 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Arthritis / April 2005need advice for a friend
I have a friend whose mother has RA. Her name is Roberta. 2 years ago, she had an ankle reconstruction that never fully healed....to make a very long story short, the new ankle ended up giving way and a few weeks ago, she had the ankle and foot amputated. She went into a rehab unit near the hospital for a few weeks and since the area is still healing, they were trying to teach her to use a walker. Well, she's having a very difficult time using the walking because hopping on the other leg is just not working. So, now they've transferred her to a nursing home until the healing is complete. They said she just wasn't making enough progress in rehab. Her daughter said she is sooooo bummed out about this. I told her that I would post here to see if anyone has any suggestions as to what she should use instead of a walker to get around. I used forearm crutches when I had my ankle surgery and they worked a lot better for me than a walker....for the same reason that Roberta is having problems using the walker. How can they expect someone with RA to hop around around on one leg? I don't think those people understand the difficulties of RA or they wouldn't have even attempted to get her to hop on one leg!! GRRRRR!! If anyone has any advice or suggestions, I know she'd really appreciate it!! I told Diane, Roberta's daughter that this group always has the best suggestions and advice. I know there are some people who have used special crutches besides forearm crutches, but I can't for the life of me remember what they're called. Carol > I have a friend whose mother has RA. Her name is Roberta. 2 years > ago, she had an ankle reconstruction that never fully healed....to [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > > Carol Would something like this help? http://www.kxtv10.com/news-special/close-up/canadaleg/ http://www.onecrutch.com/home.html Bill Those are ingenious! Amazing what some people think up. DeeTee ________________________________ DeeTee and Bob Taggart http://www.marykay.com/dtaggart3 http://mysite.verizon.net/vze8fwov/ ________________________________ >> I have a friend whose mother has RA. Her name is Roberta. 2 years >> ago, she had an ankle reconstruction that never fully healed....to [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > > Bill > Would something like this help? > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Bill neat idea. Wish they were cheaper, I'd buy one to keep around for my next sprained ankle!  SignatureNann remove the Gator cheer to email me Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare Wow!! I'd like to try one of those. I sent the info to my friend for her arm. Thanks Bill!! Carol > > I have a friend whose mother has RA. Her name is Roberta. 2 years > > ago, she had an ankle reconstruction that never fully healed....to [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > > Bill I don't have any suggestions for equipment, but I do suggest a heart-to-heart talk with Roberta's doctors about her ambulation problems. He should be able to write specific instructions for PT to evaluate her for assistance with ambulation in view of the limitations imposed by both her amputation and her RA. It sounds like someone in PT is just doing the "standard" rather than truly evaluating her. Of course, someone else may have a better suggetion, but a good PT with appropriate orders should be able to find the assistive device that works best for Roberta. I don't blame her at all for being bummed out about this, anyone would be. Pass it along the grapevine that she is in my thoughts and prayers. SignatureNann remove the Gator cheer to email me Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare Thank you, Nann! I relayed this info to Diane. She appreciates you so much. I think you're so right about the PT just doing the standard for Roberta. I'm sending my forearm crutches with Diane to that she can at least try those out. This nursing home is full of people who are in really bad shape. Roberta shouldn't be there. I think if she could get some help, she'd be far better off at home. It just really grinds me that they didn't even try anything else but a walker. Carol > I don't have any suggestions for equipment, but I do suggest a heart-to-heart > talk with Roberta's doctors about her ambulation problems. He should be able [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > I don't blame her at all for being bummed out about this, anyone would be. > Pass it along the grapevine that she is in my thoughts and prayers. > Thank you, Nann! I relayed this info to Diane. She appreciates you > so much. I think you're so right about the PT just doing the standard [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > could get some help, she'd be far better off at home. It just really > grinds me that they didn't even try anything else but a walker. sounds like she needs to be in more of a rehab center than that nursing home. SignatureNann remove the Gator cheer to email me Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare I had forearm walker. It is the same attachment that goes on the crutches. I have those as well. Where is this woman that they had to amputate rather than repair. Sounds barbaric. Also sounds like there is diabetes at work as well. Duckie > I have a friend whose mother has RA. Her name is Roberta. 2 years > ago, she had an ankle reconstruction that never fully healed....to [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > > Carol Signature_('> (_<_) _ _('< -quack (_<_) _ __('< *QUACK!* <_{__) _('< "|,,|_" (_<_) _('< "AFLAC!" (_<_) Duckie, She did have diabetes, but she no longer has it. Her ankle and foot were in horrid shape. The biggest problem was that instead of having surgery years ago like her doctors suggested, she waited and ended up with a huge problem. I sent Diane some links for some different things just so she had some choices to figure out what might work. Roberta doesn't feel stable with the walker. I think something with forearm or platforms would give her more support. It's amazing to me that these PT's can't figure that out....unless it's the doctor who's responsible for not doing what he needs to do. I don't know. Thanks for responding, Duckie! Carol > I had forearm walker. It is the same attachment that > goes on the crutches. I have those as well. Where is [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > > > > Carol |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.