It’ll make every part of your day better. Plus, if you have a mobility device from Goodbye Crutches, getting outside is easier and sometimes even downright fun!
-Make Plans
With any luck, your doctor has given you a range of dates for your recovery. You won’t know exactly when you’ll be able to walk on both legs again, but you have an idea. Spend the Spring making plans. Whether you want to plant a garden, go on vacation, or simply take the kids to the zoo over the summer, making plans will help you look toward the future and forget about the pain of the recovery process.
-Eat Right
The best way to give yourself energy during the recovery process, and aid the process along as fast as possible, is to fuel your body with the proper nutrition. You may not always feel like eating healthy meals, but once your body gets used to it, you will notice a definite spring in your step and you will enjoy the extra energy you have to use in the warmer weather.
Sure, you’re still stuck on one leg, but don’t let that ruin this beautiful Spring season. Use these tips to help put a spring in your step…even if you can only step with one leg!
Guest Blog Post by Goodbye Crutches
When you trip and fall and injure yourself, you don’t normally feel very lucky. In fact, you probably feel just the opposite. In order to feel a bit more lucky as you go through the recovery process, you may need a few items to help you out. Your orthopedic recovery is all about getting through your day to day life with as much comfort and ease as possible, and when you have these items on your side, you will feel lucky to have discovered them.
Showering Aids
There’s nothing like a good shower to make you feel better about your situation. But when you are hobbling around on one foot, standing in a slippery shower, and trying to balance, you’re just asking for more bad luck. The good news is there are plenty of shower aids on the market that help you shower safely. The Shower Bench, for example, allows you to sit and enjoy the warm stream of water without having to balance yourself on one leg. And the cast protectors keep your cast covered, so it is protected from the water. A few Grab Bars can help you get in and out of the shower without slipping, too.
Alternatives to Crutches
If you really want to feel lucky while you recover from your injury, you should really look into mobility devices that you can use, other than crutches. Goodbye Crutches has three such options and all of them have advantages. The Knee Scooter is a wheeled device that allows you to kneel on a padded area and scoot yourself from place to place. The Seated Scooter works in a similar manner, only you sit and scoot. Both devices even have baskets that attach to the front, so you can carry items along with you wherever you go. And the Hands Free Crutch is a great option that allows you to walk around, much like you did before, while keeping your injury elevated and safely out of the way. You will feel lucky to use any of these three helpful mobility options.
CastCoverz!
When you have a cast on your leg, you might feel like it just screams about the unlucky incident you had when you tripped, fell, or however it was you injured yourself. If you go online and order yourself a few different CastCoverz! products, you can keep your cast covered up with beautiful, vibrant covers that can either blend in with your outfit or stand out, depending on your preference. You’ll feel fashionable again despite your injured state. And when you are recovering, your state of mind is just as important as your physical comfort.
Helpful People
When you are injured, nothing will make you feel more lucky than a helpful hand at just the right time. You will be amazed by the amount of people who go out of their way to help you. Your family members will likely pitch in more around the house. Your friends might offer to run errands or cook meals for you. Your neighbors might mow the lawn or do other chores for you. And even random strangers might offer to carry things for you or help you in and out of your car. Every time someone lends a hand to you while you recover, that lucky feeling will really kick in.
Though you may not feel lucky about how you injured yourself, there are plenty of helpful items and reasons to feel lucky during the recovery process.