working handicapped

[showcrop]

I am just past the third week recovering from foot surgery, with three more to go before I am supposed to drive. For the first two weeks it isn't hard to maintain discipline. I keep telling myself that my most important job right now is to heal. However, I keep thinking of things that I need to be getting done. One has been to get the lawn mower out, partly because parts of the lawn get ahead of me very quickly, and partly because I can use it to get around. I started it a few days ago, but it had a flat front. Today I texted my neighbor for help filling my air pig and inflating it. He came right over with a cordless compressor. That was easy. Later on though I found that it needed gas. I parked it close to the shop door, but how to carry the can when on crutches? On the way to where I keep the cans I grabbed a light duty ratchet strap, hooked the handle, and dragged the can to the mower. I thought: "everyone has to get things done when handicapped, I wonder what tools, equipment, procedures others have come up with to keep "gittin er done" while handicapped".

 

[Janicholson]

I am just past the third week recovering from foot surgery, with three more to go before I am supposed to drive. For the first two weeks it isn't hard to maintain discipline. I keep telling myself that my most important job right now is to heal. However, I keep thinking of things that I need to be getting done. One has been to get the lawn mower out, partly because parts of the lawn get ahead of me very quickly, and partly because I can use it to get around. I started it a few days ago, but it had a flat front. Today I texted my neighbor for help filling my air pig and inflating it. He came right over with a cordless compressor. That was easy. Later on though I found that it needed gas. I parked it close to the shop door, but how to carry the can when on crutches? On the way to where I keep the cans I grabbed a light duty ratchet strap, hooked the handle, and dragged the can to the mower. I thought: "everyone has to get things done when handicapped, I wonder what tools, equipment, procedures others have come up with to keep "gittin er done" while handicapped".

The best Knee scooter
Knee scooter. Never a crutch. This one has steering like a wide front end!!!! Most have steering like a narrow front with the wheels set out like a wide front. Not easy to steer those on lawns or near curbs. The one shown is much easier to deal with. My wife had ankle replacement and used ours for 4 months. It has the real steering with tierods. Jim

 

[showcrop]

The best Knee scooter
Knee scooter. Never a crutch. This one has steering like a wide front end!!!! Most have steering like a narrow front with the wheels set out like a wide front. Not easy to steer those on lawns or near curbs. The one shown is much easier to deal with. My wife had ankle replacement and used ours for 4 months. It has the real steering with tierods. Jim

That looks better than mine. Mine has the tie rod front too. I use it a lot more than crutches but for getting around close to things and into and out of cars the scooter just doesn't work so sometimes I use crutches.

 

[Ray,IN]

After my right forearm had cancer cut out I was told to do nothing strenuous until I was told otherwise. Two weeks later I was clearing an old fence-row with a brush hook, getting it ready to rebuild. I ripped almost half the stitches out. The plastic surgeon who performed the surgery was not pleased with what I did to his handiwork. My cousin came and helped with the rest of rebuilding the fence. The ugly scar has now all but disappeared, and I still have full use of my right arm

 

[Tgrasher]

As the surgeon was stitching up my cut off thumb, I asked him if I would be handicapped. He replied, "only if you want to be."

 

[1948CaseVAI]

That looks better than mine. Mine has the tie rod front too. I use it a lot more than crutches but for getting around close to things and into and out of cars the scooter just doesn't work so sometimes I use crutches.

I had a knee scooter similar to that when I was unable to walk for 9 months after mangling an ankle and multiple bone surgeries. I was able to get into my truck by pulling myself up, then reaching down to fetch the scooter and fold it up and let it ride on the passenger seat all folded up. It was a wonderful help to me! I also found that I was able to get it as a rental paid by my insurance at the time so no cost to me. I shopped at Walmart and Sams and Lowes on the thing and found it quite helpful.

 

[teddy52food]

I have been using a wheel chair for many years & get stuck in the sand outside the shop. Can use a walker for a short distance enough to get out of the house & on the 4 wheeler. Don't drive the pickup anymore.

