Post by JayBee on Feb 1, 2019 11:41:01 GMT
Before I could go out wearing my leg braces, I needed to be able to wear trousers over them. I went to a couple of stores and asked for trousers with really baggy legs. Certainly no jeans that fitted that description. But I found some inexpensive twill pants in another shop with an elasticised waist but also a fly zip. I took those to a shop that does clothing alterations and asked for 50cm zips down both inside seams. That cost over double what the trousers cost, and after not quite a week they were ready. Made it so much easier to put them on and off.
Late yesterday evening I went for a walk wearing them over my braces and using axillary crutches. I went around the block, probably a distance of 600-700m, experimenting with four-point and swing-through gaits. Swing-through is quicker but also more tiring; I spent most of the time with four-point, discovering it helps if I let the foot that's on the ground twist as I move the other foot forward. Swing-through is possible, but I need to concentrate on holding the crutches slightly with my upper arms. Only one car went past while I was on this walk, and it was not near my house.
So this morning I got up early to drive to a café that's about 2km away, but might as well be in a different country. (Means I won't bump into anyone I know.) We (yes, I have significant other) have an automatic and a manual car. I haven't tried to drive the manual, but it's ok operating the accelerator and brake pedals with the brace on.
I arrived at the café - it's in an industrial area - and parked. Straight away another car came in and parked on my driver's side, but not too close. There's no disabled bay there, and I'm not authorised to use it anyhow. Anyhow, I opened my door, maneuvered my legs out, got my crutches out and pulled myself into a standing position, hearing the drop locks click into place. I then 'walked' the 30 or so metres to the cafe using swing-through. Full credit to the staff that as I came in, no one made any particular look or had anything to say.
One downer at this point: I've only been to this place once before and that was over a year ago. So I didn't realise they don't do cooked breakfasts any more. Anyhow, I ordered an egg and bacon sandwich with a coffee, paid and made my way to a table, unlocked the braces and sat there. The items were brought to me and I ate while I checked out stuff on my phone. The one thing that I don't think would have happened with an able-bodied person is that another member of staff brought a serviette over to me at the table.
Once I had finished, I got up, said thank you, made my way back to the car and drove back home. One point is that it would certainly be easier to get forearm crutches in and out of the car.
Not very exciting and certainly no looks or interest from anyone else to report. There weren't many people about (it was before 7am) and the clientele is mostly male industrial workers who wouldn't be into striking up anything with a stranger. But at least I've done it.
When I had my braces made, I ordered a second pair of boots which I am using at work. Like the boot with the brace, the left boot of this pair has a 1/2 inch raise, which actually corresponds with my leg lengths. But this also gives me the flexibility of wearing a brace on one leg only.
Don't know when I'll next manage another outing (it might have to wait until my other half goes away for a few days), but I'll report when that happens. (Don't know why, but if you right click on this icon and select 'open image in new tab, you'll get the picture from the cafe full size. Click on the image below and you'll get that one full size. Have no idea how I managed to upload that one.)
Late yesterday evening I went for a walk wearing them over my braces and using axillary crutches. I went around the block, probably a distance of 600-700m, experimenting with four-point and swing-through gaits. Swing-through is quicker but also more tiring; I spent most of the time with four-point, discovering it helps if I let the foot that's on the ground twist as I move the other foot forward. Swing-through is possible, but I need to concentrate on holding the crutches slightly with my upper arms. Only one car went past while I was on this walk, and it was not near my house.
So this morning I got up early to drive to a café that's about 2km away, but might as well be in a different country. (Means I won't bump into anyone I know.) We (yes, I have significant other) have an automatic and a manual car. I haven't tried to drive the manual, but it's ok operating the accelerator and brake pedals with the brace on.
I arrived at the café - it's in an industrial area - and parked. Straight away another car came in and parked on my driver's side, but not too close. There's no disabled bay there, and I'm not authorised to use it anyhow. Anyhow, I opened my door, maneuvered my legs out, got my crutches out and pulled myself into a standing position, hearing the drop locks click into place. I then 'walked' the 30 or so metres to the cafe using swing-through. Full credit to the staff that as I came in, no one made any particular look or had anything to say.
One downer at this point: I've only been to this place once before and that was over a year ago. So I didn't realise they don't do cooked breakfasts any more. Anyhow, I ordered an egg and bacon sandwich with a coffee, paid and made my way to a table, unlocked the braces and sat there. The items were brought to me and I ate while I checked out stuff on my phone. The one thing that I don't think would have happened with an able-bodied person is that another member of staff brought a serviette over to me at the table.
Once I had finished, I got up, said thank you, made my way back to the car and drove back home. One point is that it would certainly be easier to get forearm crutches in and out of the car.
Not very exciting and certainly no looks or interest from anyone else to report. There weren't many people about (it was before 7am) and the clientele is mostly male industrial workers who wouldn't be into striking up anything with a stranger. But at least I've done it.
When I had my braces made, I ordered a second pair of boots which I am using at work. Like the boot with the brace, the left boot of this pair has a 1/2 inch raise, which actually corresponds with my leg lengths. But this also gives me the flexibility of wearing a brace on one leg only.
Don't know when I'll next manage another outing (it might have to wait until my other half goes away for a few days), but I'll report when that happens. (Don't know why, but if you right click on this icon and select 'open image in new tab, you'll get the picture from the cafe full size. Click on the image below and you'll get that one full size. Have no idea how I managed to upload that one.)