What can help lessen up the soreness under my arms caused by crutches?
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When I broke my leg I used crushed asprin and udder cream!! It worked really good. Also you might want to try putting extra padding on the top of the crutches.
sit down more often.
Well they probably told you not to walk around that often, so that should help. You can wrap something soft, like a few towels around the part that gets placed under your arm. Also making sure they are at the correct height with help. I really dont think supporting ALL your weight on your armpits is correct, your arms should do some of the supporting as well, this will take pressure off the armpit.
Have they given you pain medication? That should help with any underarm pain, other than that, I dont think theres much you can do.
I don't know. I broke my ankle a few weeks ago and I am on crutches too (or supposed to be anyway!). They hurt bad! I couldn't figure anything out either. Make sure that the height is right. I saw someone w/towels pinned around them once for added cushion too. Best of luck hun and sorry to hear about it!
Make sure your crutches are adjusted to the right height. -- if the bottom of the crutches are 4 inches to the outside of your feet when you are standing, the top should be several finger widths away from your armpit. If your arm is relaxed next to the crutches (in the same position as listed above), your wrist should be level with the handle part of the crutches.
The weight should *not* be held by your armpits, it should be held through the muscles in your arm. If you hang on the crutches with your armpits, it can cause nerve damage.
Again, good luck!
I would suggest using some soft towels to cover the pads on the crutches. That helped me a lot while I was on the crutches. I also tried to stay off my leg as much as possible just because I hated the crutches so badly.
Length of Crutch:
1. If the patient is known, multiply the height by 77% (e.g. 70 inches x 77% = 53.90, or 54 inches) or substract 16 inches from the height (e.g., 70 inches - 16 inches = 54 inches) and use the resulting value for the overall crutch length .
2. With the patient in lying position, use a tape to measure the distance from your anterior axillary fold (crease of the armpit) to a point approximately 6-8 inches lateral to the patient's heel for the overall crutch length.
3. With the patient sitting and his/her upper extremities abducted to the shoulder level, with one elbow extended and one elbow flexed to 90 degrees, measure from tip of flexed elbow to the tip of the longer finger of the hand of the opposite upper extremity; this determines the overall crutch length.
These methods should provide similar results, but there may be difference in the measurements. You will have to select the method that provides the best result consistently. This measurement is an estimate of the length of the crutch and will have to be confirmed with the patient standing.
tape a face towel to the arm rest and try that
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