 

[John M]

My body has been in a state of rapid degeneration for years, the last 2 or 3 have been the worse so far. I still get up, go to work, and do some of the things I use to do. Just this morning my wife and I washed my car. Took 2 of us over an hour, she could have done it faster alone. I added a handle to my main mower to aid in getting on and off, I only fill up enough in my gas can to get the yard cut, I do things in stages now. I rely on, or I guess I should say pay to have the oil changed in my gas vehicles, and drive/ride the Tesla as much as possible to keep from going to the gas station. And as much as I hate it, I have to rely on others to do some things for me now. At work they help me so much that I dont have to do anything other paperwork, but I can occasionally climb on a forklift. When I get ot feeling down, one of my biggest inspirations is YTs very on Dick L. Ill find one of his old posts or videos on Youtube, and I feel much better.

 

[tomturkey]

My body has been in a state of rapid degeneration for years, the last 2 or 3 have been the worse so far. I still get up, go to work, and do some of the things I use to do. Just this morning my wife and I washed my car. Took 2 of us over an hour, she could have done it faster alone. I added a handle to my main mower to aid in getting on and off, I only fill up enough in my gas can to get the yard cut, I do things in stages now. I rely on, or I guess I should say pay to have the oil changed in my gas vehicles, and drive/ride the Tesla as much as possible to keep from going to the gas station. And as much as I hate it, I have to rely on others to do some things for me now. At work they help me so much that I dont have to do anything other paperwork, but I can occasionally climb on a forklift. When I get ot feeling down, one of my biggest inspirations is YTs very on Dick L. Ill find one of his old posts or videos on Youtube, and I feel much better.

Yes, Dick L was quite a testament to perserverance and stick to it ness and git er done attitude. He Loved his critters. gobble

 

[John M]

Yes, Dick L was quite a testament to perserverance and stick to it ness and git er done attitude. He Loved his critters. gobble

Unless something just happened Dick is still around.

 

[jwal10]

I had a bad farm accident at 6, left foot, 2 skin grafts, a year, no shoe. Got foot tangled up in an Ezee Flow fertilizer spreader. I had polio at 7, left side hit harder than right. Went from injury to polio. Hand injury at 20 left side, shoulder injury at 24 left side, because of the hand injury. Very little use of hand, shoulder and arm weakness. Polio relapse at 37. After the polio relapse I could only work 20 hrs a week until I retired at 55. Broke left ankle and 2 places in small bone in leg at 50. I used arm crutches a lot until shoulder pain would not allow it. I broke my leg on Saturday, went to ER for temp cast. Went to surgeon on Monday afternoon after getting my work done, back to work the next day. Had to wait 2 weeks for swelling to go down, had surgery, plated and screws. I worked part of every day around the surgery. Had to go up and down stairs at City Hall and water plant, + keep plant going on 2 levels. Never missed a day. I used arm crutches. I am small, 5'3" and 126 lbs. When I had to have the ankle joint removed and fused I went to work everyday too but I used that type knee scooter, too. I wasn't running the waterplant, I was supervisor in town and had a foreman. Left leg so I could drive the Colorado pickup. Leg in air boot. Knee scooter worked fine for me inside but arm crutches outside about the 50% I needed more than cane. I have the lift shoe and rocker sole but need cane or arm crutches for stability, with eye problems and unsteadiness. Standing being the worst with inner ear problems. But I can walk 2-3 miles a day with a long walking stick in my right hand on pavement. Over the years it has been a struggle. I retired at 55 and there is nothing that has to be done on the bad days and not much on the good days. Sweetie isn't able to do a lot anymore. I clean and cook. I use small totes, lighter. I use a small ice cream bucket to put and carry things in. Many light trips on market day getting things in the cabin, but only once a month or two. We have found small living works best, a lot less walking and cleaning. I can fish, ride my bike to the farm and daily tasks, just takes longer. Some busy days to get very little done....James

 

[tomturkey]

Unless something just happened Dick is still around.

should not have used the "was" in my sentence. My bad gobble

 

[MARK ROBKE]

