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Contradictory advice

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C

Caroline

Senior Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
and I feel I can't win. I have another infection in my left foot. I have antibiotics and the promise of a week in hospital on IV antibiotics.

This is where the contradictory advice comes in, I have one group of medical professionals telling me rest, don't do anything or it wont heal, don't walk about o r do anything. Another group is telling me I need to go for a walk every day or I will get depression and my foot wont heal.

I don't object to going out and on a nice day it would be pleasant to go to the park, but getting a cab is expensive and it is a long walk from the bus stop. The air cast boot also makes walking more difficult because of the height difference in that and my shoe.

I do have a garden but if I sit out there I don't see people. Most of my friends work full time or live too far away to come visit during the week and like to catch up with things like shopping and house work at weekends.

So where do I go from here?
 
Hi Caroline. When my Lefties toes were wet and nasty, I was told not to walk about too much, ie not going out, Just in and around the house.

I think your best bet is to contact or go by the team that's looking after Leftie.

I hope they get leftie sorted out soon. Our tootsies are such a worry aren't they.
 
Thanks LJC. I have been having feet problems for nearly 2 years now, one things heals or begins to heal and something else happens.

The team looking after my feet don't even want me to walk to the loo, they want me to use a commode, but I need some privacy, especially as I live in a male dominated house and the 12 year old is special needs. To be honest with one thing and another I am feeling very bored and a bit down...
 
Of course you need some privacy. It wouldn't be any good for getting up and downstairs but I'm wondering if it would help if they loaned you a wheelchair, so you could at least get out for a bit, esp as now summer hopefully summer is not too far off. Apologies if this is a stupid idea.
 
You absolutely need to get out and about Caroline or you'll go out of your mind with boredom. I totally understand how you feel. If you would be able to go out in a wheelchair as Ljc suggests whilst your feet heal (and have someone to push you), the Red Cross can often loan you a wheelchair for a small cost.
 
I hired a wheelchair for 6 weeks from Red Cross. Suggested donation was £5 a week but not compulsory if you couldn't afford it. You will certainly meet people if you go out and about in a wheelchair! They will push you out of the way in supermarkets while giving you a dirty look for being in the way!
 
Mum got her wheelchair free from One Stop. I don't know if it's just a local charity. They also got her hand rails, a walker for in the house, a pusher with seat for outside the house and a wetroom (around £4,000). Very good of them! They also change the equipment if it breaks or wears out and all for free.
 
When husband broke his leg they wouldn't let him out of hosp until he had a wheelchair. So the kids hired him one from the Red Cross. It had no brakes! It also wouldn't go through any of our doors - however we were able to push him out of hospital to the car in it, folded it up and loaded it into the back - and that was that till we returned it to them many weeks later!

His bones don't heal well - he still has the broken shoulder he sustained in the same accident in 2002.
 
I've just remembered something else.
My elderly dad's been having problems with his ankles for years, the joints have worn away. about 5years ago he saw a consultant, Who said that if an op was possible, dad wouldn't be able to weight bear on that foot for many months,(because of this dad said no, as he wouldn't be able to ride his beloved motorbike🙄) but they would provide a knee scooter , so he could get around better. I've not seen one of these things but thought you might like to investigate if it would be suitable and if they would loan you one.
 
Last edited:
Ljc said:
I've just remembered something else.
My elderly dad's been having problems with his ankles for years, the joints have worn away. about 5years ago he saw a consultant, Who said that if an op was possible, dad wouldn't be able to weight bear on that foot for many months,(because of this dad said no, as he wouldn't be able to ride his beloved motorbike🙄) but they would provide a knee scooter , so he could get around better. I've not seen one of these things but thought you might like to investigate if it would be suitable and if they would loan you one.
Click to expand...

I was non weight bearing for 6 weeks and was considering buying a knee scooter! Not cheap to hire, I think more cost effective to buy and sell on. As it was I managed with crutches around the house and used the wheelchair when I went out. If you haven't already got one get a shower stool as it's bliss having a lovely shower sitting down!
 
grovesy said:
Can i ask what the heck is a knee scoter?
Click to expand...
click on link in my previous post. Google and see people using it on youtube!! The advantage of sticking with my crutches is that my arms became very toned! No Bingo wings 🙂
 
I was picturing a regular scooter like kids play with, and someone kneeling on it lol.
 
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