You will need to push your body up with your arms NOT your feet!
1. Buy a raised toilet seat "with arms" (at any medical supply store) OR Toilet Safety Rails. Safety rails can be purchased at http://www.shopgetorganized.com/
2. Only sit in a sturdy arm chair like a dining room chair (No cushy chairs as your body sinks down and it is harder to push your body up with your arms from a lower position). If you go out to eat at a restaurant "after two weeks" make sure they have arm chairs. It is very difficult to get out of a chair without arms.
3. When getting out of bed push off from the footboard (if you have one) at the bottom of the bed or push on your night stand or bedrail to raise your body. Do not sleep on a couch, they are too low to the floor and you only have one arm to push off to get up.
4. For The First 2 Weeks After Surgery stay in bed with your injured foot "raised above your heart". Stack pillows or a wedge pillow under your foot. To prevent hyper-extension of your knee, place a pillow under your knee. Keep ice on your cast or bandage. Only get up to go to the bathroom or to eat. The Turning Leg Caddy should be used to get you to both of these activities immediately upon arriving home. If you stay overnight in a hospital bring the Turning Leg Caddy to the hospital for the Physical Therapists to work with you in the hospital. There is NO need for Crutches, Walker or a Wheelchair. If you rent any of the those they are cheaper for your insurance company to cover and they will deny coverage of the Turning Leg Caddy. If the hospital tries to send you home with them, refuse them. The TLC will give you much more mobility and independence.
5. If the pads are too hard on your knee, you can replace it with Tempurpedic, or any foam you want from a sewing or fabric store. Have it cut to fit the platform and put Velcro on the back to keep it in place. A patient used a small travel pillow and another put sheep skin on top of the pads. On The Move Mobility, LLC can only use foam that will not hold bacteria. Our pads are secured to the kneeling platform with Velcro.
6. I do not like the baskets. The beauty of the Turning Leg Caddy is that you can get up close to things like the sink, oven, stove, washer and dryer to be independent. Baskets are bulky and do not allow you to get up close to what you want to do, plus baskets make it more difficult to fold down the mast for travel. I use a small bag with two handles and hang it over the handle bars to carry everything with me. It is so much more convenient.
7. Practice the following BEFORE your surgery so you will not be afraid when you come home from the hospital. Getting on and off a raised toilet seat "with arms", getting in and out of a sturdy dining room chair "with arms", and getting in and out of bed. If you can master these using the Turning Leg Caddy, you will enjoy the mobility and independence to be active with your friends and family during your recovery.
8. When your doctor says you are able to put "a little weight" on your foot over a period of several weeks (25 pounds first week, 50 pounds second week, 100 pounds 3rd week to then be full weight bearing), there is no need to hassle with crutches. Just turn the platform around to line up with the other side, put your good knee on the platform and graduated weights on the healing foot to push the Turning Leg Caddy. It is so much easier than crutches and with the Turning Leg Caddy nothing slows you down!
9. When your doctor tells you it is time to "walk" on your boot or cast and you are finished with the Turning Leg Caddy, call me about another product we carry. A new innovative device that helps equalize your limb length and reduce body strain while walking. It is easy to put on over the shoe or sneaker of your good foot and a convenient fix for the frequent complaints of hip, knee and back pain caused by uneven walking.
All of us at On The Move Mobility have had ankle surgery and have used the Turning Leg Caddy for recovery. Call us at 877-97-STEER (877-977-8337) for more tips!
MINI "K" Turns To Turn in Tight Spaces
If you find yourself in a tighter space (like a narrow hallway or narrow pathway around furniture ) try mini K turns to get you going.
Back up "slightly" and turn the wheels to the right, then move forward "slightly" and turn the wheels to the left. Repeat over and over and the scooter will turn itself around. Practice doing this over and over and it will become second nature.
Going Up & Down Steps
The Turning Leg Caddy will not go up and down steps but a patient sent her recipe for negotiating steps
First have a chair at the top of the steps that you can grab when you get to the top of the steps. Actually it was my husband's shower chair from when he had hip replacement surgery. If your knee is sensitive to weight, try a knee pad to cushion the knee. Cleaning people and carpet layers use the pads that "strap on your knee".