My body has been in a state of rapid degeneration for years, the last 2 or 3 have been the worse so far. I still get up, go to work, and do some of the things I use to do. Just this morning my wife and I washed my car. Took 2 of us over an hour, she could have done it faster alone. I added a handle to my main mower to aid in getting on and off, I only fill up enough in my gas can to get the yard cut, I do things in stages now. I rely on, or I guess I should say pay to have the oil changed in my gas vehicles, and drive/ride the Tesla as much as possible to keep from going to the gas station. And as much as I hate it, I have to rely on others to do some things for me now. At work they help me so much that I dont have to do anything other paperwork, but I can occasionally climb on a forklift. When I get ot feeling down, one of my biggest inspirations is YTs very on Dick L. Ill find one of his old posts or videos on Youtube, and I feel much better.

Speaking of inspirations, Check out Harmless Farmer. Not only did he farm with no arms, he worked on his equipment, could hook up a grain cart, ran the combine, and drove a grain semi, and he never felt sorry for himself. And then he died of cancer. I don't really know if his videos are still out there, but they should be. Mark.

 

[showcrop]

Speaking of inspirations, Check out Harmless Farmer. Not only did he farm with no arms, he worked on his equipment, could hook up a grain cart, ran the combine, and drove a grain semi, and he never felt sorry for himself. And then he died of cancer. I don't really know if his videos are still out there, but they should be. Mark.

Yes, he always had a very good attitude, and cheerful.

 

[Pete in Holland MI]

Listen to what the doctor says about your recovery. I know too many friends that pushed their recovery for various reasons, doing things they were not supposed to do, and created a bigger mess of their surgery that took longer to hear or repair afterwards.

On the other hand, what I've learned, is that if you need to get stuff done around your house, put your tail between your legs and call on that friend that always says "if you need anything......call me". If they can't, call another. It's generally a win-win situation. You get your task done, and they help you out & feel good help you. Win-win !

 

[504]

About a week before I was scheduled for back surgery a farmer came in the restaurant. Wife and oldest daughter ran the place. He told me that he had had my surgery a few years ago. He said after a few weeks he was out in the hayfield watching the work, he grabbed a bale and threw it on the wagon. Nothing hurt so he kept going. Five years later he was scheduled to have surgery again. I had mine and did what the doctor said to do and when he said to do it. That was about 23 years ago. The only thing I can’t do is bend over and touch my toes. The rods don’t bend. I was in the place where I could take a year off work (then) and do nothing at all for 6 months then go easy for another 6 months. I was back at the doctors office for a two year check up and he asked what I was doing for work. I told him I was delivering toemoter propane tanks . He looked a little confused and I said doc you gave me a release for work and you told me that if I did what you said and everything went fine I could lift a hundred pounds a hundred times a day. He shook his head and said yes but I didn’t mean it!! I only do around 60 tanks a day now, mostly roll the high pressure ones on and off the truck. I have slowed down a little but I am 69

 

[Non-farmer]

I'm a definite candidate for carpal tunnel surgery. I keep putting it off because I know I will push my luck and try to do too much too soon and not allow the time to recover properly. Lucky for me, it's the worst when I wake up in the morning. It seems like using my hand in the daytime overcomes the symptoms and it feels mostly fine. As long as that continues, they can keep the scalpels in the cabinet.

 

[showcrop]

Listen to what the doctor says about your recovery. I know too many friends that pushed their recovery for various reasons, doing things they were not supposed to do, and created a bigger mess of their surgery that took longer to hear or repair afterwards.

On the other hand, what I've learned, is that if you need to get stuff done around your house, put your tail between your legs and call on that friend that always says "if you need anything......call me". If they can't, call another. It's generally a win-win situation. You get your task done, and they help you out & feel good help you. Win-win !

Thanks, but this is far from my first rodeo. It is my eleventh. all but one due to age and arthritis. Not a single do-over yet!

 

[John in Ct]

My uncle shingled the roof of the barn after he lost his leg for therapy.

 

[showcrop]

My uncle shingled the roof of the barn after he lost his leg for therapy.

I have quit, well maybe, doing roof work. I havent done any since last summer. Well, I do have a coup[le of small projects planned yet.