It's only been 3 weeks on crutches, with 5 more to go, and I have gotten these horrible friction burns under my arms, right along where my bra goes. They hurt and they keep bleeding......Anybody have any ideas on how to make the crutches a little more comfortable so they don't rub so bad?

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Nicole

My mom just had surgery (achilles sp? tendon). She used crutches for 1 day and then opted for a wheelchair. She couldn't stand the crutches. Or, maybe would a walker be an option?

Lisa

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"It's not having what you want,
It's wanting what you've got"

Nicole, I've heard it helps to throw them at anyone who annoys you. LOL

Sorry you're on them.

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"Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God? " ~Epicurus

when my husband was on crutches i bought the sheepskin looking pads that go around the seatbelt in the car for comfort. I had to tape them because they were not big enough to go around the top, but he said it helped

They shouldn't be touching your underarms, try shortening them and using your arms to move you instead, kwim? It's hard to explain, but they should be a few inches under your underarms, not touching. HTH.

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"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked." ~ Bernard Meltzer

I was on crutches for a while when I was little. I had to learn to walk again after being in a body cast. Anyway, my mom made the crutches more comfortable for me by taking towel (regular or hand size) and wrapping them around the part that goes under your arm. Tape them with packing or duct tape to secure them. This padding helped a TON! And if they start to get stinky, just untape them and replace with other towels!

Good luck!

Yikes, Nicole! Sorry to hear you are hurting and those nasty crutches are causing more pain! ((((HUGS))))) Choaticfun had a great easy solution. You can also get some foam (if you have some old bed foam) and then make a sleeve to fit over the arm or hand rests. You can also use bike gloves so you hand does not get friction burns. Here is a link to idea from a website Crutch Pads & Crutches Accessories | Crutch Foam Pads | We Make Crutches More Comfortable | CrutchRemedy
You can probably use some gel pads too to relieve some of the pain.

Good Luck...Hope you get some relief soon!

They are not suppose to be in your arm pits. they are to tall. like the other poster said, shorten them. also if the weight of your body on your hands hurts, i have cut up egg crate mattresses and used a piece of that to pad the hand area. clients say this really helps

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I had bunion surgery last year and was told by two physical therapists to not put any weight on my underarms. Th etop of the crutches shouldnot go all the way into your armpit. All the weight is borne by your hands. I guess lots of nerve damage can occur if done improperly. I did have my hands go numb for a few days when I first started using them, but that went away.

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Jackie

Music is what feelings sound like._ ~Author Unknown

I too had friction from my bra while on crutches. Try a sports bra, a sleep bra, or even going without (!) for a while. Experiment with different styles you may already have-- the elastic may rest in a slightly different spot on a different bra, and won't rub so badly.
Good luck, Hang in there!!

I am on crutches quite often. I have had many knee surgeries.
If you are on them for long periods of time. The don't let them go under your arm thing ends up going out the window and if you have to walk long distances you get tired and tend to lean into them. What I do is wrap the top part of the crutch with something soft and cushy then I take a piece of silky cloth and wrap over that. This way it slides better and created less friction. Also I get 4x4 gauze pads and I tape them on the part of my body that is getting sore and raw. I play with the thickness until it is comfortable for me. Then I use alot of baby powder anything that keeps me from getting those rub burns. So far this has worked well for me.

Buckey... You are right...crutches do hurt the bra area (not the armpits) if you are using them correctly. Make sure it isn't your bra elastic rubbing from the crutches pressure. If you actaully have a area of broken skin you may have to protect the skin. I can tell you one way ...which I promise you will not like....but it works. Buy Skin-Prep- it comes in a spray bottle or individually wrapped pads. (Usually a large drug store or medical supply house) Have a person ready to "flap" the area with a magazine or a brisk fan. Apply the skin prep to the area which is abraided. You will scream and holler and swear at whoever puts it on. It takes about 30 seconds to a minute to dry. Put on a second layer. You will swear less and it will dry faster. By the third layer, you won't know the difference. If you inspect the skin daily and reapply at least once a day, the skin will not be irritated further. This is actually a colostomy supply but as a home health and hospice nurse, we used it for all sorts of skin irritation. I should have bought stock in the company.

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Lyn Clarke

LOL!

Thanks for the much needed Laugh Jaded! I'll admit I have thrown them a few times

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Nicole

Thanks so much for all the ideas guys.......I visited a PA friend of mine and he gave me some burn pads to wear on the skin that is raw. It was rubbing right where my bra sits, This is one time I am thankfully small chested, many days I go without the bra and it feels much much better. I absolutely love the silk idea, that has worked out great!

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Nicole