Daughter's Crutches Causing Sores

Hi C.,
She should have been given patient education on the proper use of crutches and also they should have properly fit her to the crutches. Have her stand straight up. Place the ends of the crutches on the floor at least six inches away from her feet. The tops of the crutches should be two inches below her armpits. She should be supporting her weight with her hands. As she swings forward with her body, all her weight should be on her arms and hands. Her armpits should never be in contact with the crutches because it can cause nerve damage. If I were you, I would contact her doctor and see if you can take her back to be taught the proper way to use her crutches so she doesn't do additional damage. Did they watch her walk with them before sending her home?

I don't have much advice on the crutches issue but I have been a Type 1 diabetic for nearly 30 years. I was diagnosed at the age of 5 back in 1980. If you ever have any questions, please don't hesitate to e-mail. I still keep in touch with my pediatric endocrinologist in Massachuesetts. He is one of the best in country, if not the world. I can give you his name and # if you are interested.

She is not using them properly. They should not be at the rib cage they should be under the arm in the armpit area. Make sure they are not going out at an angle when she is using them they should be almost completely vertical. You can wrap a piece of faux sheep skin around the tops for extra padding. Make sure she is not weight bearing on the crutches when her good leg is being used. She should be using her arms for support.If she is a diabetic you want to make sure you watch the sores to make sure they heal properly. If she continues to have problems take her back to the doctor so they can show her the proper way to use them. Good luck!

I remember the sores from crutches! I was on them for months at a time in high school due to hip problems. First thing is to make sure the crutches aren't actually in the arm pits. The majority of the weight should be place on the hands, therefore they should get the most "damage". They crutches do rub against your clothes and leave pains from rubbing though.

I taped old dish towels to my crutches, which worked because I was able to wash them when they got smelly (you figure they were absorbing sweat and what-not from my body.

You could try wrapping kitchen towels around the tops of the crutches and tape it.

she's not supposed to actually lean on the top part of the crutches. i think most of her weight is supposed to go on the part where her hands are on the crutches, and the arm part is not supposed to hold any weight.

When I was 13 and needed crutches for 3 weeks I ran into the same problem. We ended up taping pieces of foam to the top of each of the crutches (where they go under your arms) and also where I had to put my hands to help with the pressure and relieve the rubbing sensation. Take a trip to your craft store and find something soft to put on the crutches.

I have been on crutches for almost 6 years (disabled) and I can tell you that there are several issues. First, they are not the right height. When you stand up straight they should be an inch under her arm pit. Second, Her arm should be at a slight (about 20%) angle so she can press herself up with her hands. Your arms should never be straight when you are just standing with them. Third, the top of the crutches are for stability not support so make sure she is not leaning into then when she walks. Forth, the crutches should be held close to the body as to not rub. Additional padding under the arms can cause you to use the crutches incorrectly. This can cause problems with her elbows, wrists, and hands so try not to add anything to the top.
I think I covered everything I have learned in a nutshell. It takes practice but with the right technique she will do great!

Also, the top is usually made with latex, could she have an allergy that can cause things to be worse?

I wholly agree with Pamela D's suggestions; it is very important that she is using the crutches properly and not leaning on the top under her arms; her weight should be primarily through her hands. If she still is having trouble even after a proper crutch training session, you could ask the doctor about getting Loftstrand crutches. These type put the weight on the forearms and hands without any pressure on the rib cage/chest. They are more expensive and a little trickier to use, but if nothing else works, it might be worth it. The fact that she is diabetic may make her skin more fragile as well. Good luck!

get a bra without underwire.

Hi C.,
I'm a Physical Therapist, and ironically I'm on crutches for a sprained ankle myself! I think the advice from Pamela D (previous poster) was spot on as far as technique. You shouldn't have to alter the crutches in any way if they are being used properly. If anything, padding may be added to the hand grips if it bothers her. A washcloth taped around should do fine. You shouldn't have to alter or pad the underarm pieces. She should NEVER be weightbearing on those underarm pieces! I strongly suggest asking your daughter's doctor for a referral for a visit with a PT for crutch training. Not only will it help her avoid chafing on her ribcage, but you really want to be sure that she's using them safely on stairs, curbs, and other uneven surfaces. They may also be able to give her some exercises to help her heal more quickly too.

When I was on crutches in high school, I had soft dish towels taped on to the top of them. It provided extra cushioning on my underarms and absorbed any extra moisture, since it is hard work being on crutches. I have been on them numerous times. Make sure the height is comfortable when standing up straight but not to be touching the underarms. She should be supporting her weight with her hands not her underarms. I hope her knee heals quickly.

I've never used crutches before, but was wondering if the top of the crutches were padded in some manner? If not (or even if so), maybe adding some sort of padding (or extra padding) would make it more comfortable. And for now, I would find something to help sooth the sores she already has...poor thing! Hopefully someone else will give more advice.
K.

Tell your daughter to use towls on her crutches that should help with the pain and with the sores

Hello,

I hear ya about crutches, I had to be on them last February due to foot surgery, when I did use them I wrapped towels around when the arms go it was much more comfortable. I also used like a wheelchair that I could rest my leg on and wheel myself around the house, if you have access to something like that it might be easier for her.
Good Luck.
K.

C.,

I have been on crutches several times, my suggestion is to go to the fabric store and get some foam. Wrap the foam around the the hand rests and the arm rests of the crutches, then wrap a wash cloth around it. I hope this helps.

Put Vaseline on the sores and have your daughter wear a sports bra until she's off the crutches. Also she can shift her weight throughout the day. I've been on crutches several times and had the same problems. They always tell you to hold yourself up so the pads aren't right in your armpit, but then of course, you get the problems your daughter has. She what I did was to shift back and forth between the two through the day and it really helped.

Hi C.,
Suggest to her that she push her body weight up with her hands and arms. Not to rest her weight on top of the crutches and lean on them for support.

K. P.
Mother of 13yr old son and 9 yr old daughter

Take her to the doctor