Ankle Surgery and Knee Scooter question

[Seasha]

I'm having ankle surgery next week and the surgeon suggested that I use a knee scooter during recovery instead of crutches. It's a good call - I can't use crutches because of balance problems.

However, my problem is that the damaged ankle is on my strong right side. With using the knee scooter, I will have to rely pushing off on my left leg which is terribly weak along with foot drop. I wonder if anyone here has used the scooter before and wondering how easy or difficult the maneuverability is.

Any suggestions or alternatives? I have a walker, but need to keep my foot up and not put weight on it. I'm not looking forward to this, but it's a necessity.

[SNOOPY]

Any suggestions or alternatives? I have a walker, but need to keep my foot up and not put weight on it.

You can use a regular walker with no wheels.

You stand inside the walker, both hands gripping each side of the walker and one foot held off the ground. Moving the walker just a little bit away (not much) from you, you use your arms to scoot your body forward, and repeat.

It can be very slow going and tiring.

I used this process for transferring after have ankle surgery. Otherwise I used a wheelchair to get around.

Good luck on your surgery!

[22cyclist]

The knee scooter sound a bit dangerous if your weak leg is doing all of the pushing and balancing. Just get a script for a regular scooter. Not only will it help you have now, but in the future when you need to get around far away (shopping, grocery, etc.) You may already have one and that would be wonderful, if not get a script and have your insurance pay for it.

Good luck with the surgery. It must be hurting hurting now for you to go to surgery. Let us know how it goes. I will be thinking about you.

Take care
Lisa

[Seasha]

Thanks for the suggestions, Snoopy and Lisa ~ I think I'll use my wheelchair. I hadn't even thought of that! I do have a walker w/o wheels too, so I may use it to transfer.

I have a scooter that was given to me, but it's dirty, mildewy, with a dead battery. Sounds like to much work right now. I may just talk to my ins. people about a scooter to rent, but I'll need to go back to the surgeon for a rx.

We'll see.....

Yes, Lisa I've been hurting for a long time now. Seems like my repeated falls have damaged the tendon and split it two parts. He's scrapping away some bone also. I'm hoping for a full recovery and less falls - like none!

[hunterd]

no falls would be good! Lisa mentioned it, get a rx from your dr for a scooter. or a wc would work too.

[aitch10]

I recently broke my leg and have been relying on a wheelchair to get around. My strong leg is fine, but I decided against the knee scooter because I'm terrified of hurting my broken leg more.