I lean forward and put my knee (the one with the non weight bearing foot) on the top most step that I can reach. I bring my other leg/foot up to the next step and then lift and push so my knee of the injured side goes up to the next step. The good foot is actually 2 steps below the step with the injured side knee. Repeat this until you are at the top of the steps.
At the top of the steps, I put my knee on the top landing (no more steps), pull the good foot to the next step (one step away from the top), stand up holding onto the stair railing with all your weight on the good foot. Lean on the chair to allow yourself to bring up the good foot, spin and sit in the chair. Your helper will bring the Turning Leg Caddy to the second floor.
Going down the steps is a snap. I sit in the chair at the top of the steps and put my good foot on the first step going down. I lower myself down to the floor and basically slide down on my "behind" using my good foot as a brake. At the bottom, I have my helper bring down the Turning Leg Caddy to the first floor, so when I am two steps from the bottom I can put my good foot on the floor. I push my body up with one hand while holding onto the Turning Leg Caddy and in the process of standing I place my knee on the Turning Leg Caddy. (Submitted by Lee K.)
Getting in and out of a Taxi Cab
Go right up to the back passenger seat door, while holding onto the open door with one hand, bring your injured foot off the Turning Leg Caddy, push the Turning Leg Caddy out of the way, and turn your body to back into the cab and sit down. Ask the cab driver to put the Turning Leg Caddy in the trunk. He can lay it on its side and not even have to put the mast down. Upon arrival at your destination, the driver will bring the Turning Leg Caddy around to your open door. Put your good foot on the ground and using the arm rest push your body up. When you are standing put your knee on the Turning Leg Caddy and you are off.
Traveling on Airplanes
The Turning Leg Caddy fits down the aisle of an airplane so you can take any aisle or bulkhead seat. DO NOT sit in a middle seat or window seat as you will have to put your healing foot down to push over. Show the steward or stewardess how to put the mast down and they will put the Turning Leg Caddy in the under plane compartment with "baby strollers". DO NOT allow the Turning Leg Caddy to go in with cargo or suitcases, they will break it. When you land they will bring the Turning Leg Caddy back to your seat and you scoot right off the plane. Make sure you ask your doctor about airplane travel as flying causes your foot to swell. It is usually not advised in the first month after surgery.
See frequently asked questions under the TAB "Testimonials"
Additional Products I Used for Recovery
-
DryCast, Cast Blast & Cast Sock: http://www.drycast.com/ DryCast- waterproof cast cover for shower or bath. Cast Blast- relief of itch, odor or moisture in your cast. Cast Sock - Cover your exposed toes in summer and winter.
-
Get A Grip Safety Handle (Code: E8235) to help you get safely in and out of your tub and shower, Leg Lift Pillow (Code: G2930) to keep your injured foot above your heart 1-800-377-7878 OR http:// www.harrietcarter.com
-
-
Pedor Shoes: http://www.pedors.com/ When you are ready to walk again your foot may still be swollen, these shoes are made of neoprene so they stretch and conform to your foot. Light weight, machine washable, and you can insert custom orthotics. They are even sold as "single" shoes for a perfect fit on both feet. My favorites are Sneakers, Euro Clogs and Mary Janes. My husband loves the Oxford Lace Ups.
Nutrition & Weight Management
Losing weight before or after surgery can be very difficult since the sedentary lifestyle of painful feet or ankles will slow your metabolism. Learn how to change your lifestyle without being on a diet. Speed up your metabolism and lose weight.
A full line of vitamin supplements and weight management products called "Transitions" to help you feel terrific. The nutrition product "Isotonix OPC3" if taken daily before surgery and during healing, fights free radicals, improves circulation and promotes anti-inflammatory activity. Check out all the products at:
http://www.shopeverywherenow.com/ Go to Search and type in OPC-3 or Transitions. It will explain both products. OR Click on Health and Nutrition on the left side of the home page to see all the products. To purchase, register on the site in the top right corner "Sign In". Now you can order directly from this site.
Transitions Vanilla Shake Recipe: Frozen Pina Colada
Wishing you a speedy recovery!
Contact us to order a turning leg caddy, which is essentially a knee scooter that will help injured patients with mobility.
