16 Ways To Make Crutches Suck Less

The struggle is real.

Crutches suck, really badly.

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While you're dealing with an injury and a whole new way of moving around here's some steps to take the pain out of yer sticks.

1. Take breaks often.

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Rest up. Not only is your body taking the strain of moving around on one leg and your arms, but your brain is also coping with learning this new way of getting around. Get plenty of sleep, take breaks and break any daunting tasks into chunks.

Make the most of being off your feet and catch up on all those series you've been meaning to watch. Who knew it was possible to watch all three series of Louie in two days?

2. Get a rucksack.

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We're not going camping (sorry), you'll need a hands-free bag to carry daily things like your phone, notepad, chocolate Hobnobs. Expect to develop a very close relationship with your special carrying friend.

3. And don't forget your flask.

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Hot cups of tea and crutches do not go well together, get a flask and you can fill it with tea, put it in the rucksack and enjoy all-day sippin'.

Forget traipsing to the kitchen for tea a hundred times a day and if you make a full flask for bed you can wake up with a hot cuppa in the morning. Small pleasures.

4. Invest in a cast protector.

Via limboproducts.co.uk

Get a cast protector. Limbo do some good ones that allow you to submerge your leg fully. Buy a shower stool or sturdy plastic stool from your local pound shop to sit on in the shower and if you need to, rest your leg on a bucket while you shower. Glamorous!

5. And crutch grips will save your life.

Via oarsomegrips.com

Crutch grips will help you get around and absorb the impact on your hands. Oarsome do a great rubber sleeve that cushions impact and makes you feel more secure on your crutches. Or try Flexivity gel-pad grips for adjustable cushioning while you're out and about.

Be sure to get the right size for your type of crutches.

6. Think about where you'll be sitting.

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A bar stool is the perfect height for you to sit and rest your legs while you're food prepping. Or go for a wheely chair to make the endless fridge-chopping board-cooker trips a bit more bearable.

7. Tupperware is your new bestie.

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Unless you have a kindly soul to make you dinner, the easiest way to eat on crutches is to pack your meal in a Tupperware box and carry it to the couch (as if you're sitting at the dining table in a cast, amirite?!)

The joy of eating on the sofa vs at the kitchen counter soon outweighs the downside of plastic.

8. Eat right to help your body.

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Which brings us to eating, if you have a broken bone or torn ligament you need to eat right so your body can repair itself.

Talk to your doctor about the best way to eat to aid your recovery.

Here are some healthy eating charts to get you started.

9. Get your vitamins too.

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Foods high in vitamin C are also good for ligaments, helping reduce inflammation to the injury site. Try kiwis, berries, peppers and good ol' broccoli to do some good.

10. But sometimes, takeaways are your friend.

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Sometimes you'll be tired and you can't face making a trip to the kitchen, takeaway is your friend! Try to research places that aren't total junk, you can now often get proper meals instead of the usual pizzas. It's definitely ok to cheat once in a while.

11. Have a strategy for stairs.

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Stairs are the worst and it will take you time to get used to them, don't be afraid of shuffling on your bum at first.

The saying "good leg to heaven, bad leg to hell" will help you negotiate steps and stairs. Going up? Your good leg goes up first. Going down? Lower your centre of gravity by moving your bad foot down first.

12. Don't get worried if you have to use a needle.

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Having a leg in plaster can sometimes lead to circulation problems so your doctor may have put you on injections.

If you are on blood-thinning injections, remember the needle can slightly slanted so try to insert at a bit of an angle to make it easier. Loud singing helps to distract and looking away as it goes in can stop you from chickening out.

13. Keep on moving!

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Even if you haven't been prescribed blood-thinners, make sure to wiggle your toes regularly or if you can't, massage them to get the blood moving.

A good supply of oxygenated blood will help the healing process. Get up and move when you can (hi toilet breaks!) and keep your leg raised with cushions above hip height to allow blood to drain back.

14. Take help where you can get it.

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Don't be afraid to ask for help, whether it's people holding doors open for you or getting friends to drop you over food shopping.

It's sometimes hard to imagine how hard it is on crutches so take advantage of the milk of human kindness as much as you can!

15. Let your body guide you.

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Go with your body, if making a cup of tea and sitting at your desk pretending to work has tired you out, take a nap.

Pace yourself and don't feel defeated if you need to take some time out.

16. And take wisdom from Sheryl Crow.

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In the words of Sheryl Crow "no one said it would be easy, no one said it would be this hard".

Some days are going to suck, and that's to be expected. Make sure you are stocked with whatever will make your day easier, from ready meals to thoughtful friends or a glass of wine, stockpile things you can lean on when it gets tough.