First off, let me tell you how much I truly hate these crutches. They are the literal worst. In six days, I have developed a rash/bruise on my armpits and the side of my ribs. My sides hurt even when I’m sitting down and a shirt rubs against them. Even with some protection on the crutches and wearing either a jacket or long sleeves, my sides are still bright red and bruised.
The second problem I’ve noticed is that crutches ruin outfits. It is so hard to look cute when you have to lug around silver poles everywhere you go. My outfits just don’t look as good as they normally do, especially with the bulky knee brace I have to wear too.
On the plus side, people are always opening doors for you, more than normal. I live in Texas, so obviously people here already open the doors for me. But truth be told, more and more people seem to stop and hold doors open for me even when I am a good distance away from them. I really appreciate those people because opening doors by myself is one of the most difficult things I have ever tried to do.
People also always seem to know what’s wrong with me. On the one hand, it’s kind of nice because I get to tell people that I’m OK and that I’m also really stupid and should stop playing sports in general. On the other hand, I have to repeat myself over and over again. I think I’m just going to start making stories up now.
Crutches make everything three times harder than they once were. I have to always take someone with me to eat, meaning I never get my alone time. Bathing is a task in and of itself. If I want to go somewhere with my friends, they have to help me into the car and out of it and make sure I can get up on my crutches.
And then there’s stairs. Now, stairs and I have already had a feud. We’ve never been on the best of terms, mainly because one step always seems to pop up when I least expect it. But crutches and stairs? That is an unknown terror that I face every day. Stairs and crutches do not mix. Stairs and crutches should never mix. In fact, I’m boycotting stairs altogether.
People will always offer to carry your food or carry really anything of yours. While it's nice, I'm not helpless... I'm just a little less mobile. And the more I have to crutch, the more I want off the things. But I appreciate and thank everyone who has helped me because I wouldn't be able to keep doing my normal activities without you all.
But one thing that crutches have taught me is how much I appreciate the ability to actually walk. It's weird how often we take for granted the things we do every day until they are taken away from us. Now that I can't use my leg like I used to, I realize how hard it would be to do this every day. And they have my undying respect because it is hard to do this.
